Gingrich criticizes Quran burning apology by US

I say get your fat ass over there and let these people shoot at you. No you would be hunkered down juicing your draws asking is it over yet?

One other note Newt is a Vietnam draft dodger.

good for him...even Westmorland admitted it's folly. Shows the newt is smart...has been since he was a youngun'

Better then the "apology tour continues" the only thing you get when you apologize to muslim extemist is your @!$%#ing head cut off. I dont see them apologizing for the thousands of Americans that have died giving them the freedoms they have now. Let them do it on their own and see how they like their women getting their heads blown off at the local soccer field as before. Apologize to terrorist is the biggest @!$%#ing mistake Obama could make they dont give a @!$%# about us and never have. Get the hell out of there and let them fend for themselves @!$%# all of them. We burn a Q and they killl thousands of Americans and not one thank you no apology no nothing except more dead soldiers and then Obama makes a fool of himself with another apology.

This hate filled pointless rant brouth to you by rick-673281....

Jack, i say we put Newt in a C-130, take him up to 15,000 feet over Iran and threaten to drop him on them. If that wouldn't scare the bejasus out of them nothing will; being fat bombed by a doughy lard assed white guy. The graphic is hilarious;I can see the Iranians running for cover now; maybe a new WMD? My god youve been blubbered to death!!

I think it might be better if we dropped him in Afghanistan.

I'm down with that. Louie, warm up the plane!

Rick: You have it right:

Better then the "apology tour continues" the only thing you get when you apologize to muslim extemist is your @!$%#ing head cut off. I dont see them apologizing for the thousands of Americans that have died giving them the freedoms they have now. Let them do it on their own and see how they like their women getting their heads blown off at the local soccer field as before. Apologize to terrorist is the biggest @!$%#ing mistake Obama could make they dont give a @!$%# about us and never have. Get the hell out of there and let them fend for themselves @!$%# all of them. We burn a Q and they killl thousands of Americans and not one thank you no apology no nothing except more dead soldiers and then Obama makes a fool of himself with another apology.

A president should not be apologizing- We need to get out, and make them apologize for killing our soldiers!

Interesting that giving the "green light" to whack out Bin Laden and Al-Awlaki doesn't count...and Obama is nothing but a "kow-tower" to radical Islam. Whatever else I could say about Newt Gingrich, I never believed he was bughouse crazy...but now, I have my doubts about even this.

I can agree that we need to get the heck out of Dodge---and Kabul---as soon as possible. I hasten to add that I'm sure that Newt and others of his ilk will then criticize President Obama for "cutting and running," as opposed to propping the Karzai government up forever.

In the meantime, I thought the current regime in Afghanistan was (is) our friend---they just ought to be, we've spent a lot of blood and treasure to install them. Now, if these folks are truly our friends, is it a "sign of weakness" to apologize to a friend? And yes, i am p[ainfully aware that our relationship with the Afghan government is, charitably, a complex one.

IMHO, anyone who believes that it's a sign of weakness to apologize to a friend where it's warranted likely doesn't have many friends, and would do well to remember, "pride goeth before a fall."

We need to get out, and make them apologize for killing our soldiers!

Oh, we're going by body count? Let's see here.

They owe us roughly 1,800 apologies for soldier deaths.

We owe them roughly 14,000 apologies for civilian deaths.

Extremist dont accept apologys they cut your @!$%#ing head off instead, they hate Americans and Obama apologizing wont make a difference. We sacrifice thousands of lives over there and this is there pay back @!$%#em let the taliban have their asses see how much they like going to the soccer field for the days festivities.

Ten years of war, thousands of soldiers dead, tens of thousands of civilians killed, billions of dollars in no-bid contracts have gotten us nowhere. It's refreshing to have a President who respects the religion of everyone.

MN American Mom - the difference is we are not crazy extreme religious fanatics (at least not many of us on this side of the pond) to go on a killing rampage because of such action. I'm catholic and quite frankly I've learned to forgive ignorance and move on. Perhaps it is important to notice that we evolved over medieval times and left the Crusades behind. They are living in the sands of hell and are stuck in ignorance, fanatism and time. If an apology saves one American life, I'm for it! It is not an act of weakness but an act of wisdom...

