September 9, 2010 6:38 PM

Robert Gates Urged Terry Jones to Call Off Koran Burning

By
Christine Delargy
Topics
In The News ,
Obama Administration

CBS News confirms Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called Rev. Terry Jones Thursday afternoon, urging the pastor not to go through with a planned Koran burning. Jones announced today that he has called off the event. (Watch his announcement at left.)

CBS News Pentagon correspondent David Martin reports Gates told the Florida minister the event would endanger the lives of American servicemen and women.

"The Secretary expressed his grave concern that going forward would put the lives of our forces at risk, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, and urged him not to proceed with it. That was the extent of it," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.

Morrell characterized it as "a very brief conversation" that occurred some time between 4 and 4:30 p.m. ET, before the press conference Jones held this afternoon.

Jones announced at the press conference that he would not burn copies of the Muslim holy book on the ninth anniversary of September 11, citing an agreement with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf to move the location of the Islamic Center near ground zero.

Following Jones' press conference, Imam Feisal put out the following statement: "I am glad that Pastor Jones has decided not to burn any Qurans. However, I have not spoken to Pastor Jones or Imam Musry. I am surprised by their announcement."

Imam Muhammad Musri of the Islamic Society of Central Florida appeared with Jones Thursday afternoon.

President Obama and General David Petraeus had earlier given public statements saying Jones should reconsider his plans.

More coverage:

Rev. Jones Stands Down; Quran Burning Canceled
Quran Burning Canceled by Fla. Pastor
Taliban Calls on Afghans to Avenge Quran Burning
FBI Agents Visit Fla. Pastor over Quran Burning
Quran Burning Plan Prompts U.S. Travel Warning
Some Call for "Burn the Stars & Stripes Day"
Quran Burning Legal? Protest Possibly Protected
Pakistan: Beck Should Denounce Quran Burning
Quran Burning Protests in Afghanistan
Pastor Will Not Cancel Quran Burning
Jones: Judaism, Other Religions "Of The Devil"
Hillary Clinton: Quran Burning Not American Way
Clinton: Quran Burning Does Not "Represent America"
Bloomberg: Pastor Has Right to Burn Quran
Angelina Jolie Condemns Planned Quran Burning


Add a Comment See all 17 Comments
by DfishKman September 19, 2010 10:56 AM EDT
How stupid can the News Media be as to be Played by Mr. Terry Jones seeking publicity for his burning of the Koran. Giving this "no buddy" a platform (TV coverage & microphone) to push his drivel is nothing short of just plain STUPID and only serves to justify the bad rap the media often deserves. In this case, the media is only trying to sensationalize BAD news. Nothing that has come out of his mouth has been news worthy nor even worth listening to. Mr. Jones purports himself to be a Pastor, but he is NOT a true Pastor in any sense of the word. In fact, he is nothing more than a representable radical Christean and is really no different than those radical Christean's who pervert Christianity to justify their own terrorist activities (bombings & shootings) against those who don't agree with their religious views on abortions for example.

Mr. Jones is no different in seeking publicity for his burning the Holy book of another faith and he no more represents Christean values than does the blowing up of others because they don't agree with the radical Islamist perversion of Islam to justify their actions. In fact, the burning of any holy book (scripture) doesn't represent American Values either.

When he arbitrarily says: "Americans don't want a Mosque to be built NEAR Ground Zero in NY", HE COULD NOT BE MORE WRONG! He does not speak for this American who is a Christean! And, his views do NOT represent those of this decorated Vietnam Combat Veteran even though I fought for his right to do such a stupid publicity stunt.

In fact, one would not be wrong in concluding that Mr. Jones is actually a de-facto impostor masquerading as as a Christean Pastor -- a Terrorist Recruiter! HIS BEHAVIOR IS CERTAINLY NOT CHRISTEAN LIKE... NOR ARE HIS WORDS THE WORDS OF A PASTOR -- A VICAR FOR CHRIST. CHRIST WOULD NEVER GO ALONG WITH THE HATE THIS GUY IS SPEWING!

