Petraeus: Quran burning poses security threat in Afghanistan

Afghan protestors burn an effigy of U.S. President Barack Obama during a demonstration in Jalalabad, Afghanistan on Sunday, April 3, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Rahmat Gul

A recent Florida church's burning of the Quran has created an "additional serious security challenge" in Afghanistan, warns Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan.

Violence and rioting erupted in Afghanistan last weekend after word spread that Rev. Terry Jones, the leader of the World Dove Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., put the Islamic holy book "on trial" and burned it in a videotaped March 20 ceremony.

At least 20 people were killed and many more injured as a handful of violent protests broke out in Afghanistan between Friday and Sunday, and angry crowds were heard changing "Death to Karzai" and "Death to America." Afghan president Hamid Karzai has called on Congress to condemn the burning.

Afghan Quran-burn protests enter 3rd day
9 more dead in Afghan Quran-burning protests

Petraeus, in a Sunday interview with the Wall Street Journal, warned that the threat posed to operations in Afghanistan by inciting anger among the masses was very real.

"Every security force leader's worst nightmare is being confronted by essentially a mob, if you will, especially one that can be influenced by individuals that want to incite violence, who want to try to hijack passions, in this case, perhaps understandable passions," he told the Wall Street Journal. "Obviously it's an additional serious security challenge in a country that faces considerable security challenges."

Petreaeus added that the burning of the Quran was "hateful, extremely disrespectful and enormously intolerant."

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid on Sunday denounced Jones' "trial" - which he described as a "publicity stunt" - and said Congress would "take a look at" a possible condemnation of the act.

"Religious extremism in any form is wrong," said Reid, in an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation." "And certainly all these deaths is wrong."

"Of course, this man in Florida who burnt the Koran, it's a publicity stunt," Reid continued. "He basically had nobody in his church anyway. And this was an effort to get some publicity for him. He got it. But in the process, ten -- 20 people have been killed."

"We'll take a look at this, of course," he told CBS' Bob Schieffer, when asked about a possible congressional condemnation. "John Kerry, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, has been on top of this. He's made many trips to Afghanistan. And I think we'll take a look at this. As to whether we need hearings or not, I don't know."

Sen. Lindsay Graham, argued on Sunday that "we push back" against actions that put American troops at risk during wartime, and urged an official condemnation of the Quran burning.

"I wish we could find some way to -- to hold people accountable," he said during a Sunday appearance on "Face the Nation." "Free speech is a great idea, but we're in a war. During World War II you had limits on what you could say if it would inspire the enemy. So burning a Quran is a terrible thing, but it doesn't justify killing someone. Burning a Bible would be a terrible thing, but it wouldn't justify murder."

"Any time we can push back here in America against actions like this that put our troops at risk, we ought to do it," he added. "So I look forward to working with Senator Kerry and Reid and others to condemn this, condemn violence all over the world based in the name of religion."

Jones first came into the public eye last September, when he threatened to hold a similar Quran burning event. But the conservative church leader was at the time deterred by a slew of national condemnations.

Reid on Sunday voiced his suspicion that Jones followed through with his plan because publicity "had fallen down a little bit."

"I guess the publicity had fallen down a little bit, so he decided to do this," Reid said. "It's really too bad. And I think people should understand the consequences of what they do under the guise of religion."

[Hellhavenofurry]

First of all i was stationed in afgan these people dont understand how freedom works. In America we have freedom of speech its in the constitution the supreme court said recentley that a church has the right too protest soldier funerals so you can protest or burn books if you want Freedom of speech . If your living in this country you have too accept if you dont like it sorry go too another country . When the pastor burnt the koran IN THE US if other people want too kill each other in another country thats there business . im not saying its good to burn holy books but its just a book. If you dont like the Freedom the US gives then go live in another country. Also i dont really like that people can protest my fellow soldiers funerals but its the law and we have too live by the law

[documemts]

I'm for sending Preacher Jones to downtown Kabul, Afghanistan. From there he can really spread the faith!

