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  RomeoRamenII at 11:32 PM JST - 19th May

  "The incident, which occurred on May 9 and was discovered two days later, was first reported by CNN..."

  Just returned from The New Sanno Hotel where I was watching the nearly non-stop coverage of this "story" by the Crescent News Network.

  The U.S. Military is taking corrective action and hasn't tried to cover up anything.

  Meanwhile, the world awaits for any Muslim leader to step up and speak out against the Islamoterrorists who blows up people without remorse and beheads captives all in the name of their religion.

  RR

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  Zaphod at 11:45 PM JST - 19th May

  It is just so typical that Association of Muslim Scholars immediately finds all the energy in the world to complain about an alleged Koran desecration. Wouldn´t it be interesting to see them get equally excited about any of the murders carried out by Sunni jihadists on a daily basis. But don`t hold your breath for that.

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  Alphaape at 01:01 AM JST - 20th May

  Desercration is bad for any book, but for the muslims there to get bent out of shape for a holy book to me is a bit "silly." Don't get me wrong, I consider myself a devout Christan, and would not want anyone to destroy a Bible. But if they did, I would not get bent out of shape for the destruction of the book, simply because the religion is to be lived and is within me. True if it was my only Bible I would be upset if I could not read it daily or if it had some significance because it was given to me by my family, but to be on the wrath because someone desecrated a book is a bit extreme.

  I know what is in the Bible, and I try to live it. If you destroy a book, then that is what you do. The religion is more about what is in the book, and not so much the book itself. I find it amazing, that anyone can go to the Vatican and walk aroun and look at the artifacts there, but any non-Muslim is not allowed to enter Mecca (they have a high way sign that is labled "Christian Bypass" that I have seen). I think that they need to take a deep breath and step back and think rationally.

  Yes it was a bad act, but I don't think we need to go bow down and kiss thier feet. They wouldn't do it for a Bible that was shot up.

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  Sarge at 06:44 AM JST - 20th May

  Madverts - No, he kissed the Koran ( you should capitalize Koran with a big K, like I have here, if you want to show respect, by the way ) because he was under heavy pressure.

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  Betzee at 09:44 AM JST - 20th May

  Yes it was a bad act, but I don't think we need to go bow down and kiss thier feet. They wouldn't do it for a Bible that was shot up.

  Look, we have enormous sunk costs in Iraq. Yet General Petreaus acknowledged in March that "recent gains are fragile and reversible." Under these circumstances, you gotta go the extra mile.

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  TonyUS at 09:47 AM JST - 20th May

  adaydream,, please control yourself.. If it is his book he can do with it as he pleases no matter where he is at and that is what he done. As I read others opinions about the bible and defacing it or flags being burnt, hey it happens all the time all over the world..

  I do not care where it is and who it is, what you do with one of your possession is your business and many times it is to show your dislike to a certain issue or circumstance and all have that right as for being from a free democracy. Do not stoop or bow to those that support control over others as it seems you are trying to commit to. If this is your choice, fine, go move to one of these countries where you can have your life controlled and ruled by another.

  Of course the military will take action concerning this issue just for the fact of relations with the general ideology of what I see as radicals that are the ones that are keeping the ciaos alive over there. All we need is more softness in taking control of the situation that from the beginning got completely out of hand from trying to play good guy to all sides, take for instance extremist Sadar, one that should have been disposed of right from the start but still around threatening peace and stability in Iraq and warning all out killing of US service men and that was before this incident .

  If someone wants to target practice with a bible, hey that is their right if it is their's, It is not hurting me even if I am a christian. Just makes me feel they have a negative issue with it. There are more! This part of being part of acivilized culture, something that can not be said for some of these people over there.... GEEZ!!!!!!!!

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  Betzee at 10:22 AM JST - 20th May

  Um Tony, there's no sense from your post of the context under which this incident occurred.

  If someone wants to target practice with a bible, hey that is their right if it is their's,

  One could make this argument if the person did this in his backyard at home. Instead it occurred after he was sent to Iraq by the Army. When someone else sends you, be it the Army or the Peace Corps or whoever, they absolutely have the right to impose restrictions on personal conduct because you're representing the organization, not yourself.

  I know for many on the Right apologizing is to be avoided at all costs cuz it makes you look weak. Kissing a copy of the Koran must have been a real emetic for many.

  Yet what's the alternative? Dismissing the incident as one of "my rights [in your country]." What's going to be the likely Iraqi response? I don't want to go back to the days when we were losing 100 people a month to IEDs, and neither should anybody else.

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  TonyUS at 02:44 PM JST - 21st May

  I do not see anyone victimizing one of our soldiers as for the good they are there to do. If anything. stand up for them and try understand the pressures they are under from the conditions and circumstances they are facing on a daily basis..

  Maybe he is representing the face of the US but on the other hand he is human and humans have feelings and also limits.

  Sure no one wants to se more deaths of anyone on either side or of around the world as a whole but as for misjudgments by individuals there are many issues playing in the part of ones actions and should not be seen as the villain after that person has served and paid his dues in such a hostile environment. I stand up for him and not those extremists that want to make him some evil.

