The Dove World Outreach Center Church, of Gainesville, Fla., made news by stating the objective of the members and Pastor Terry Jones, to set copies of the Koran alight in a protest over several issues, including Muslim extremism. Government officials have asked the chapel call it off. Protests have already started within the Muslim world. General David Petraeus has cautioned the church that should the demonstration of burning the Koran take place, it will put servicemen and women in greater danger than ever before.
Request for Dove World Outreach Center to stop
The commander of United States forces in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus, according to the Christian Science Monitor, has asked the church to not partake in any Koran burning. He said that a group of American Christians fire the Koran will achieve nothing optimistic. He insists it will only be doing the Taliban and Al Qaeda a favor, as it can be a recruiting tool in opposition to perceived American bigotry. He also cautioned that as a result, it would make winning over Afghans and others worldwide that much more difficult and put American soldiers in greater danger. The Ground Zero Mosque controversy has already been enough of a strain, and American-Islamic tensions are currently high as it is.
Church to think it over
The Dove World Outreach Center Chapel is weighing the decision to go through with the burnings. Pastor Terry Jones said that the members of the chapel were concerned about the potential impact and are thinking over the planned demonstration, as outlined by CNN. The objective was to burn Korans on an “International Burn a Koran Day” on Sept. 11 this year. However, the caution from Gen David Petraeus has given them pause. The radical elements of Islam were the intended targets of the demonstration are the position the chapel has held all along.
Who’s going to be best served?
Though the pastor and the church he ministers to have the right to protest no matter what they wish and hold any views they wish, General Petraeus is absolutely correct. This protest, should it be carried out, will be a propaganda victory for extremists.
CS Monitor
csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2010/0907/Petraeus-Dove-World-Outreach-Center-s-Burn-a-Koran-Day-endangers-troops
CNN
cnn.com/2010/US/09/07/florida.quran.burning/?hpt=Sbin
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