Soldier Used Quran For Target Practice

Military Apologizes For Desecration, Starts Disciplinary Actions; Car Bomb Kills 2 Soldiers

(AP)  An American soldier used a Quran, the Islamic holy book, for target practice in a predominantly Sunni area west of Baghdad, prompting an apology from the U.S. military, a spokesman said Sunday.

Separately, mortar shells slammed into a residential area north of the Iraqi capital, killing at least four people and wounding 30, most children playing outside, officials said Sunday.

The shelling occurred as clashes broke out in Shiite areas late Saturday despite a truce reached last week by Shiite politicians and followers of anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Iraqi police found the bullet-riddled Quran with graffiti inside the cover on a small-arms range near a police station in Radwaniyah, a former insurgent stronghold west of Baghdad, U.S. military spokesman Col. Bill Buckner said in an e-mailed response to a query.

American commanders then launched an inquiry that led to disciplinary action against the soldier, who has been removed from Iraq, Buckner said.

The shooting, which occurred May 9 and was discovered two days later, threatened to further strain relations between the Americans and Sunni allies who have joined forces with them against al Qaeda in Iraq in Radwaniyah and other areas.

The Association of Muslim Scholars, a Sunni group, condemned the shooting of the Quran, calling it "a hideous act against the book of almighty God and the constitution of the nation and the source of its glory and dignity."

The incident was first reported by CNN, which broadcast a ceremony at which the top American commander in Baghdad apologized to tribal leaders in Radwaniyah. The military confirmed the details in an e-mailed response to a query.

"I come before you here seeking your forgiveness," Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond was quoted as saying. "In the most humble manner I look in your eyes today and I say please forgive me and my soldiers."

The commander also read a letter of apology by the shooter, and another military official kissed a Quran and presented it to the tribal leaders, according to CNN.

The military statement called the incident "serious and deeply troubling" but stressed it was the result of one soldier's actions and "not representative of the professionalism of our soldiers or the respect they have for all faiths."

The Sunni alliances have been key to a steep decline in violence over the past year, along with a U.S. troop buildup and a longer term cease-fire by al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia.

Bandaged girls and boys with bloodstained clothes cried as they were packed two to a bed at a hospital in Sadr City, a Shiite stronghold where most of the recent fighting has occurred.

At least three mortar rounds struck a house, an open area and a street where boys were playing soccer in the Maamil neighborhood on Baghdad's northeastern outskirts, witnesses said.

Those killed included a man and three children, according to police and hospital officials who also said at least 30 people were wounded.

Associated Press photos showed men holding two dead babies bundled in blankets. Relatives identified them as 1-year-old Zahra Kadhim and 2-year-old Abbas Nadim.

Sporadic gun battles also occurred in some areas of Sadr City, but no casualties were reported, police said.

Fighting between Shiite militiamen and U.S.-Iraqi forces has ebbed but occasional clashes continue to break out, casting doubt on the durability of the peace deal reached last Monday.

The U.S. military said separately that Iraqi soldiers captured a "special groups" cell leader blamed for coordinating roadside bombings and rocket attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces, in an operation in Husseiniyah, about 20 miles north of Baghdad.

American soldiers also killed two "special groups" militants after coming under attack by a roadside bomb and small-arms fire in the northern Shiite neighborhood of Kazimiyah, according to a separate military statement.

The term "special groups" refers to Shiite militia fighters who are ignoring al-Sadr's cease-fire order.

The skirmishes in Baghdad came as the Iraqi government has shifted its attention to an offensive aimed at clearing Sunni insurgents from the northern city of Mosul.

The military said 15 suspects have been detained in raids targeting al Qaeda in Iraq so far on Saturday and Sunday, including eight in Mosul - six who were linked to a militant leader in the city and two during an operation to disrupt a planned suicide car bombing attack. Iraqi officials say around 1,000 people have been detained in the sweep since May 10.

U.S. air strikes also killed six militants and destroyed a weapons cache after troops were attacked by rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire near Khan Bani Saad, north of Baghdad, according to a military statement.

