The Dove World Outreach Center Church, of Gainesville, Fla., made news by announcing 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. The plan made headlines and garnered condemnation from numerous levels of government. The Muslim world has currently condemned it. General David Petraeus himself called for a stop to the planned fire of the Koran. He has said it will do nothing besides put our service personnel and civilians in greater risk.
Dove World Outreach Center warned
According to the Christian Science Monitor, Gen. Petraeus has requested the church to halt any Koran fire. He said it would only harm our troops, and he would know, as the commander of all U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Petraeus has warned the action will only be doing the Taliban a favor, as a group of American Christians fire the Koran would be a recruiting tool for the enemy. 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. Tensions between Muslims abroad and American foreign relations are already high. The Ground Zero mosque debate has currently been enough of a point of contention.
Church to dwell on the repercussions
The Dove World Outreach Center Church has put a temporary stop to the demonstration. The church is considering whether to go through with it or not. The potential ramifications are on the mind of the members and Pastor Terry Jones, which is why, according to CNN, the members will think it over. The intention was to burn Korans on an “International Burn a Koran Day” on Sept. 11 this year. Nevertheless, the caution from Gen David Petraeus has given them pause. The group claims that all of Islam was never the target of the demonstration. Instead, the aim was to demonstrate against radical elements of the Muslim world.
This will do no benefit
The pastor and his congregation can believe anything they wish, and protest whatever they wish as it is their right. Nevertheless, Gen. Petraeus is right. This demonstration will only help the enemy. More extremists will be created by this protest of extremism.
Further reading
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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