Finaljudgement: Well stated.

They have burned Bibles and we aren't murdering them

What exactly do you think our billions of dollars in soldiers, foreign occupation, and drone bombers are doing in that region? We're not handing out candy and hugs.

Granted, we aren't murdering them specifically because they've burned Bibles. Still, if we're going to hold the moral high ground on this, we can't use the actions of extremists to justify our own. Burning any religion's holy books is disrespectful and repugnant. We did it by accident, so apologizing was the morally sound thing to do.

Truth be told-1349420

I thought he quit the race. Is he still running?

Yeah, the book tour is still moving forward and Newt just discovered a way to skim off even more money for himself from his "campaign". I suppose he will stay in until the bitter end (makes for a better book later) or until the Federal Election Commission throws him in jail for stealing campaign funds.

I prefer to see it as deffusing a volatile situation to save American lives serving under extremely difficult conditions. I'll take our President apology as an act of wisdom anytime, or did you forget on May 2008, President Bush apologized to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for an American soldier shooting at a Quran. President Bush's apology came after US army commanders' apologies failed to defuse the situation. Here, read it and refresh your memory: http://wwrn.org/articles/28609/?&place=iraq

How is saying that you're sorry that a book that a HUGE population on Earth holds sacred was accidentally burned showing weakness, exactly.

Crap, it took forever for the US to apologize to the Japanese who were placed in 'camps' during WWII. But it was the right thing to do.

I personally find that when someone apologizes for offending others - or in the US instances, murdering or imprisoning people, honorable.

We should have practiced more care to start with

Now we need to sort through all our garbage to make sure that there isn't a Qur'an in it.

Now we need to turn our cheek when 2 US soldiers are killed and the President of Afghanistan doesn't seem to think it is worth comment, but a few Qur'ans burned is?

Disgusting.

Now we need to sort through all our garbage to make sure that there isn't a Qur'an in it.

They were sorting through a library in a Muslim country. It's just common sense.

Now we need to turn our cheek when 2 US soldiers are killed and the President of Afghanistan doesn't seem to think it is worth comment, but a few Qur'ans burned is?

Yep. If we want to claim to have the moral high ground, those are the kinds of stands we have to take.

And it seems that the Korans were first defaced by the radicals that were using them to send messages back and forth....

You folks seem to think its OK for them to kill Americans because the Korans that were being used to help the Radicals continue the fight against America... Is what OK?

MY god You should be able to burn a truck load of Korans and that should not excuse riots and murder!!! Let alone an apology from the President before the investigation has even been completed as to what happened...

And it seems apologies and jumping to conclusions before the facts are in .... is getting to be a habit for this president!

And you want to know what apologising to these people get you....

Taliban to Afghans: Kill foreigners over Quran burnings

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Taliban urged Afghans Thursday to target foreign military bases and kill Westerners in retaliation for burnings of copies of the Quran at NATO's main base in the country as a third day of violent protests began.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered across the country, some chanting "Death to America!", Reuters witnesses and officials said. In eastern Kabul, hundreds of youths threw rocks at police, who fired shots into the air to try disperse the crowds.

"Our brave people must target the military bases of invader forces, their military convoys and their invader bases," read an emailed Taliban statement released by the insurgency's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. "They have to kill them (Westerners), beat them and capture them to give them a lesson to never dare desecrate the holy Quran again."

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/23/10484001-taliban-to-afghans-kill-foreigners-over-quran-burnings

In an e-mail message, the Taliban accused "the invading infidel authorities" of trying to calm the situation with two "so-called shows of apology, but in reality they let their inhuman soldiers insult our holy book."

The e-mail urged Afghans to seek revenge "until the doers of such inhumane actions are prosecuted and punished."

"We should attack their military bases, their military convoys, we should kill their soldiers, arrest their invading soldiers, beat them up and give a kind of lesson to them that they never dare to insult the holy Koran," the message said.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/02/23/Afghan-soldier-kills-2-US-soldiers/UPI-66781330001572/

Time to pack up and leave the Afghans to their own demise... Let them enslave their women and kill each other with their ancient ways of life... I as a conservative hate to believe that Americans have given their lives for a lost cause but I fear they have...

