Sniper Target: The Quran

Sean says...

It is incidents like this that really show how ethnocentric George W. Bush is. And we wonder why the USA is not very popular these days. Personal respect is a huge deal in many parts of the world. Respect is represented by many symbols, physical gestures, words, and actions. What if this story was about a Chinese soldier shooting at a Bible? Or a German soldier using a Star of David as a target?  Or if the American flag was personally burned by the President of France? Many of us for many reasons would be upset of course. Perspective is everything and I am glad to hear at least the soldier was disciplined for his actions. In many ways, this action is not just about Iraq though. Lately, it seems that on the Internet or in the press people have been using difference and lack of respect for different cultures or even different perspectives as punching bags to breed either fear or hatred in a subtle way. When as Americans are we going to realize that by disrespecting others, we disrespect ourselves and invite the same treatment?

The flip side of this argument of course is, "Why do symbols have to be important anyway?"  It's hard to say what is or isn't or what should or shouldn't be taken as an offense. But desecrating any symbol I am sure any anyone's judgment is definitely a negative feeling toward something or just pure vandalism on any level. Freedom of speech should be and is protected in our nation, but trouncing on someone's beliefs just because they are different or just to push the shock factor is truly one of free will that should not be looked lightly on.

If you ask me ethnocentrism is the new nationalism lately... and sadly many in the last 10 years have been victim to it be it the Middle East, Rwanda, or our neighborhoods. In the words of Rodney King, "Why can't we all just get along?"

Please read...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's office said Tuesday that President Bush apologized for a U.S. soldier shooting at a Quran, but the White House later said Bush expressed "deep concern" and stopped short of apologizing.

National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the president spoke to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday in one of their scheduled video teleconferences, which occur every week or two.

"President Bush expressed his deep concern over the incident and told Prime Minister [al-Maliki] that the soldier has been reprimanded by his commanders and removed from Iraq," Johndroe said.

However, al-Maliki's office said Bush issued an apology on behalf of the United States and "promised to present the soldier to the courts." The office said Bush apologized in a call to al-Maliki on Tuesday morning.

An American staff sergeant -- a sniper section leader -- used a Quran for target practice earlier this month.

The sergeant was relieved of duty as a section leader "with prejudice," officially reprimanded by his commanding general, dismissed from his regiment and redeployed -- reassigned to the United States.

Reports of the Quran desecration have enraged Muslims in Iraq and elsewhere around the world.

The soldier, whose name was not released, shot at a Quran on May 9, villagers said. The Quran used in the incident was discovered two days later, according to the military.

A tribal leader said "the criminal act by U.S. forces" took place at a shooting range at the Radhwaniya police station on Baghdad's western outskirts. After the shooters left, an Iraqi policeman found a target marked in the middle of the bullet-riddled Quran.

Pictures of the Quran show multiple bullet holes and an expletive scrawled on one of its pages.

Officials said the soldier asserted he wasn't aware the book was the Quran, but U.S. officials rejected the claim.

On Saturday, Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad, appeared with leaders from Radhwaniya and apologized.

"I come before you here seeking your forgiveness," Hammond said to tribal leaders and others at the ceremony. "In the most humble manner I look in your eyes today and I say please forgive me and my soldiers."

Hammond also read a letter from the shooter, who called his actions "shortsighted, very reckless and irresponsible," but he insisted he was not being malicious.

"I sincerely hope that my actions have not diminished the partnership that our two nations have developed together," the letter said.

Hammond said the soldier's actions were tantamount to "criminal behavior."

"I've come to this land to protect you, to support you -- not to harm you -- and the behavior of this soldier was nothing short of wrong and unacceptable," the general said.

Another military official kissed a Quran and presented it as "a humble gift" to the tribal leaders.

Many Iraqi leaders said the apology alone would not suffice.

On Monday, the Iraqi Islamic Party, the movement of Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, condemned what it said was a "blatant assault on the sanctities of Muslims all over the world."

The party said it reacted to the news "with deep resentment and indignation" and wants the "severest of punishments" for the action.

"What truly concerns us is the repetition of these crimes that have happened in the past when mosques were destroyed and pages of the holy Quran were torn and used for disgraceful acts by U.S. soldiers," al-Hashimi said.

"I have asked that first this apology be officially documented; second a guarantee from the U.S. military to inflict the maximum possible punishment on this soldier so it would be a deterrent for the rest of the soldiers in the future."