Petraeus Says Christian Extremists are Putting Troops at Risk

BookBurningPlans by a tiny Gainesville, Fla. church to burn Qurans on Sept. 11 were condemned by a guy who knows how to act toward Islam. Gen. David Petraeus is pleading with the Christian extremists to tone it down or put American troops at risk.

“It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort,” Gen. Petraeus said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. “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.”

Hundreds of Afghans attended a demonstration in Kabul on Monday to protest the plans of Florida pastor Terry Jones, who has said he will burn the Quran on Sept. 11…

Military officials fear the protests are likely to spread beyond Kabul to other Afghan cities. In interviews with various media outlets, Mr. Jones has denied his protest will put troops in danger. Mr. Jones has been denied a permit for the demonstration but has said he plans to go forward with his protest anyway.

Meanwhile, people in Gainesville — home of the flagship University of Florida and its law school, and one of the few places in that part of the state that still elects Democrats — struggled to both condemn the 50-member church and to defend it.

This faux commercial for the event sums up the absurdity in Pastor Jones’ position.

Twenty religious leaders representing three faiths and a number of denominations stood together on the steps of City Hall at noon Thursday as a show of solidarity against a small Gainesville church that has commanded worldwide attention…

While Muslim leaders from Cairo to Orlando have condemned Jones, some have also condemned the threats of violence against him.

As un-American as book burnings are, Jones’ lack of regard for American troops and Americans abroad is simply traitorous.

In a statement released Wednesday and signed by 15 imams and Ahmed Al Mehdawi of the Islamic Center of Gainesville, the American Muslim Association of North America called “all Muslims, friends and associates to stop any plan for any sort of violence against the Dove World Church in Gainesville, Florida.”

The event on Thursday, though, was a hopeful one for Saeed Khan, a former president of the Muslim Association of North Central Florida.

“More than 30 years ago, we as a family — me and my wife — decided to settle here,” Khan told the crowd. “Looking back, looking at all of you, looking at how Gainesville is responding to this, we made an excellent choice.”

Later, during the City Commission’s meeting, Mayor Craig Lowe issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 11 “Interfaith Solidarity Day.”

As un-American as book burnings are, Jones’ lack of regard for American troops and Americans abroad is simply traitorous.

…Westerners in Afghanistan have been warned away from restaurants and other public places as tensions arise over the matter.

Military leaders usually try to distance themselves from politics, so the decision by Gen. Petraeus to speak out to try and stop the burning is unusual. But last year Gen. Ray Odierno, the top commander in Iraq, asked President Barack Obama to stop the release of photos showing the abuse of Iraqi detainees, arguing pictures of Muslims being abused could touch off violence in Iraq and potentially slow down the withdrawal.

In starting a holy war with Islam, Jones could be fighting a losing battle. While there are an estimated 2.04 billion Christians and only 1.5 billion Muslims, each year the number of Christians falls while the number of Muslims grows. The numbers of atheists and agnostics, especially in America, are on also on the increase. Pastor Jones is no doubt part of the reason for an uptick in bumper stickers like the one I saw on the back of a pick-up truck yesterday:

I love God.
It’s his fans I can’t stand.

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One thought on “Petraeus Says Christian Extremists are Putting Troops at Risk”

  1. Donot think of our holy book Islam whoever you troops Islam is pure religion don’t mess with it you will have to pay visit to hell you bloody idiots we will boycott you and your product from ths globe if have guts do try you all will won’t return your home , you are resembling Ladin becoz youarent aware that Kuran also posses respected name of Jesus Christ and mother Mary , atleast respect whom you worship!

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