Posted on 09/08/2010 11:04:56 AM PDT by roses of sharon
At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told staff in a morning meeting he "strongly endorsed" the view of his military commanders that any Koran-burning plan could endanger U.S. lives, said a Pentagon spokesman, Colonel Dave Lapan.
General Ray Odierno, the former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, said the event would only provoke Muslim extremists and increase threats to U.S. troops.
Two of the top commanders in Afghanistan have said the Florida church's plan risks undermining U.S. President Barack Obama's efforts to reach out to Muslims across the world.
Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay, whose country has nearly 3,000 troops in Afghanistan, said in a statement: "This initiative is insulting to Muslims and Canadians of all faiths who understand that freedom of thought and freedom of religion are fundamental to our way of living."
On Tuesday, several high-ranking Obama administration officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, spoke out against the planned event, and leading Christian and Jewish leaders also voiced outrage.
Actress Angelina Jolie, visiting Pakistan to highlight the plight of millions of people devastated by the country's worst floods, said on Wednesday she "hardly had the words" to express her opposition.
The United Nations called the event "abhorrent" and the Vatican also added to a growing chorus of global criticism.
In Iran, the planned Koran-burning drew protest from a leading cleric. "I along with 1.5 billion Muslims ... condemn this brutal and savage spirit ... I warn about its consequences," Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi-Golpaygani told Iran's Students News Agency ISNA.
"If it happens, Obama should be tried for it and this priest should be arrested immediately and his church must be shut down forever," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
He should offer not to burn if they move the Mosque.
What good does this publicity stunt do?
The more I see of the people who are against this, the more I want to support it.
” Two of the top commanders in Afghanistan have said the Florida church’s plan risks undermining U.S. President Barack Obama’s efforts to reach out to Muslims across the world. “
oh no !!
And stoning a woman is OK?
I wonder if Obama will send Nat’l Guard or Fed agents to the church, forcing a confrontation a la Waco.
Certainly would reveal his priorities as far as using force goes.
I’m not in the habit of listening to this kind of thing, but it seems like an appropriate soundtrack:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_sY2rjxq6M
Maybe he should put a few on a spit and make Koran-Ka-Bobs.
Do it up, but be sure to soak it in pig fat before lighting it.
This pastor seems like a real nut—he’s hooked up with the Westboro “God Hates Fags” Church. Normally I’d ignore him for the publicity hound that he is. However, it amazes me that Gates and Petraeus are chiming in on this. Its completely inappropriate. Hey you morons, they hate us whether or not some pastor burns a Koran. If they don’t realize that, they are a lot more dense than I realized. I’m almost inclined to support this pastor just because of all the flack he’s getting from Gates and Petraeus.
Like those goatf*ckers aren’t out to kill U.S. troops anyway.
Best thing I’ve read all day.
What good does this publicity stunt do?
_____________________________________________
Put Christians in a bad light. That’s the point, IMHO. He’s a Phelps fan.
“the event would only provoke Muslim extremists and increase threats to U.S. troops.”
Or it might draw out the “extremists” and help us to kill them more easily!
All the more reason to burn baby burn.
Judging by the displays of intimidation by our gov officials...I would say this plan to burn Korans (whether it happens or not) has shown us what deep do-do we are in.
Just imagine what all this caterwauling would do if it was directed at the terrorist nations that are the TRUE danger to America?
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