[Rodeo_Joe]

So charge the Pastor with treason. Period.

[Hellhavenofurry]

you can,t do that its against the constition

[Think_be4_u_speak]

All due respect, if you understood and spoke the language "Arabic". You would feel like a fool. Peace be unto you!

[theaffluentsociety2]

I go to a college that has a school paper, and the headline today rang: Afghanistan riots against burning of the Quran continue for third day: protests turn peaceful...
I think that speaks for itself on how screwed up Afghanistan's society is

[slatep]

In addition to asking Congress to condemn the burning of the book, I wonder how much money he asked for to compensate the families of those who were killed because of this pastor's actions.
When is Washington going to figure out that the only thing this man wants is as many US dollars as he can get his hands on before the DOD figures him out.?

[Reality-Checker]

One very big problem in the South is the prevalent attitudes that say "You don't have to respect someone who disagrees with you".

This type of mentality is neither civil, nor is it constructive.

Under such attitudes, problems never become resolved, and escaltion of hostilities will drain their beholders of their precious energy and resources.

[Think_be4_u_speak]

Reading these comments only proves that the people who condemn Islam knows nothing about it. They depend on hear-say. If you want to criticize and condemn the Quran...read it!!! STUDY IT!!!!

Reading it does not mean you believe it. Find out the facts, prove what you are saying about it to be true. Any Scientific person would tell you this. Rather than talk a bunch of ignorance, elevate yourself, educate yourself.

I disagree with the pastor burning the Quran and although it makes me sick and sad, I also disagree with the killings that followed. Those were innocent persons that were killed. Islam does not permit the killing of innocent people. It says fight those you come to fight you. from that I think the Pastor was the one that should have been dealt with.

Each religion has extremists, people that stray from the truth. Even the Christians have them and has had them since the time of the holy crusades. Killing people in the name of their God "Christ". Giving their Faith a bad name. History tells us this.

For those of you who have commented and support Islam....I say tell them "Peace be unto you" and leave them to their ignorance. It is what we are taught to do should we meet people who are seeking for a reason to cause problems.

Be comforted in knowing that no matter what they do or say about Islam, they could NEVER eradicate it! We are aware of the TRUTH and one day they will too but it might be too late for them to repent.

[Think_be4_u_speak]

I feel so sorry for you "RetrangerCSM",your knowledge is limited and so is your grasp of foreign languages. I do not blame you for falling victim to propaganda being spread as "News", you are not the first and most definitely not the last.

[John_Rational]

Your reply leads me to believe you are a Muslim, but it does not say that you are. Americans need to see posts that say,"I am a Muslim and I condemn the taking of innocent lives for any reason and Islam condemns the taking of innocent life. I support the war on apostate terrorists."

Is that really asking too much? Americans interpret the silence of most Muslims as indicating approval of the terrorists.

[crazyname]

Korans are burned, not thrown in the trash! If these terrorists are killing people because of a burned Koran, it is an excuse, and we need to stop babying these people. We can't say anything bad, we cannot call them islamic terrorists, we ahve to be politically correct, and don't want to anger them, while they kill westerners and their own at will. Screw them, fight the war as a war should be faught, call a spade a spade, don't hide behind political correctness. If they kill non-muslims, do all you can to take them out. Take the handcuffs off of the soldiers, and let those just convicted out of prison and out of courts. We looses these wars because of political corerectness, allowing the news media to act as gods and overseeers, and our president is afraid to call muslim extreemist just that, and the war in Lybia is a kenetic struggle. Good god! Somebody grow a pair.

[Ktulutu]

Hey MohatmaJeebus, or Enemy Cheerleader, if you hate America so much and have everything about God and religion straightened out I see nothing more for you to do in this country or the world for that matter. Go play in traffic.

And try with all your might not to reply to this with the following hysterics: I am illiterate (I am not), I am ignorant, (I am not-you however are), I am a racist, (I am not I judge people by their actions you defend them based on ethnicity and race), etc.

Go experience real life not a college lecture hall and you will grow up too!