Obama White House: Plans to burn the Koran threaten U.S. troops

[Turborama]

Source: USA Today

Sep 07, 2010 12:36 PM -

The Obama White House has joined those who say a Florida church's plan to burn copies of the Koran on 9/11 threatens U.S. personnel in Muslim countries.

Endorsing the comments of Afghanistan commander David Petraeus, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said today that "it puts our troops in harm's way."

=snip=

In a statement protesting the church's plan, Petraeus said "it is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems ... Not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."

Meanwhile, Gibbs also announced some White House plans for Saturday's anniversary of the terrorist attacks. President Obama will attend a memorial service at the Pentagon, while Vice President Joe Biden will be at the World Trade Center site in New York City.

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/09/obama-white-house-plans-to-burn-the-koran-threaten-us-troops/1

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Fuller quote from Politico:

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs begins his briefing with a question about a Florida church's plan to burn a Koran on Sept. 11.

"I think the best place to look for the views of this administration would be to look at the -- look at what General Petraeus said over the weekend," he says.

"We know that that type of activity's being transmitted to places like Afghanistan. ... It puts our troops in harm's way. ... Any type of activity like that ... would be a concern to this administration."
http://www.politico.com/politico44/index.html?refresh=1

[onehandle]

1. So do the attacks on the Muslim center in NYC. And endless war in Iraq, Afghanistan. nt

[Bragi]

2. Want to know how to remove the troops from harm's way?

How about ending the pointless war in Afghanistan Obama has escalated?

Beyond that, I am disturbed to know that the safety of American troops, and maybe the Republic itself, now depends on every single American everywhere refraining from burning a Koran.

Great. That should lead to enduring peace and security.

[Monique1]

3. Thanks for the negative

[Vincardog]

4. I vote for that:ending the pointless war in Afghanistan nt

[uppityperson]

5. While I agree ending the wars would remove the troops, I think you miss the point of this

"I am disturbed to know that the safety of American troops, and maybe the Republic itself, now depends on every single American everywhere refraining from burning a Koran."

Eye. Roll.

[CLANG]

6. I call bullshit

I could burn a Koran in the privacy of my own home and no one would be the wiser. (I never would of course) It's those that want to make a public spectacle about it to "send a message" that are the real traitors. If we didn't do so many things (like invading their countries and killing their peoples, or supporting Israeli terrorism) that increase recruiting by the radicals, we would all be living in peace and harmony right now.

Of course, Republicans don't play nice, so instead of trying to resurrect a peaceful coexistence with Muslim nations, they think it easier to just KILL THEM ALL!

[Bragi]

7. You do realize that Korans will now be publicly burned?

Claiming that the troops will be endangered if anyone in America publicly burns a Koran is stupid because someone, someday, in America will burn a Koran, and then what?

A much smarter thing to do would be to focus like a laser on the idiots in Florida, and to make it as clear as possible to the Muslim world that a) these dolts are out of step with the values of most Americans, and b) they have a constitutional right to stupidly insult any religion they damn well please.

[CLANG]

15. Yes, I do realize that Korans will now be publicly burned.

Not sure I understand the rest of your post as some rebuttal to mine.

[Bragi]

17. Point taken /nt

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[iandhr]

8. Obama stands up for religious liberty

Therefore he must be muslim :sarcasm:

[BadgerKid]

9. America, the land founded on religious freedom -- NOT

Best would have been if our government kept its nose out of this (among other things). What is the budget expense for thought police?

[Quasimodem]

10. Why would the WH dignify this publicity stunt with a comment?

Both the National Association of Evangelicals and the National Counsel of Churches have denounced Jones’ proposed act. He claims to have the support of other churches around the country, but has not been pushed by the media into naming them, if they exist

And why has no one asked what Christian ethic is in play, which calls for Jones’ actions. Like: “Burn those books believed to be holy by others, as you would have others burn the books believed to be holy by you.”

[Vehl]

12. exactly

"Why would the WH dignify this publicity stunt with a comment?"



^^ WH should not give these guys the media spotlight they so crave

[Bragi]

16. This is a serious error for the WH

Neither the White House or Petraeus should have gotten involved in this in any way. Their mistake here will have consequences if not now, then down the road.

For example, if god tells Jones to drop the book-burning this weekend, do we really think that someone else won't jump into the fray, or that the Koran will be safe for all time from being burned by someone somewhere some day in America?

Of course not. What will happen is that some other idiot will eventually announce a Koran burning party. When a burning eventually happens, Muslims globally will then be convinced that Obama decided not to intervene this time, and allowed the burning to take place.