In violence Sunday, a parked car bomb struck an Iraqi army patrol in eastern Baghdad, killing two soldiers and wounding six other people, police said.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, said she "made clear that the war must be brought to an end" as she met with top Iraqi and U.S. officials Saturday during a visit to Baghdad.

"It has already taken far too many American and Iraqi lives, it has cost far too much in money and the reputation of the United States, and it has drained far too much from the capability of our military," she said in a statement.

The California Democrat led a bipartisan delegation to Iraq.

[taylor2124]

HAHAHHA. This is pretty humorous.
It''s just a BOOK, for crying out loud!!! And heck, since the liberals don''t care if people have the right to burn the American flag, they don''t have a leg to stand on in this Koran nonsense.

I say line up 10,000 Korans and get out the machine guns. It''s just a stupid book. End of story.

[cdfoxtrot]

I can only imagine the uproar from the neocons if an Iranian soldier were to use the bible as target practice. We''d have MacOldGuy promising to bomb as soon as he''s prez. But if it''s an American soldier misbehaving, Limbaugh & Co. will put it down to some kids "letting off steam" (that was how he condoned the torture inflicted by Americans in Iraqi prisons). Oh, the double-standards!

[cdfoxtrot]

taylor2124, thanks, buddy, you just made my point for me. BTW, would that mean it''s okay to do the same thing to the bible?

[iphyt4u]

The American Army officer apologized in English. I thought this was interesting, considering their standing in the middle of an Arabic country. It appears to me that the Army official was talking to the American television audience.

[guadalcanal3]

These extremists fools are quoting the Koran as an excuse to kill Americans...why wouldn''t we use it for target practice?

[sgtrds-e4]

What an incredibly STUPID thing for this solider to do! Obviously his training was cr*ap if they didn''t teach him about the culture of the people he''s supposed to be "liberating". ha and his training NCO and officers all need top be disciplined, with himself being discharged.

[ubrew12]

taylor2124 said: "I say line up 10,000 Korans and get out the machine guns. "

That pretty much sums up Republican values. No thought about what it means to American soldiers WORKING in Iraq, just gimme my stroked ego!!! Only a Republican ego, wrapped up in its version of the American flag, could sacrifice 4000 GI''s to sustain its egotistical version of ''security''. For the rest of us, even CBS POSTING this story was dangerous. This is no time to be inflaming Islamic passions, unless, of course, you''re a moron with sh8t for brains.

[ubrew12]

guadalcanal3 said: "These extremists fools are quoting the Koran as an excuse to kill Americans...why wouldn''''t we use it for target practice?"

Possibly because you''re an extremist fool yourself.

Learn some Arabic and hire yourself out to Al-Qaida.

[sgtrds-e4]

So an invading army from overseas lands on our shores and slaughters 10''s of thousands of innocent civilians. Then captures and occupies our nation for 6 long years of more massive bloodshed and violence, while refusing to leave until our natural resources are stolen by their greedy corporations, who also have their own private mercenary armies that murder and rape at will. They install a puppet government to enforce their from of government on us no matter which type WE want. And now one of their soldiers adds even more insult to us by using the holy bible for target practice. Does anyone NOT see why they''re pis*sed about this?

[cdfoxtrot]

"Soldier Used Quran For Target Practice". And Americans wonder why we were attacked on 9/11.

[nolalou]

"I say line up 10,000 Korans and get out the machine guns. It''''s just a stupid book. End of story."
Posted by taylor2124

To the millions of Muslims around the world, it is NOT JUST A STUPID BOOK, but apparently, you are ONE STUPID AMERICAN! It''s bad enough we are in Iraq based on a lie (weapons of mass destruction), but if we are to ever help forge some sort of alliance between the different factions in Iraq, it cannot be done if we are going to disrespect their religion!

[husein_pasha]

Exactly these fools work in favour of the Islamists!

[keithle1]

Do we have to kiss their butts for the rest of the year because of this?

[toolmangler-2009]

A Muslim can desecrate anything that is deemed non-muslim, No non-Muslim can desecrate anything that is Muslim.

Very one-sided if you ask me.

[husein_pasha]

demongirl, your atheist communists feminist movements died so calm down, nobody wants to discriminate you

[husein_pasha]

keithle, no you will blow

[haoli25]

The most important question here is; did the soldier manage to shoot a 2 inch pattern in that rag?

