Quran Burning Threatens Troops

By: Bill Waters
09/07/2010 06:42 PM ET

Quran burning threatens troops. A Florida church plans to burn copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, which could endanger troops. The State Department denounced the idea as “un-American” and claims it will put American diplomats at risk.

Burning the Muslim holy book could also put American travelers at risk. “The administration hoped Americans would stand up and reject the church’s plan to burn copies of the Quran to mark the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said in a statement. “We think that these are provocative acts,” Crowley added. “They are disrespectful, they’re intolerant, they’re divisive … We would like to see more Americans stand up and say that this is inconsistent with our American values; in fact, these actions themselves are un-American.”

In addition, he announced the plan as “a divisive potential act of disrespect of one of the world’s great religions. And, while we support (and) defend our freedoms, including freedom of expression, this is an action that has potential serious ramifications.” According to Crowley, U.S. diplomats already had reported small-scale demonstrations against the Quran burning in several countries “where anxiety levels are building because of the publicity surrounding this proposed action.”

Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center is the Christian minister who is organizing the Quran burning. He has stated that he will go ahead despite the government’s objections. According to the small evangelical Christian church, with an anti-Islam philosophy in Gainesville, Jones has gotten more than 100 death threats and has started wearing a firearm. “We hope that between now and Saturday, there will be a range of voices across America that make clear to this community that this is not the way for us to commemorate 9/11,” Crowley said. “In fact, it is consistent with the radicals and religious bigots who attacked us on 9/11.”

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