Posted on 09/07/2010 6:19:50 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The United States' top commander in Afghanistan has warned that a planned Koran-burning event in Florida could put US troops in danger.
Gen. David Petraeus added his voice to mounting protests from both the US and abroad over the Dove World Outreach Center's plans to burn Korans on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks. His comments ratcheted up the pressure on once-obscure pastor Terry Jones to call off the event.
The controversy comes as some 120,000 US and allied troops are waging a counter-insurgency campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan, a campaign whose goals include winning support for the US-backed government from the largely Muslim population.
General Petraeus said that burning Korans "is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems – not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community," according to CNN.
""It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan," Gen. David Petraeus said in a statement issued Monday ...
"Even the rumor that it might take place has sparked demonstrations such as the one that took place in Kabul yesterday," he said. "Were the actual burning to take place, the safety of our soldiers and civilians would be put in jeopardy and accomplishment of the mission would be made more difficult."
"Mr. Jones, the pastor of the center in Gainesville, Florida, has touted the activity as "International Burn the Koran Day." Jones also authored a book titled "Islam is of the Devil," which has a Facebook page and Twitter account.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
I'm sure he did well at the War College. You might consider the differences in waging war and provoking hatred to fan the war. Wage war on the warriors, do not rebuff their religion. This is especially wise if it is not a particularly peaceful religion. But, of course, you are older, wiser, and have more experience in theater than the General.
True, Mojave.
Had this been people insisting on printing the Danish Mohammed Cartoons they would have been praising them.
But 9/11 has faded, and they’ve succumbed to fear of the cultocrats.
So, it seems to be a good choice of action to wait for a lull in the fighting and then provoke the hell out of them? Wow! You certainly haven't attended the War College, have you? Your tactics are terrible.
I think it's stupid, extremely stupid for the church to burn the Koran... but I didn't say they couldn't do it.
But, from most of the posts on this thread, hatred for Muslims and the right to free speech trumps Petraus' concerns that this silly, stupid, self-promoting event could cost soldiers their lives.
And yet many fancy that some immediate, impetuous action will put a lid on it all.
You are feeding a “person” — M — who really isn’t your friend.
Neither is throwing gasoline on the campfire. It is easy to be unconcerned with the safety of our troops from where you are sitting. Do you actually feel wise to ignore the General's advice? Afterall, you have so much more experience in theater than he.
Credo of the modern patriot: "Be quiet, you'll p*ss em off"
Credo of the modern patriot: "Be quiet, you'll p*ss em off"
Again not even one has riddled me this one — why aren’t there Roe v. Wade burnings? Such things would easily garner publicity on sites like FR.
In a knee jerk reactionary way... Sorry, you deserved better than that.
Well, I suppose all those rules of engagement would hinder any general..
What rights do you forsake to be prudent? It is your right to throw gasoline on the campfire, but you might encounter advice to the contrary.
How did it become your right to provoke anger on a battlefield on which you do not sit?
The U.S. Constitution is something that a general should honor, support and defend.
That document says the church can do this stupid thing.
Petraeus looks bad saying this and those who think he would make a good presidential candidate (consider the oath a president takes) who come from the GOP side should think about that.
Thank you for your post Friend.
How do you think they feel about this issue?
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