[soshljustic]

Well said in that we have "respect for all faiths." The mistake was not aligning the quaran with the "holy" books of all faiths and shooting them all as every fool knows, RELIGION IS DIVISIVE IN THE GAME OF MY GOD IS BETTER AND HIGHER AND MORE HOLY THAN YOUR GOD AND THEREFORE I AM A MORE RIGHTEOUS HUMAN THAN YOU ARE UNLESS YOU BELIEVE IN MY GOD AND THE HIERARCHY OF MY GOD/GODDESS (or plurality of same.) Personally I love all the creation stories of foolish mankind used for power and control tactics and meant to satisfy and appease the ego of the mortal. A secular world would reduce this however, we have used religious stories as vehicles for ethics/morals teachings as value conscious cultures as ironic as the practice is and cannot seem to use human empathy for same,because religion holds power,holding sway in the processes of humankind as evinced in this melodrama. Maybe a/theism will take hold in a more educated world, some day, a more humane world. Until then all we can do is enjoy all the gods and goddesses humanity created, that rule and reign over stupidity.

[ontheleft]

We don''t need to give the Iraqis any more reason to hate us and incidents like this put soldiers at risk of retribution. The soldier needs to be dishonorably discharged not only for what he did, but because he lied about it afterwards.

[philtheiaguy]

We are in Iraq for reasons that are shaky at best; we are in that country and to say we are there in order to stop future terrorism, or for oil do not matter at this time. All military members are briefed before they are moved "in country" are local customs and courtesies. I am Christian, and I know what the bible means to me. Muslims have the same passionate feelings about their holy book and rightfully so. Is it just a book? Yes and no; it is made of paper and is replicable. If it were to be used as target practice by an individual from an invading country for reasons of showing disrespect to my religion I would become upset as well. That there was an apology is great and I would imagine that an interpreter was there. I just returned from 18 months in Iraq and Afghanistan and had an interpreter with me at all times. I was just a security administrator. He is the commander for the troops in Baghdad. The Iraqi people heard what he said. We need to give people the respect we desire for them to give to us. We can always get another flag if they burn ours... They will never take away what it stands for. Hopefully the sniper that did this will understand that desecrating other person%u2019s beliefs has set back the mission more than whatever degree of the satisfaction he thought he got from it. Now he is in deep trouble and for what? A book? No... For disrespecting what we all have? Our belief system, and that should not be messed with. .

[bgwinnett]

They were probably just following orders, cus this is now bound to raise tens of thousands of new jihadi recruits to keep T W A T going on for the intended eternity. A war economy needs war.

[husein_pasha]

This fool made nearly priceless favour to the Islamists and has cause more Iraqi people to have radical opinion against the USA

[excoachken]

This sounds like "an Army of One," one jackass.

[bgwinnett]

This fool made nearly priceless favour to the Islamists and has cause more Iraqi people to have radical opinion against the USA

Posted by Husein_Pasha at 04:39 PM : May 18, 2008

Like the corporate puppet masters in this country care about the feelings of the Iraqi people. All they care about is prolonging this war to keep feeding their military industrial complex. Fishmongers sell fish and warmongers sell war.

[klingon69]

Like the corporate puppet masters in this country care about the feelings of the Iraqi people. All they care about is prolonging this war to keep feeding their military industrial complex. Fishmongers sell fish and warmongers sell war.
Posted by bgwinnett at 04:46 PM : May 18, 2008
Ok, pull all our people out, and carpet bomb the entire area (Iran included) then go back set up and take the oil. Hell, all these people were before we set them up was camel humpers who lived from oasis to oasis.

[husein_pasha]

kingston, you haven`t done anything for our modrnisation and we don`t live from oasis to oasis much before the USA has known that we exist

[generey]

The military apologizes.......FOR WHAT??? Does this soldier not have freedom of speech / expression??? Scum in America can burn the Flag and they are "protected" by freedom of speech / expression...DIFFERENT STANDARDS???

