Posted on 05/12/2005 6:14:15 PM PDT by ARealMothersSonForever
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Muslims around the world on Thursday to resist calls for violence from people outraged by a report that interrogators at Guantanamo Bay had desecrated the Koran.
Interrogators at the U.S. military prison in Cuba reportedly put Korans in toilets and in at least one case flushed the holy book away, triggering violent demonstrations in Afghanistan, where seven people have died in related violence in the past two days. The Pakistani government has also formally protested.
"We have heard from our Muslim friends around the world about their concerns on this matter. We understand and we share their concerns. Sadly some people have lost their lives in violent demonstrations," Rice said, alluding to reports that at least seven people had died in Afghan protests this week.
"I am asking that all our friends around the world reject incitement to violence by those who would mischaracterize our intentions," she added in a surprise statement at the start of testimony to U.S. lawmakers.
"I want to speak directly to Muslims in America and throughout the world. Disrespect for the Holy Koran is not now, nor has it ever been, nor will it ever be tolerated by the United States," she said. "Disrespect for the Holy Koran is abhorrent to us all."
Newsweek magazine recently reported that investigators probing abuses at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had found interrogators "had placed Korans on toilets, and in at least one case flushed a holy book down the toilet."
Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence.
Anxious to improve its image in the Muslim world, the United States has seen its reputation damaged by photographs released last year showing physical and sexual abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison.
Protests over the report began in Jalalabad on Tuesday. The following day police fired on crowds after government offices were set on fire, shops looted and U.N. buildings and diplomatic missions attacked.
Rice said the allegations about desecration of the Koran were being investigated by military authorities and "if they are proven true, we will take appropriate action."
You have a bunch of FANATICS killing themselves over this. There is no trade-off about the Bible.
I just have to shake my head at this "religion".
We're not them-and Americans should always demostrate the difference.
Dang it, I forgot my < p >.
Bullchit-what's good for the goose is good for...
Rush talked about this today, it gave me an idea on a new graphic. Hope I don't get banned...
Who the heck even knows if the story is even true? The authors cited an anonymous source. A totally irresponsible thing to do when known it would cause countless loss of life. It probably never happened. The authors probably just got drunk one night and put bets on how many stupid Muslims would kill each other if they heard of the 'dastardly' deed. All a joke to people in the MSM.
Whio cares if they diss the Bible. I can spit on them. Buth they riot and kill manhy of their own. They're nuts!
Before you blast Condi for saying what she said, just remember, she's a politician that may become a presidential canidate. You have to mince your words when you're in a position like that.
Gee, thanks, Newsweek! Always looking out for America's best interest ...
Crap. Now they're not going to like us anymore. They may even try to hurt us and call us names and such. This really changes everything.
I had an earlier, related post on this (see "newsweek prints taliban propoganda") Apparently there is some more info on this now out that someone posted. I will repost his reply here:
"I heard it reported today ( almost 100% certain that it was on Special Report with Brit Hume ) that the true story was that a prisoner in Gitmo tried flushing some pages of the Koran down a toilet to create a disturbance.
Newsweek and Isikoff couldn't be bothered to get their facts straight in their urgency to slam US troops.
Newsweek ,the NYT and CBS are obviously in a race to the bottom.
With the rest of the fossil media in hot pursuit."
"6 posted on 05/12/2005 6:14:44 PM PDT by Wild Irish Rogue"
If the allegations are true, then the people that did this don't have a brain in their heads. How stupid can people be? It is just like those idiots at Abu Ghraib. Don't these people think? How is doing stupid things like this in any way helpful to our righteous cause against terrorists and Middle Eastern dictators?
"We're not them-and Americans should always demostrate the difference."
You're right. It's hard to improve on the Golden Rule.
Even dare to attempt to transfer any text relating to religion outside of Islam to an Islamic country. Via post or Internet. This is ludicrous. Wrong to desecrate another's scripture, equally wrong to condone the desecration (directly and indirectly) of Judeo-Christian scripture. I allege that Ms. Rice has done this.
Heard some military guest on FoxNews (this afternoon) say that a prisoner did this...can't recall any other details.
You're right. It was criminally stupid.
They got toilets in Gitmo that can suck through a whole book in ONE FLUSH? Where did they get these toilets and how can I get one?
Well, I for one don't believe it. Not for a minute.
The staff at gitmo are walking on eggshells and triple-clearing every syllable before it is spoken.
It's the ridiculous sort of crap that passes for "fact" in middle east "news" outlets.
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