My suggestion to the News Media: "STOP being Complicit" in propagating & hyping such crap; it's reprehensible!
Reply to this comment
by SimpleJewishMan September 15, 2010 2:46 PM EDT
As a liberal Democrat,
I believe that burning the American flag is protected free speech

However,
burning the Koran is vile, disgusting and should be demonized

That's how our left-wing double standard works


You see,
We liberals can do anything we want,
You name-calling hate-speech filled Repub Repuke Repigs
have to follow the rules

WE DON'T


:D
Reply to this comment
by tsigili September 10, 2010 11:57 AM EDT
Don't count on the actions of this potentially religious lunatic.
Reply to this comment
by Heythere321 September 10, 2010 7:02 AM EDT
@Cattiej

Terry Jone's book is still out there targeting Islam, not to mention maney other books. Would they allow a Muslim to publish a book talking smack about a Bible? I dont think so, so dont complain about the flag.
Reply to this comment
by Heythere321 September 10, 2010 6:55 AM EDT
Islam teachs respect, love and peace. Just because there are some groups that are crazy that does not make ISLAM bad, it makes those people bad. Instead of judging a whole nation, why dont you give people a chance? Isent that part of Jesus's teachings? "Acceptance", as you mentioned. Americans should also stop hating on all the Muslims instead of saying "They hate us" or "They started this", same goes for Muslims. I live in canada and Muslims here get along perectly with all the other races. For this to work out, both sides need to grow up.
Reply to this comment
by katkathegreat September 10, 2010 5:01 AM EDT
@ etech2000 - read it and try to understand wat it says... and i am sure you will not do wat u intend to. peace
Reply to this comment
by formrusmcsgt September 9, 2010 11:08 PM EDT
Gates told the Florida minister the event would endanger the lives of American servicemen and women.
---
Of course it will.

But the "pastor" obviously isn't concerned about that.

He has xenophobe's donation checks foremost in his mind.

Which makes him more of an enemy agent than it does "man of the cloth".
Reply to this comment
by zoeymaddy September 9, 2010 10:50 PM EDT
to be honest i really don't care if he burns korans or not,that is his right as an american.the problem is we give all this media attention to a kook,who wants his 15 minutes of fame,and then gets everybody and their brother all charged up.you cannot say for some topics this is america and you can cross a border illegially,and get rewarded,you must let them build a mosque right near ground zero,and say this is america. and we have freedom of religion,and thats ok.now i read where al quada has threatned if he burns the koran americans will die,so as an american he cannot burn a koran but we can be threatned by badass evildoers,and thats ok even if they have killed our people???? and yes i know two wrongs don't make it right,but it seems everybody but AMERICANS have civil liberties,and human rights.go figure.
Reply to this comment
by dms21466 September 9, 2010 9:52 PM EDT
If a tree falls in the forest, but no one is around to hear it fall, does it still make a sound? Stop giving this guy what he so desires.... press coverage. Ignore him and no one will know or care what he's doing.
Reply to this comment
by skeeterandbucky September 9, 2010 10:44 PM EDT
Absolutely. This mail order preacher huckster is just looking to milk all the talk shows for a quick buck. If he had any real balls he would enlist. What a scam and just think since religion is his front it will all be tax free.
by cattiej September 9, 2010 9:44 PM EDT
I notice that the Muslims are still burning our American flag..Where is the General, the Attorney General and Gates on this issue. The TV showed our American Flag being burned in this story about Jones wanting to burn the Koran. I think I will go out and buy one just to burn it with all the other garbage.This Rev. Jones should have just told the press to go away. We need to get our people out of these countries that hate us so much but are willing to take the billions of dollars we give them in aid. Why are we sending billions of dollars to the country of Afghanastan, all they do with the money is buy more poppy seed to grow the drugs they send to our country to kill our families and friends. They want American's to be addicted to drugs so they can come in and take over.
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