[husein_pasha]

Yes, different

[klingon69]

Aren''''t you missing a NASCAR Race Bumpkin boy?
Posted by FloydZepp at 04:54 PM : May 18, 2008
Nope, can''t stand it. Makes no sense to me to waste gas speeding in a left-turn circle for hours.
Can''t you get a different catch-phrase? Everytime somebody post against your muslim friends, you come back with that...getting old.
Aren''t you missing a democrat fund-raiser somewhere?

[klingon69]

kingston, you haven`t done anything for our modrnisation and we don`t live from oasis to oasis much before the USA has known that we exist
Posted by Husein_Pasha at 04:55 PM : May 18, 2008
First off Sasha, It''s KLINGON, not kingston.
Now, ask your question, or spout your krap again.

[husein_pasha]

I have such things which you haven`t dreamed for

[ephd]

I can only imagine the uproar from the neocons if an Iranian soldier were to use the bible as target practice. We''''d have MacOldGuy promising to bomb as soon as he''''s prez. But if it''''s an American soldier misbehaving, Limbaugh & Co. will put it down to some kids "letting off steam" (that was how he condoned the torture inflicted by Americans in Iraqi prisons). Oh, the double-standards!

Posted by cdfoxtrot at 03:35 PM : May 18, 2008

Hey Cd,
You wanna talk double standards. How about Muslims being infuriated when an American Soldier shoots up a koran, but silent when an insurgent/terrorist blows up a mosque and obliterates hunderds of Korans, and fellow muslims.

[msgtret2]

After reading the stuoidity on this artical I can see where the education system in this country stinks.
We are promoting a bunch of morons and thatn giving them computers to tell the world just how dense they are, They do not know history ( American) They get
most of their news from NY Timed and La times and
are brainwashed by Liberal(Socialistic) teachers that
do not tell them that for every $10 that the government gives them they pay the covernment $100
They point at social Europe ie Sweeden where taxes are 90% But don''t wonder why France kicked the Socialists as well as Germany and and Italy. This
War was npt started on 9/11 It began in 1973 When Iran overran our Embassy and held the peop;e hostage till Reagan was elected and they realized that he
would not negotiate with words but with might. Our Embassy in Beitut and Marine barracks in 1983
blew up PAN Am flight over Scotland 1988 Bombed the WRC first time 1993and the USS Cole in 12000 and we
talked and the terrorists said America is a paper tiger, What should happen now is to execute either by
habging or fireing sauad every terrorist immediately and start with El Sadr.DO BOT shoot Books SHOOT Terrorists.

[ephd]

"Soldier Used Quran For Target Practice". And Americans wonder why we were attacked on 9/11.


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Posted by cdfoxtrot at 03:53 PM : May 18, 2008
+ report abuse

You unbelievable idiot!!
Considering that 9/11 occurred 7 years before this event, a more correct question would be "islamic terrorists use thier religion as an excuse to slam airplanes into buildings and murder 3000 Americans" and Muslims wonder why stupid 18 year old soldiers shoot up thier Koran.

[klingon69]

I have such things which you haven`t dreamed for
Posted by Husein_Pasha at 05:06 PM : May 18, 2008
Well if I haven''t dreamed FOR them, I guess I don''t want or need them.

[sistatee-2009]

This is news?

[sgtrds-e4]

I love the hypocrite as*ses here posting garbage like they wipe their as*ses with the Quran and are the same people that would scream for nuclear strikes if a Muslim did that to their "precious" bible.

[sgtrds-e4]

MSGtRET2

So go after the terrorists! The IRAQI''S had nothing to do with your list!

[klingon69]

I love the hypocrite as*ses here posting garbage like they wipe their as*ses with the Quran and are the same people that would scream for nuclear strikes if a Muslim did that to their "precious" bible.

Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 05:15 PM : May 18, 2008
Like the Quran the Bible is a book. What value someone places upon it determines how revered it will be. As a book, it matters little to me what would happen to either.

[ephd]

I love the hypocrite as*ses here posting garbage like they wipe their as*ses with the Quran and are the same people that would scream for nuclear strikes if a Muslim did that to their "precious" bible.


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Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 05:15 PM : May 18, 2008
+ report abuse

What are you talking about?! Muslim countries have desecrated the bible and mistreated Christians for millenia and no one attacked. This war againt muslim targets began when they attacked us! Get a life.