Its a Fact that you can not help someone that will not help themselves... And as demonstrated by the President of Afghanistan they will not ...

Time to bring our men and women HOME and @!$%# THE AFGHANS ... And NATO !

And so many of you are defending the animals that murdered your fellow countrymen that had NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BURNING OF THE 2 KORANS ...

And it seems that the Korans were first defaced by the radicals that were using them to send messages back and forth....

I'm not sure I buy that. It's only according to one anonymous official, and it doesn't mesh with the rest of the facts. Remember: they burned the books because they didn't realize they were Qurans, right? So we would have to believe they're familiar enough with Dari or Pashto to recognize the messages, but not to recognize that the books were Qurans. Does that make any sense whatsoever? Either the books weren't being used to pass messages, or we lied about being ignorant to the fact that they were Qurans. Neither is a good possibility.

But let's assume he's right and they were being used to pass messages. So what? They were in US custody now. They posed no threat of continuing to pass messages.

You folks seem to think its OK for them to kill Americans because the Korans that were being used to help the Radicals continue the fight against America... Is what OK?
MY god You should be able to burn a truck load of Korans and that should not excuse riots and murder!!!

Strawmen. No one is saying radical actions are justified or excused. We're saying we should hold ourselves up to a higher standard. We messed up. We apologized. It's childish to complain about taking responsibility.

Let alone an apology from the President before the investigation has even been completed as to what happened...

We know what happened. We burned Qurans. We can investigate why or how it happened to help prevent it in the future, but we know for a fact that it did happen, so we apologized.

Did they (the US government) apologize when they burned bibles? Is my Holy book of less value than the Koran?

Did they (the US government) apologize when they burned bibles? Is my Holy book of less value than the Koran?

Maybe they should. If you actually care, you should write a letter. I suspect you're just feigning outrage in a desperate attempt to make a point, but if this is really a point of passion for you, make your voice heard. That's how democracy works.

Either way, it's irrelevant to the fact that burning the Quran was wrong, and apologizing was the correct moral response. Taking our failure to apologize for another action as justification not to apologize for this one is, again, childish.

I suspect you're just feigning outrage in a desperate attempt to make a point,

Why is it when someone makes a point of fact .... It a desperate act ...or feigning outrage....

I made a point one Holy book being burned gets the President of the United States to apologize and another Holy book gets no reaction...

Either way, it's irrelevant to the fact that burning the Quran was wrong,

Not if as reported it was being defaced and used as a tool for continuing their war effort .... They made it something other than a Holy Book they made it an instrument of war!!!

No apology Just as a Church or Mosque is a Holy site until you use it as a place to conduct war...Then it becomes a legal TARGET...

They ceased being Korans and Holy books when they were no longer used for that purpose... They became Radical contraband when that became their purpose to spread and further acts of WAR...

I made a point one Holy book being burned gets the President of the United States to apologize and another Holy book gets no reaction...

And I made a point that if your outrage is sincere, you should send a letter. Instead, you're here trying to draw a meaningless comparison to further your point. It's self-serving debate fodder, not actual offense.

Not if as reported it was being defaced and used as a tool for continuing their war effort .... They made it something other than a Holy Book they made it an instrument of war!!!

Which, if true, was already in US custody. We didn't have to burn them to keep them from being used against us. That's like saying we can just murder any POWs. Why would we? They're already prisoners, they don't pose a threat anymore.

No apology Just as a Church or Mosque is a Holy site until you use it as a place to conduct war...Then it becomes a legal TARGET...

No, it doesn't. You don't actually know war crime law, so don't pretend to. Radicals aren't signatory countries of the Geneva Convention. We are. That means we've committed not to fight in churches, and they haven't. The fact that they take refuge in a church doesn't mean we can suddenly back out on our commitments.

They ceased being Korans and Holy books when they were no longer used for that purpose... They became Radical contraband when that became their purpose to spread and further acts of WAR...

Again, if that's true, the books were already in US custody. We had no reason to destroy them. And you still haven't responded to my point that it makes absolutely no sense for us to have been familiar enough with the language to recognize secret messages, but not to notice what the books were in the first place.

