U.S. Defense and White House officials profusely apologized for the burning of copies of the Koran that took place at Bagram airbase earlier this week. Peter Lavoy, acting assistant secretary of defense for Asia and Pacific Security Affairs, said "I know apologies are never enough and do not erase this incident. I regret and apologize for this incident...such an incident will never happen again." Gen. John R. Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan also apologized, stating that the Isl?mic holy books were improperly disposed of, according to the Washington Post. Pentagon press secretary George Little said that Savoy's apology "was part of a broad effort by the administration to defuse the controversy." President Barack Obama has also expressed regret over the improper disposal of the holy books.
The Koran burning sparked anti-western riots where a UN mission was attacked, reportedly killing 14 people in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of the northern province of Balkh. Other sources say that 20 people perished, including two US Soldiers. Still, the riots continue. Mauri Saalakhan head of the "Peace Thru Justice Foundation" heard Lavoy's apology, and said it is helpful, but insufficient.
It is appropriate to apologize, as the Koran burning is clearly not going to be popular with devout muslims. However, are the apologies excessive? They are not stopping the riots and the burning of the holy books pales in comparison to the killings, which was not mentioned by the US Officials, who should be condemning this horrible act of violence.
Charles Krauthammer said that an apology from "the commander on the ground" would have been enough. He said, "we have gone from apology here to abject self-debasement and groveling. And groveling to whom? To the mob." He continues by stating that "nobody asked the Islamic Conference, a grouping of the 56 Islamic countries, to issue an apology when Christians are attacked and churches are burned in Egypt or in Pakistan. And had we heard a word from any Islamic leader anywhere about the radical Muslims in Nigeria who are not only burning the churches, but burning women and children who are in the churches, when I hear that, I'll expect my president to start issuing apologies."
With the Arab spring has come a "religious cleansing" in the Muslim world. President Barack Obama and his administration, as well as the mainstream media, have been weirdly silent over the ongoing church attacks and murders of Christians.
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Comments: 17
You are so politically biased against the Obama administration that you can't see that the apology was offered to PROTECT INNOCENT CIVILIANS AS WELL AS OUR TROOPS--from possible unnecessary retaliation.
It was also done to make it easier for negotiations in the future.
Your primitive, unsophisticated bias, against the Obama administration, in this instance, boggles the mind.
The apology was undoubtedly more about containing the situation, Brett, than actual remorse over the act, as if there was genuine sorrow over the destruction of the holy books, the Pentagon Press Secretary would not say that the apology "was part of a broad effort by the administration to defuse the controversy."
It seems as though the apologies don't work. And now the death toll is up to 30, as reported by the LA Times, "By week's end, the Koran-burning riots had turned into one of the most sustained outbreaks of civil unrest in Afghanistan since the start of the war, despite an early and emphatic apology by Allen. Further expressions of regret, in the form of a letter from President Obama delivered Thursday, also did little to quell public passions, though he was pilloried for the apology by Republican rivals at home.
For some Afghans, particularly the better educated, the scenes of strife triggered conflicting emotions. Many believed that the protests were being deliberately exploited by a variety of players: the Taliban movement, neighboring countries — such as Iran and Pakistan — that generally rejoice at yet another American misstep, and various domestic political factions."
Unfortunately, the killings of US soldiers and others over this far outweigh the destruction of the books, we have our priorities in the wrong order here.
you are dead on correct.
the koran had already been desecrated by the individual muslims using it as secret message vehicle for terrorism.
where is the outrage over that?
this is nothing more than a guise to mis-direct hostility, against those (us) they already hate.
brett,
yes of course - we should always apologize for trying to stop a tragedy - just because they are plotting to kill us, how wtrong of us to be upset?
{ font = sarcasm} I mean really - the jews should say they are sorry to hitler, for showing his true nature right? {/font }
as it appears that you havbe not the first iota of understanding, obama is at fault for apologizing, for a crime that was already committed by others, instead of pointing it out!
your logic on this is at LEAST 2X8 shy of a rick!
Hardly compares to the "offence" committed by our Soldiers, by burning books defaced by Muslims.
We had better learn how to fight, level that place, and be done with it. This molly-coddling is, has been, and always will be the recipe for disaster, where "fighting" any War is concerned.
The purpose of War is to kill people, break things, and WIN, with alacrity.
We'd better wake up...or lose.
but in typical arrogance, the new guy always believes it will work when HE does it!.
Nobody likes War...it is an ugly, nasty Business. All the better we get in there, kick some serious Ass, WIN, and come home. Like we used to do.
i was a major protestor during 60's and 70's of nam - but not in the way most were - i had the utmost respect for the troops, and felt the atrocity was in the stupic fubar method of engagement.
cant shoot till they do? hard to return fire once you are dead.
How is that ego working? What is the death toll?