Afghan Koran burning at Bagram sparks fresh protests

[Cerise]

Anti-American demonstrations are under way in the Afghan cities of Kabul and Jalalabad over the burning of copies of the Koran by Nato troops.
Shots have been fired in Kabul, where protesters have gathered outside a US military base.
On Tuesday, the US commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Allen, apologised after soldiers put copies of the Koran in an incinerator at Bagram airbase.
The charred remains of the books were found by local labourers.
Protesters in Kabul shouted, "Death to America!" and threw stones at the main US base in the city.
At least four policemen have been injured, reports the BBC's Andrew North, in Kabul.
Witnesses at the protests in Kabul said security guards were firing into the air. There are also reports of people chanting pro-Taliban slogans.
Demonstrators blocked the road linking Kabul with the eastern city of Jalalabad.
Two senior Afghan officials told the BBC that religious materials held by Taliban prisoners had been confiscated because US officials suspected they were using them to send secret messages to each other.
US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said he and Gen Allen apologised to the Afghan people "and disapprove of such conduct in the strongest possible terms".
After previous incidents, many Afghans find it hard to understand how US forces could have allowed the Koran to have been burned, our correspondent says.
Last year, at least 24 people died in protests after a hardline US pastor burned a Koran in Florida.
The US embassy in Kabul has tweeted that it is on lockdown and all travel is suspended.
One person was wounded and five detained after troops at Bagram fired rubber bullets at protests on Tuesday.







http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17123464



First thought was " Its a BOOK!"
Second thought was " Isn't religion wonderful?" (thought with sarcasm)

 

[DodgeFB]

My first thought. It was a stupid thing to do. After being there 10 damn years they had to know this would happen.

 

[RoccoR]

DodgeFB, et al,

Yes, well, our nation has been there ten years (a decade).

My first thought. It was a stupid thing to do. After being there 10 damn years they had to know this would happen.

(COMMENT)

But it doesn't add up to ten years of experience. It is one (maybe two) years of experience, five or ten times.

Combat troops are trained to fight the enemy. It will be another half century before our combat troops effectively learn how to engage the liberated.

Today, we'll be lucky if we don't have to fight our way out of the country we liberated.

Afghanistan is a nation that has somehow evolved to believe that a Book of Words is more sacred than a human life. The gene pool for intelligence life has been lost. It is a country that has not worked its way into the industrialization of the 18th Century, let alone understand those that live in the 21st Century. And the people of the 21st Century, don't think like a pre-Revolutionary War humans.

Most Respectfully,
R

 

[DodgeFB]

DodgeFB, et al,

Yes, well, our nation has been there ten years (a decade).
(COMMENT)

But it doesn't add up to ten years of experience. It is one (maybe two) years of experience, five or ten times.

Combat troops are trained to fight the enemy. It will be another half century before our combat troops effectively learn how to engage the liberated.

Today, we'll be lucky if we don't have to fight our way out of the country we liberated.

Afghanistan is a nation that has somehow evolved to believe that a Book of Words is more sacred than a human life. The gene pool for intelligence life has been lost. It is a country that has not worked its way into the industrialization of the 18th Century, let alone understand those that live in the 21st Century. And the people of the 21st Century, don't think like a pre-Revolutionary War humans.

Most Respectfully,
R

Then they need better training. I have never been there and I would have known this would happen. Guess they never heard about the deaths caused when that dumb preacher burned one.

 

[RoccoR]

DodgeFB, et al,

Humm, my understanding was that the men put them in the same burn pit as they do other official documents, and confiscated material.
(I could be wrong!)

Then they need better training. I have never been there and I would have known this would happen. Guess they never heard about the deaths caused when that dumb preacher burned one.

(COMMENT)

Yes, and the command realizes this.

When insurgents use a Holy Document to pass "extremist messages or inscriptions" and materials, they have already defiled the Koran. But it must be understood that an Afghan hold defamation in a double standard. It is all about what the American did, and not what the Afghan's did to it. They are not intellectually capable of understanding that.

(U.S. Gen. John) Allen issued a new directive ordering all coalition forces in Afghanistan to complete training in the proper handling of religious materials no later than March 3. The training will include the identification of religious materials, their significance, correct handling and storage, he said.
SOURCE: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57381495/quran-burning-angers-afghans-u.s-vows-probe/

The US should leave Afghanistan and let the Taliban have it back. I'm sure that Afghans will appreciate it more. We should not waste any more blood or treasure in this worthless effort.

Most Respectfully,
R

 

[DodgeFB]

The US should leave Afghanistan and let the Taliban have it back. I'm sure that Afghans will appreciate it more. We should not waste any more blood or treasure in this worthless effort.

Most Respectfully,
R

I am all for that. I just hope we don't jump into another mess anytime soon.