No apology Just as a Church or Mosque is a Holy site until you use it as a place to conduct war...Then it becomes a legal TARGET...

No, it doesn't. You don't actually know war crime law, so don't pretend to. Radicals aren't signatory countries of the Geneva Convention. We are. That means we've committed not to fight in churches, and they haven't. The fact that they take refuge in a church doesn't mean we can suddenly back out on our commitments.

I'd read up on the war crime laws. If a party is using a holy building to wage war it becomes a legit target. A side does not have to helplessly suffer attack because their opponents are firing from a church. There were many monestaries and churches destroyed in World War 2, they were not war crimes.

If a party is using a holy building to wage war it becomes a legit target. A side does not have to helplessly suffer attack because their opponents are firing from a church.

If a party is firing from it, yes. That represents a direct mortal danger. These books didn't represent any mortal danger, direct or otherwise. It's more akin to a party meeting in a church, in which case it is still protected under the Geneva Convention. So by your own strained metaphor, your argument still falls flat.

It's more akin to a party meeting in a church, in which case it is still protected under the Geneva Convention.

Even then it is a legit target. If a armed group is using it as a base of operations it is a target. You can not set up your command post, keep your reinforcements and store your weapons in a Church and expect to be free of attack because you don't shoot from that position.

The Geneva Conventions...

Which part of Unlawful Combatants are not protected under the Geneva Conventions is so hard for people to understand? The Taliban nor Al Qaeda are not afforded protection under these Conventions...They are not fighting under the Rules of Land Warfare... They do not represent a Nation, fight under a Flag or wear uniforms...

Simply the Geneva Conventions DO NOT APPLY in Afghanistan...

You both seem very confused.

War crime laws aren't contained to within the boundaries of a country. They apply to the actions of a signatory country. The United States signed the Geneva Conventions, among various other war crime law, which means we signed a contract about how we would conduct ourselves during war. We can't break that contract no matter where we go. It doesn't matter if we're in Spain, Afghanistan, Antarctica, or the moon.

As for unlawful combatants, Jim, you're half-right. We do have to follow article 3 in dealing with them, which means we can't mutilate, torture, take hostages, etc. However, that only means that they are not protected. The persons. The rights of Afghanistan not to have its cultural property destroyed is still intact. We can't just level a Mosque because a terrorist cell happens to be inside.

obamas oppology got two american soldiers killed , you dont give apolgys to people controled by the evil of the koran.

Look what else it got....

Two U.S. troops are shot dead by Afghan 'ally' as Obama expresses his 'deep regret' to Afghan President for Koran burning by American soldiers

• Two U.S. troops killed by Afghan soldier after Taliban calls to arms
• Violence expected to flare across the country after Friday prayers
• Racist 'black dog Obama' effigy burned in the streets amid anti U.S. protests
• Obama sends letter to Afghanistan apologising for Koran burning
• Eleven people dead and dozens more injured as thousands vent fury
• Troops torched copies of the Koran scrawled with 'extremist' messages in a 'burn pit'

The deaths of the troops came as a racist effigy of the U.S. President daubed with the graffiti 'black dog Obama' was set alight in a furious response to troops burning copies of the Koran.

The furious Afghan protesters lifted aloft the model while yelling anti-U.S. chants in the second day of demonstrations across Afghanistan.

Seven people have so far been killed in clashes between Afghan security forces and protesters. A military official said they contained extremist messages. The U.S. has apologised.

The effigy of Barack Obama was paraded through the streets in front of raucous mobs before being burned in the street. The burning of the Obama effigy came in one of the most violent outbursts of anger against the U.S. that has been in the country.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2104801/Afghanistan-Koran-burning-protests-Effigy-Black-Dog-Obama-set-alight.html?ITO=1490

Yep I am sorry works well with those people !!!

Like I posted Evan a Republican should understand if you have troops in your back yard you might get mad if I burned your holly book.

I gave you to much credit sorry. Like all people like you. You let your your hate cloud you ability to think.

US Army Ret.

Do you find it up lifting to insult people that you disagree with and don't know a damn thing about?

