State Department warns travelers of Muslim violence over Koran burning

Apart from its main subject, the first thing that pops out at me from this story at WorldNetDaily is that even WND is using the spelling “Quran.” How long has that been going on? See also Hamid Karzai’s comment on the Koran burning and my response.

Warning issued: U.S. citizens in danger over Quran burning
Despite caution, several organizations continue plans to torch Islamic book
September 10, 2010

The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel alert warning American citizens abroad of potential violence from anti-U.S. demonstrators reacting to plans by a Florida pastor to publicly burn Islam’s holy book, the Quran.

“Demonstrations, some violent, have already taken place in several countries, including Afghanistan and Indonesia, in response to media reports of the church’s plans,” the alert states. “The potential for further protests and demonstrations, some of which may turn violent, remains high.”

The “International Burn a Quran Day” announced by Rev. Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center of Gainesville, Fla., has stirred up an international hornet’s nest of government response.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the Quran burning “disgraceful;” America’s top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus, warned it could “endanger troops;” Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki urged the U.S. to prevent the burning; India’s home minister condemned it; Pakistan’s ambassador to the U.S. called upon radio host Glenn Beck to denounce it; an FBI intelligence bulletin warned of retaliation; and even the Vatican declared the Sept. 11 Quran-burning plan to be an “outrageous and grave gesture.”

President Obama also chimed in, telling George Stephanopoulos on ABC that the Quran burning “is completely contrary to our values as Americans” and that “this stunt that [Jones] is talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women in uniform.” Obama also labeled the event a “recruitment bonanza for al-Qaida.”

Despite the travel alert, however, and despite a media firestorm of controversy and opposition to the Quran burning, a number of other churches and organizations have announced plans to burn the Islamic holy book on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Duncan Philp, founder of the Wyoming Tyranny Response Team, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle his protest group—which he describes as defenders of the Bill of Rights—plans to burn a copy of the Quran on the steps of the State Capitol tomorrow to protest Obama’s defense of plans to build a proposed mosque and Islamic Center near Ground Zero in New York City.

“I feel Obama is being disingenuous when he pretends he supports religious liberties,” Philp told the paper. “’[The Muslims] are not building that mosque out of love for my culture or love of the victims of 9/11 but for political reasons.”

Former Pastor Bob Old of Springfield, Tenn., has also announced plans to burn the Quran tomorrow, but he told WTVF-TV in Nashville that his action is unrelated to Jones’ agenda.

“To the Muslim church I would say the reason I am doing [this is] because I believe they worship a false god,” Old told the station. “They have a false text, a false prophet and a false scripture.”

Old also dismissed charges that burning the Quran is necessarily hateful, as some have argued.

“How can it be an act of hate when what I am doing is trying to save their souls?” he asked.

There also were several others who suggested they might stage such a stunt.

Earlier this week, however, Jones announced he agreed to cancel the burning upon receiving word the organizers of the so-called Ground Zero Mosque had agreed to move their proposed cultural center’s location.

But when Jones’ alleged deal was refuted publicly, the pastor then announced the Quran burning wasn’t canceled, but only suspended.

Reuters reports that anti-U.S. protests over the proposed Quran burnings have already begun in Afghanistan, where state officials estimated 10,000 people in the Badakhshan province today poured out of mosques shouting anti-American slogans.

“The Quran is in the hearts and minds of all [Muslims]” Afghan President Hamid Karzai told reporters, “but the affront against the holy book is a humiliation to the people.” [LA replies: That is the Islamic mindset, planted permanently in Muslims by Muhammad’s book. According to this mindset, a single person in a country on the other side of the world doing an insulting thing to Islam “is a humiliation to the people,” i.e., he is humiliating ALL Muslims in the world. From which it follows that vengeance must be wreaked on that man’s country in order to “de-humiliate” the worldwide Muslim community and restore its honor.]

Of Jones, Karzai said, “We are hopeful that he gives up this affront and should not even think about it.”

[ … ]

CNN also reported American troops last year engaged in burning Bibles confiscated in Afghanistan.

Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Mark Wright told the news network the Bibles, printed in the two most common Afghan languages, were confiscated because military rules forbid troops of any religion from proselytizing while deployed there.

Ultimately, they were discarded, Wright said “because if they did get out, it could be perceived by Afghans that the U.S. government or the U.S. military was trying to convert Muslims.”

Wright also explained that troops in war zones are required to torch their trash, hence the burning of the Bibles.

Because of the current Mideast tensions over burning the Quran, the State Department travel alert encourages U.S. citizens traveling or living abroad to register with the nearest American embassy or consulate.

“By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the embassy or consulate to contact them in case of emergency,” the alert states.

[end of WND article]

- end of initial entry -

An Indian living in the West writes:

The article says:

“The Quran is in the hearts and minds of all [Muslims]” Afghan President Hamid Karzai told reporters, “but the affront against the holy book is a humiliation to the people.”

A bit rich coming from Karzai whose so-called goverment has been stuffed up to its eyeballs with bribes and corruption money. Their offshore bank accounts are overflowing and if their people were left to their own devices without any foreign intervention (US or NATO), the people would tear Hamid and his cronies apart limb to limb in a matter of seconds.

Instead of complaining abouit the Koran burnings, Karzai ought to get on his knees and beg the Americans to stay there forever. Or maybe the Americans should heed Hamid’s call and leave Afghanistan. They can let Hamid’s fate be decided by Allah. Hamid may discover that the most devout believers of Allah will soon descend on him like a pack of wolves and rip his body to shreds.


Posted by Lawrence Auster at September 12, 2010 01:15 AM | Send
    

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