Which is why the WH was incredibly irresponsible to jump into this thing. It's a major blunder in my view.

[Turborama]

18. Word on the street in Afghanistan "It is the decision of the president and the entire United States"

From: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4529992

This appears to be an attempt to dispel that ridiculous yet very dangerous myth that's being spread.

[Bragi]

19. So what happens if Jones now backs off?

First of all, I think our ability to influence what people on the streets in Afghanistan are thinking is very limited, maybe even non-existent.

having said that, since Jones seems to now be getting cold feet, won't any non-burning now confirm for the true believers that Obama and the General did, in fact, stop the burning from happening.

And then what happens next time, when someone someday somewhere in America does organize and conduct on Koran burning?

Won't the call from the ignorant then be for Obama to once again disallow it, which of course he cannot do?

I think jumping into this is a very serious mistake by Obama and Petraeus.

[Turborama]

20. I think burning Qu'rans as a money raising stunt would have been an even more serious mistake

In case you missed it: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9080253

[Bragi]

21. Why?

If Jones backs off, then where will we be at?

Well, the Muslim world will think that their tantrums and threats once again saved the day and caused the White House and Patraeus to stop Jones from burning the Koran.

Then some other nutbar will come along in the U.S and announce a Koran-burning. The Muslim world will then expect the White House to again step in and stop this from happening.

If the nutbar involved says FU to Obama and everyone else, as is likely, then the Muslim world will assume that the burning was allowed to happen, which then, in their minds, would justify jihad, embassy attacks, attacks on Americans abroad, etc. etc.

I would have preferred if OBama had simply made it clear that he opposed the burning of the Koran (duh) but that he had no way to stop it, because Americans enjoy freedom of speech. Then let the chips fall where they may.

That would have been honest, and ultimately, in my view, far less risky than conveying the mistaken impression that Obama can allow or disallow Koran burnings.

It was also dishonest to play the "safety of the troops" card. The real vulnerability to an escalated jihad is not to armed troops, who are already at war, and who are the most protected army ever assembled in the history of mankind.

The real danger of sudden jihad is to softer targets, like embassies, persons traveling abroad, etc.

[jberryhill]

22. The point is to simply dissociate from the nutbars

To make it harder for propagandists to play this as some sort of "officially sanctioned" thing.

[Bragi]

23. Which is the oppositie of what will happen

If Jones backs off, as he may, then any subsequent Koran insult will be seen as officially sanctioned.

[Turborama]

26. No, because a precedent has been set. The White House do not sanction the burning of Qu'rans.

What makes you think any subsequent Qu'ran bonfire would be seen as officially sanctioned seeing as the WH are trying to disassociate themselves from this particular incident?

[Turborama]

24. Obama hasn't actually said anything, Gibbs reiterated what Petraeus said

If he said he opposed the burning of the Qu'rans the reichwing propaganda machine would have been all over him like we've never seen before saying, "SEE!!1 He IS a Muslin!!11"

I'm glad a civil discussion seems to be evolving between us and I actually agree with a lot of your points - especially the soft targets thing, seeing as I am potentially one.

However, I'm actually a bit tired of going over the same arguments for the past few hours, maybe we can pick this up later?

[Bragi]

25. Fair enough

I don't think we're terribly far apart on this.

It's maybe more a matter of tactics than belief.

Stay safe.

- B

[CLANG]

31. If he's backing off, it's because he's had credible death threats

Rule number 1 (Common Sense 101): Don't become the mortal enemy of a potential terrorist.

[Cha]

11. Yes, it does and I'm glad the White House has

has put a light on this uglyness from the idiot zealots.

[Arkana]

14. He's right--they most likely do.

However, we have no power to stop those crazy fuckers from doing it.

[Rex]

27. Umm...you put our troops in harms way...well actually the guy before you did.

So if you are at all concerned, bring every dam one of our military professionals home! Thought not.

[firehorse]

28. Dumass should get his church tax status revoked

Revoke his tax status, he should be put on a hate group watch list the way neo-nazis are watched. He should be disavowed, his church should kick him out as he's preaching hate and not the teaching of love and tolerance.

It seems like this is about his 15 minutes of fame.

If he thinks he's such a bad-ass he should go to Kabul and burn the koran there.

[Bragi]

29. The stunt will just go somewhere else /nt

[Bonobo]

30. What a pathetic reason to oppose it.

[midnight armadillo]

33. How 'bout: burning Korans endangers Muslims in America?

naw, can't have the WH siding with an unpopular group. That might leave them open to Republicans saying mean things about them!