I gave you to much credit sorry.

No sport ...I have earned my right to speak my mind...And I will!

Like all people like you.

You don't know me... So are you being Bigoted or just Stereotyping?

You let your your hate cloud you ability to think.

No I think very well thank you... And I also know of which I speak... The only clouds are in the minds of those that when their enemy tells them their intentions they fail to LISTEN!!!!

And I did my time in the army so I am not sure just what the US Army Ret. is meant to do ...add validity to your comment? It seems rather self serving to me... And falls in the and what the Fluck does that have to do with anything?

I looked an hadn't seen you use it before..So there must have been a purpose for you to use it! And if it was to add creditability... You failed miserably.. Because for this vet trying to use your service to give you cred... Is just not something one does! (and I was being NICE C of H and all) ...

That "apology" saved that US base you jackass Gingrich. It was not the President's fault that this happened. But Obama stepped up and took responsiblility.

Saved it from what? And from whom ?

His apology saved nothing... Well it got him Burned in effigy and called "Black Dog Obama" it did do that ...

Jim44,

Tell me why this angry mob even showed up at the base? Tell me why we are even in Afghanistan all these years even after Osma bin laden is dead?

Jim do you live in Texas?

This why we are in Afghanistan, and why Obama has to apolgize:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1984459.stm

Because your neocon heroes like Bush and Cheney finally had the guts to commit troops and to build a base in Iraq and Afghan. Why? For a Trilateral Foreign Nation deal to build a pipeline through Afghan and, over in Iraq, to secure the oil. So Obama has two options; pull the troops out, but have the miltiary war complex kill him, or, draw down slowly, and have the neocon talking heads, like McCain and Graham, and all of the other neocons in Congress, complain and moan, like you are doing here.

The reported story by our generals is that the enemy was using the holy book to send messages to each other. It was discovered, they confiscated them, and they were thrown in a bag ready to be burned. Now how the mob found out, is just too dang coincidental.

So Jim the neocon, you can't have it both ways like Karzi. If Obama pulls the troops out, you will call him a chicken and he isn't finishing the job. If Obama keeps the troops in, you still will call him chicken.

You neocons just want to be in charge, and why the rest of the world hates us.

Amen.

If Obama pulls the troops out, you will call him a chicken and he isn't finishing the job.

If Obama keeps the troops in, you still will call him chicken.

I really hope you have another profession other than mind reading ...Be cause you SUCK at that.... Or your reading skills for that matter... Did you miss when I said.. You might want to read what someone has written before you pass judgment...It doesn't make you look silly!

@Jim44 # 10.3

Its a Fact that you can not help someone that will not help themselves... And as demonstrated by the President of Afghanistan they will not ...

Time to bring our men and women HOME and @!$%# THE AFGHANS ... And NATO !

Oh no Jim44, you do not get the last rude comment.

Just what is your argument against my comment?! What is your point?! Obama is a chicken?! I suck?!

Do you not believe that this a corporate war, to build a pipeline? Mickey Mouse could be the president of the US, and even he would have to follow the Military War Complex orders.

Yes, it is so dang frustrating, but thank the neocons for this frustration. We warned, we begged, we petitioned our congress, and still they engaged in these wars.

We warned, we begged, we petitioned our congress, and still they engaged in these wars.

Who is we? Not the Democrats that voted for it? And wasn't it President Obama and the Democrats that said that Iraq was the wrong War and Afghanistan was the Right War?

Well Iraq is over .....

This is the War the President and the Democrats supported...Lets just be clear OK ... I seem to remember the Dems and this President calling Iraq the "Bad" War and Afghanistan as the "Good" War...

So now is not the time to blame just the Republicans... The current resident of 1600 Penn Ave has been running this war for over 3 years I seem to remember... Has he screwed it up? Well that is up to discussion , but the real bottom line now is ...

Its time to get the @!$%# out! We have no allies in the Afghan Government starting with the President on down...

Pack up and come home... We gave them a chance to help themselves... Civil War or no Civil War...Blood Bath or No blood bath ... Screw it if they won't fight for their freedom ... We should not ...

So I can't very well call President Obama a chicken for doing what I am saying that should be done..Now can I ?

