US sniper shot at Koran in Iraq

[Garbarsardar]

An American sniper has been sent home from Iraq for using a copy of the Koran for target practice at a shooting range near Baghdad, the US military says.

The Muslim holy book was found riddled with bullet holes last week by Iraqi police, who also discovered offensive graffiti inside its cover.

A US military spokesman said the soldier had been removed from his unit, sent home, and would be disciplined.

He was unnamed, but was reportedly a staff sergeant in a sniper section.

US military spokesman Colonel Bill Buckner said the incident was "both serious and deeply troubling", but stressed it was an "isolated incident and a result of one soldier's actions".

The US army's commander in Baghdad, Major-General Jeffery Hammond, made a personal apology to local Sunni Arab leaders in Radwaniya, CNN reported.

On arrival, he was met by hundreds of protesting tribesmen.

"In the most humble manner, I look into your eyes today and I say, please forgive me and my soldiers," Gen Hammond said, according to CNN.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7407187.stm

The fact that the book was the Koran leaves me completely indifferent. However the fact that someone shoots at a book reminds me of book burning practices.

Or is it simply the equvalent of burning the American flag?

[Marie Louise von Preussen]

So what? What makes the Koran any different from any other book?

I bet that if he was using "The Art of War" or "The Da Vinci Code" that would go unnoticed.

[Erik]

I bet that if he was using "The Art of War" or "The Da Vinci Code" that would go unnoticed.

Because shooting either of those books won't hurt the objectives of the US military in Iraq.

[Syron]

So what? A book is a book is a book. The last thing this world needs is to encourage the view that there are things beyond reproach.

However the fact that someone shoots at a book reminds me of book burning practices.

Eh?

a) No burning b) No wholesale destruction of a (incredibly widely circulated) book for the purposes of removing it's contents from history. I Think you're just being paranoid.

Because shooting either of those books won't hurt the objectives of the US military in Iraq.

Well lets be honest, a "kafir" army was never going to popular in that hell hole of a region. I don't really see how this makes any difference.

[Centurion-Lucius-Vorenus]

So what? What makes the Koran any different from any other book?

Because that Book is the holiest text of nearly the entire population of a country that America is trying to stabilize.

[removeduser_426582376423734]

Voltaire, its quite obviously symbolic of Quran = Muslims = bad = kill. If you are surprised that a US soldier shooting a copy of the Quran angered Iraqi Muslims then I don't know what to tell you. I'd have hoped they could elaborate on "offensive graffiti".

[Old_Scratch]

He was probably expressing his anger towards Islam specifically. Or maybe he just wanted to go home? In that way he was successful. Either way, I don't think it at all relates to mass book burning.

[Vladimir Lenin]

He was probably expressing his anger towards Islam specifically. Or maybe he just wanted to go home? In that way he was successful. Either way, I don't think it at all relates to mass book burning.

That's the way to leave Iraq, tell all servicemen to start shooting Qurans.

[jankren]

I think the soldier got what hoped would result from his action. Lol

Anyway, the radical Muslims must be so happy. More fuel for them to incite the masses.

[Holger Danske]

I think the soldier got what hoped would result from his action. Lol

Anyway, the radical Muslims must be so happy. More fuel for them to incite the masses.

Why? Isn't Islam the religion of peace?

[danzig]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7407187.stm

The fact that the book was the Koran leaves me completely indifferent. However the fact that someone shoots at a book reminds me of book burning practices.

Or is it simply the equvalent of burning the American flag?

Id say about in line with burning American flag. To "combat" the west you see people burning American flags more then any other western nation so probably just the soldier's way of expressing being pissed at islamic extremist. It is as stupid and childish as burning a flag.

Voltaire, its quite obviously symbolic of Quran = Muslims = bad = kill. If you are surprised that a US soldier shooting a copy of the Quran angered Iraqi Muslims then I don't know what to tell you. I'd have hoped they could elaborate on "offensive graffiti".

Then does burning an American flag = americans = bad = kill them? One can be mad at a "thing" be it american foreign policy or islamic extremist and express it in a manner such as destroying something they hold dear.

[Surgeon]

I'm not sure the soldier himself was necessarily trying to prove a point or express some sort of hate by shooting a Quran. He shouldn't have left it lying around though.

Well whatever, this is kind of a minor incident.

[Chaigidel]

im sure the graffitti was "kilroy was here"

[Gary88]

...at what distance?

[Farnan]

Hopefully he spends some time at Fort Leavenworth

[feroXXXed35]

even though im not muslim thats just offensive
like not all muslims are bad

[Dr. Croccer]

Controversial things done by US soldiers in Iraq

-Letting Camel Spiders, Scorpions and rats fight eachother for fun, check
-Throw a puppy off a cliff for fun, check
-Laugh about a stray dog that got caught in an explosion, check
-Use a Koran for target practice

Doesn't seem to bad in comparison to the others.

[Erik]

Well lets be honest, a "kafir" army was never going to popular in that hell hole of a region. I don't really see how this makes any difference.

It's certainly not going to make things better.
Not that I care when "kafirs" get blown to pieces.

Controversial things done by US soldiers in Iraq

-Letting Camel Spiders, Scorpions and rats fight eachother for fun, check

How is that controversial?

Doesn't seem to bad in comparison to the others.

You did forget to mention


and

[Syron]

yes to us its just a book but in a highly devout country where many of the population see the americans as foreign invaders and many feel its as much a religious issue as a political one its not helpful to have your men desecrate holy books.

I would agree with this assessment, if there was much a "kafir" army in the region could do to not be seen as invaders. The population will see the Americans as foreign invaders simply due to difference in religion anyway.

As we have seen no pandering to local attitudes will improve things. Essentially the US military can do no right. In the grand scheme of things shooting at a Koran won't make much difference.

So in the end i think pandering to local attitudes in this case and not pointing out the Koran is just a book is probably the least beneficial solution.

now excuse me whilst i go piss on a bible, it is after all just a book

Go ahead. I don't think many people will care apart from a few fanatics. That is the real difference between the two cultures.

It's certainly not going to make things better.
Not that I care when "kafirs" get blown to pieces.

Good for you.

[Rush Limbaugh]

now excuse me whilst i go piss on a bible, it is after all just a book

In the US they will even pay you to do that

Stuff like this

Piss Jesus



Dung Madonna



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