[j-whitman]

The only reason he was shooting at the Quran was,, He used his New Testiment in hand granade training & nobody sent him another.

[klingon69]

I''''m a Republican. And aren''''t you missing an education or a Skynyrd Reunion?

Posted by FloydZepp at 05:19 PM : May 18, 2008
So, that explains you...
I do like Skynyrd (good music), but I don''t attend concerts. Haven''t been to a concert since 1986-87. Saw Lillian Axe, Queensryche and Ratt.

[klingon69]

You mean like the first Crusade? You low educated Bumpkins are a hoot.
Posted by FloydZepp at 05:22 PM : May 18, 2008
I thought that was the Europeans, not Americans??? BTW, did America exist as a country when that occurred???
I don''t velieve so.

[sgtrds-e4]

What are you talking about?! Muslim countries have desecrated the bible and mistreated Christians for millenia and no one attacked. This war againt muslim targets began when they attacked us! Get a life.

Posted by ephd at 05:19 PM : May 18, 2008

This happened in IRAQ! IRAQ did not attack us you effing moron!!!

[nothappyatall]

"American commanders then launched an inquiry that led to disciplinary action against the soldier, who has been removed from Iraq, Buckner said. "

Yeah right, and if it was the buybull instead you can bet they''d be screaming bloody murder about it!
Still waiting for the military to take action against that PUPPY KILLER in washington who threw the puppy off the hillside in video.

[naucoming4u]

The only reason he was shooting at the Quran was,, He used his New Testiment in hand granade training & nobody sent him another.

Posted by j-whitman at 05:23 PM : May 18, 2008
..........

LOL!

Someone tell the Gideons, this man needs another holly book!

[naucoming4u]

I should say "holy" book, not "holly" book.

:-)

[msgtret2]

WHAT A LOAD OF TRASH. The war was not started with a lie it started in 1973 When Iran overran our Embassy and held out people hostage til Reagan was elected.
REsumed in 1983 Bierur Embassy, and Marine barracks.
We talked, Pan Am flight over Scotland 1988, WE talked,World Trade Cntr 1988 WE talked, Tanzania Embassy 1998 We Talked Uss Cole 2000 WE talked. Terrorists (All Islamic men) sais USA is a paper tiger
And killed oner 300 people in WYC 9/11 2001 We quit talking but some people on the left of the aisle still wanted to Talk, We should not shoot books we should shoot Terrorists including El Sadr and quit worring about the nuke Facility in Iran Just wipe it out. and profile and seal our borders and ship all illegals home.Truman deported 2 million illegals after WWII and Eisenhouer deported 13 million in 1954
look up Operation *******. Terrorists only understand Power.

[nothappyatall]

What are you talking about?! Muslim countries have desecrated the bible and mistreated Christians for millenia and no one attacked. This war againt muslim targets began when they attacked us! Get a life.

Posted by ephd

Oh? where did you get YOUR history lessons from,
Ronald McDonald or Bugs Bunny?

Fear was a key ingredient in the theology of many early christians. Fear of god is promoted in the bible, and Church Fathers such as Tertullian and St. John Chyrsostom paraded fear as an important virtue; and indeed it was, both to secular as well as church leadership, since it was essential in maintaining order. Promotion of fear continues down to this day, as people like Pat Robertson tell whole cities that they should fear the "wrath of god" for daring to not discriminate against g@ys. Fear of some sort is always a key ingredient in violence, and Christianity won''t be able to eliminate its potential for fostering violence until it can also eliminate the elements of fear which have played a key role since the beginning.

[ephd]

This happened in IRAQ! IRAQ did not attack us you effing moron!!!


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Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 05:28 PM : May 18, 2008
+ report abuse

My point was that Christians would not scream for war over a desecrated bible, as you had insinuated. I realize that the true reason Bush invaded Iraq was unrelated to the 9/11 attack. I mentioned the 9/11 attack as an explanation for why most American''s supported the Invasion, they beleived Bush''s lies that Iraq had WMD''s and were scared of a future attack on us or one of our allies. The American people do not condone war over religious squabbles as many Muslims seem to.