  So you can have your view and opinion and I will keep mine.  Shooting a Koran.. If that relieved his pain, good for him! The extremists can suffer as they have made many suffer because of such senseless beliefs of the extreme.

  Our soldiers and commanders in Iraq have had a worthless bunch of advisors and military planners from the start, especially once they reached Baghdad which was so widely publicized as such a record advance, then not knowing what to do as all sat back and watched the place destroyed by looting and all other acts of violence, also extremist gathering in groups as extremist leaders inspired 1000’s at a time out in the open on the streets infront of the soldiers, telling the people to kill and stand against the invaders while the troops stood, watching and listening and at the same time more and more people are convinced to fight against those there to give them a better life.. The whole strategy of this war was based on incompetence and some of these guys over their have all reason to be disgusted and full of hate for the religion of Islam when there are so many extremists that base their lives on hatred and death to others, and our guys and gals over there on the receiving end of it.

  You have your views , I have mine. What he did may not be good on the relations part of the scheme, but hey, you are not in his position..

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  Betzee at 11:00 PM JST - 21st May

  but hey, you are not in his position..

  Indeed. Though it's dangerous to go down this road "I wasn't in his position and therefore I cannot pass judgement." In fact I was not passing judgement on him but on those who defended his actions on "my rights" grounds. This is an American mindset which often lands those who possess it in trouble when they venture outside the USA. I also found the whining about "they do it too and worse" a remarkably childish defense.

  The whole strategy of this war was based on incompetence

  On this we can agree. In the past those who opposed the American presence were labelled "enemies of freedom." Such a characterization reflected a total lack of insight into Iraq's past and how that might affect different Iraqis' perceptions of their future in a post-Saddam political order which became "democracy at gunpoint."

  By contrast, the way this incident was handled reflects recognition of the world as it is, not as we might like it to be. This book is sacred to Muslims, a rare point of agreement amongst Iraqis carrying on ancient feuds at great cost to everyone. What any of us think of it, or religion in general, is irrelevent. It was heartening the military, and even GWB, recognized what is at stake here in their efforts to apologize for this soldier's causing offense.

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  unscrejects at 12:00 AM JST - 22nd May

  You endanger the lives of your fellow soldiers and countrymen... the only thing good for you is the wall. They should blind fold him...

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  TonyUS at 12:24 PM JST - 23rd May

  unscrejects, That is real ignorance a remark like that. Why don't you go take his place!

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  TonyUS at 12:26 PM JST - 23rd May

  I know a few that has been there and back home, I run a rural bussiness, and as for these guys going over there risking their lives I could never say that about any of them especially over the Koran, Some BS that has only brought about extreme thinking and hate and death towards others. Maybe not by all, but that is the basis of it.

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  Zaphod at 12:42 AM JST - 24th May

  Betzee:

  " This book is sacred to Muslims, a rare point of agreement amongst Iraqis carrying on ancient feuds at great cost to everyone. What any of us think of it, or religion in general, is irrelevent "

  This is so totally wrong on so many levels. Not all Iraqis are muslims, and the Koran is not sacred for Yazidis, Mandeans, or Christians... those who remain after the last few years of brutal attacks by muslims, both Sunni and Shia. And religion is not irrelevant at all here. It is the Koranic teaching of jihad against unbelievers until they are all in submission under Shariah which is basis for the jihadist terror in Iraq, both of Sunni and Shia persuation.

  To say sorry about the soldier who shot the thing is OK. To kiss the book of conquest is quite another; it is a public symbol of submission under the only true religion -- and it only confirms to the Jihadist that they are right. The next logical step would be the mass conversion of the US to islam... something that Ahmedinejad has already called for in his letter to Bush.

  This is so very wrong and show so clearly how the US government still does not get at all what we are all up against. (Of course, in that they are not different from many posters here.)

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  super delegate at 12:20 PM JST - 24th May

  Maybe the soldier in question is too young to realize that although the Koran is quoted frequently and at length by Osama bin Laden and his death cult, and by Khomeini's homicidal followers in Iran, and by Muslim suicide bombers from Bali to London, and by the "insurgents" killing his fellow soldiers in Iraq, and by the hooded cowards who behead 'infidels' on the internet, and by "Palestinian" killers of Israeli children and innocents, that doesn't necessarily make it a sort of field manual for the entire Ummah .

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  Zaphod at 09:08 PM JST - 24th May

  Super Delegate:

  " that doesn't necessarily make it a sort of field manual for the entire Ummah " "

  Actually, it is a field manual for the entire Ummah. Even moderate muslims agree that the Koran must not be criticized, never, ever, ever. Which is why this whole Western idea of blanking out the "islam" aspect from the islamic jihad is so futile.

  Of course, there are plenty of moderate muslims. The problem is that they are not very muslim, i.e. they don`t have a theological leg to stand on. OBL and his fellow travellers have the word of god on their side.

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