Obama's Candidacy

Alfi

How about a balance? We will burn 1000 bibles in competence.

Book for book ... lets burn them all. And get on with life.

WhoWee

Our President was blind sided and our soldiers were shot - I think the source of the leak is important and may impact the re-election campaign.

Alfi

I can agree that sources are important. Re-election ? not so much. There is no competition.

MarcoD

Yeah well, your book isn't their book. Right?

WhoWee

My point is this - if this account is accurate:
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/0...urning-022212/

"Gen. John Allen, the top commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan, said after the books had been mistakenly given to troops to be burned at a garbage pit without realizing it.

“It was not a decision that was made because they were religious materials,” Allen said Tuesday, one day after Afghan workers at the garbage pit found the books. “It was not a decision that was made with respect to the faith of Islam. It was a mistake. It was an error. The moment we found out about it we immediately stopped and we intervened.”"

How did this apparent mistake turn into an international incident requiring President Obama and generals to apoligize?

SHISHKABOB

because there are a few people out there who react violently to the burning of Korans?

MarcoD

From Wikipedia, Quran desecration. I am guesstimating that to a number of them, western troops are now free game, effective immediately. Like I said, somewhere in between a major clusterfluff and dung happens.

SHISHKABOB

in your own post the quote mentions how Afghan workers found the burnt remains. One of them probably either got upset about it and told people, or just plain told people and then they got upset.

WhoWee

I don't think anyone will be surprised to hear my support is behind any Republican candidate that runs against President Obama. However, I think this issue should be off limits in the campaign.

Jimmy Snyder

That train left the station already.

WhoWee

I think attempts to use this topic against the President will backfire.

MarcoD

IMO, given international relations, the only response possible was the one he has given.

turbo

There are times when honesty and pragmatism should trump ideology. I trust Obama to stay that course. Not so his potential opponents in the GE.

Jimmy Snyder

It will narrow your choices, I think Paul is the only one who hasn't criticized the apology.

turbo

IMO, one of the benchmarks for adult behavior and intelligence is the ability to offer an apology when appropriate.

AlephZero

One possible reason is because it shows the utter and complete lack knowledge on the part of whoever made such a "mistake", considering where they are operating and what they are supposed to be doing there.

IMO it's about the same level of "mistake" as an Afghani claiming that he/she accidentally burnt a US flag because he/she didn't recognize what it was.

mheslep

No competition against President 25-million-unemployed,$1.3-trillion-deficit,punish-our-enemies,$4gas Obama? We'll see.