U.S. soldier uses Quran for target practice; military apologizes
Click to view"BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A soldier used the Quran -- Islam's holy book -- for target practice, forcing the chief U.S. commander in Baghdad to issue a formal apology on Saturday."
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""The actions of one soldier were nothing more than criminal behavior," {Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond} said. "I've come to this land to protect you, to support you -- not to harm you -- and the behavior of this soldier was nothing short of wrong and unacceptable.""
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" Officials said the soldier claimed he wasn't aware the book was the Quran. U.S. officials rejected the claim."
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There's so much stupid here, on both sides, that I don't even know where to start. I almost didn't post this because it's so stupid, but I have a feeling that we'll be hearing about it for a long time...so here it is.
On the U.S. side, there's absolutely no excuse for this. It's STUPID in caps lock. At the end of the day they signed up for the military - they don't have to like it but they do need to do their job and part of that job includes not giving these people even more reasons to hate Americans. Honestly, I don't personally care that they shot at the Quran. I acknowledge that it is in poor taste, but it's just a book. Could have been a Torah, a Bible, or what have you and it wouldn't have made any difference to me - still just a book, still in really bad taste, but not something that we shouldn't just get over and move on from. The part that I find completely frustrating is that the U.S. has armed individuals and sent them out to protect our way of life without making sure they know you WILL NOT get away with this kind of shit. It's unbelievable.
On the Iraqi side, they have a right to be pissed off. That's their holy book and to them it's...well, holy. Shooting at the Quran is more than just shooting at a book and intellectually I get that - to some degree. I acknowledge their right to be miffed. I also acknowledge my right to tell them to get the hell over it now. Those responsible were punished. An apology {though not as heartfelt as the video claims it to be} was issued. Get over it. Quit calling for harsher punishments. You've been offended. Sorry about that. Move on now. We don't put people to death here for "insulting religion" or "cursing God" - See Saudi Arabia.
Also, quit generalizing. All Americans are not evil because one of them shot up your holy book. I don't agree with that action. In fact, I don't agree with any of the actions that resulted in Americans being in Iraq, period, but no one asked me. I didn't vote for Bush or any of his idiot cronies. These people are criminally stupid. You're lucky the only casualty this time was the Quran. Seriously.