@!$%# it Jim, you are right.

But @!$%# that oil pipeline: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1984459.stm

And you know what, they are doing it again. They want Iran and Syria. So @!$%# up Gingrich.

Seriously Jim, it is not funny, and I am afraid, we will be seeing war for a very long time. I know, it frustrates us, angers us, and we can't enter the cockpit to tell the pilot, to turn around. I am old enough to remember Vietnam, and this sure feels like Vietnam. Corporate wars. Stopping the spread of communisim, my @!$%#

I am still angry about 911 but I also understand that most Muslim people do not condone what happened on that day.

I agree with you ..... But I wonder WHY ???? We have established ...No ingrained a double standard...

All Muslims are not _____________— because of what a few do !!!!

But All Christians or All Jews are __________— because of what a few do !!!!!!

We see everyday that All Muslims are not responsible for the acts of the radicals.... But require nothing of them... They are not asked to stand and condemn those act.. They are allowed to remain silent while what we are told is a small minority does these acts in the name of their religion...

We excuse days of riots extensive property damage and the MURDER of innocents...Why... because they were were OFFENDED? Because a few Korans were destroyed..

Were they Christians or Jews acting in the EXACT SAME WAY ..... Would the reaction be the same?

Its alright because they were offended !!!

I am sorry ...I know All Muslims are not radical.... But there comes a time when if you allow things to be done in the name of YOUR RELIGION ....

YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY for those ACTS !!!!

Not to Stand ...Is to Stand... Not to Speak ...Is to Speak !!!!

"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."

Edmund Burke

All I know is its time .... Hold Muslims to the same standard that you hold Christians or Jews ... They are not a protected class... Any different than any other Religion... Either we are now as a WORLD accepting bad behavior as justified because of religious believes... Its time for it to apply for all religions. !!!

If Muslims can riot and kill because of the burning of 2 Korans ... Or call for someones Death over a cartoon... Behead their captives... Call for the Destruction of entire Nations and the genocide of an entire other religion...

SO BE IT...But its time to live by THEIR RULES ! No more excuses or double standards...

If the Billion Good Muslims will not Stand against the minority within their religion, is it right that the rest of the world must stand by and become their TARGETS? So we can feel good and Politically Correct?

Look at NewsVine .... Muslims are Rioting and Killing Americans and not a word against Islam...

But how many seeds against Christians just today? Or Jews ?

I am not Anti-Muslim or Anti-Islam .... I am ANTI-EXCUSES and ANTI-DOUBLE STANDARD!!!

I am against berating some religions for expressing themselves verbally and excusing another for MURDER !

I fully expect to get blasted for this rant ... But look at the headlines of the day...

Afghanistan Nato officers shot dead in Kabul ministry

Two Nato officers have been killed in the interior ministry in the Afghan capital Kabul, coalition officials say.
-----------------

Insult to WWII heroes: Graves of British troops smashed and desecrated by Libyan Islamists in protest over U.S. soldiers' Koran burning

-------------------

'Iran ready to wipe Israel off the map'

Tehran's deputy defense minister warns Jerusalem against strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, says 'any action by Zionist regime will bring about its destruction'

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Afghanistan Koran protests claim more lives

Thousands of enraged Afghans have taken to the streets for a fourth day, after US soldiers inadvertently set fire to copies of the Koran.

-----------------

Thats just today.. Now were these Christians or Jews .... What would the reaction be ???? Not the same I assure you ! Have we come to except bad behavior from Muslims? If they are wronged or perceive they were wronged?
If we have ....I would suggest we are BIG DAMN TROUBLE...

Because when is to much ...TO MUCH?

We have set up a totally different Standard of behavior for one group in the WORLD...

And no way to ever make them re-join the world that lives by ONE STANDARD... Such as ..

Riots that destroy property is OK

Murder is OK

Graves desecrated OK

All because of the burning of 2 Korans .... What if it was 4 or 10 or 20 Does the degree of their reaction get to go up with the same degree they feel they were wronged?

This is a wrong approach to a dangerous situation...

Hammer me all you want ... I did not violate the C of H so how about you do the same...