Afghanistan is erupting with anti-American protests.Condi urges calm . . .

[bigtree]

http://www.voanews.com/english/figleaf/ramfilegenerate.cfm?filepath=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Evoanews%2Ecom%2Fmediaassets%2Fenglish%2F2005%5F05%2FAudio%2Frm%2FGollustRiceGuantanamo12may05%2Erm

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday disrespect for the Koran is abhorrent and will never be tolerated by the United States. She urged Muslims around the world to reject incitement over charges that interrogators at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, may have desecrated the Islamic holy text.

The statement by Secretary Rice, at a congressional hearing, underlined the degree of concern in Washington over the violent protests in Afghanistan and Pakistan over the desecration charges.

Opening a round of budget testimony before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, Ms. Rice said Americans honor the sacred books of all the world's great religions, and that disrespect for the Koran is not now, nor has it ever been or ever will be, tolerated by the United States.

The Secretary said the abuse allegations at Guantanamo are being fully investigated by military authorities, and if they are proven true, the United States will take appropriate action.

In the meantime, she appealed to those in the Muslim world to reject political incitement, in order to help avoid further violence. "During the past few days, we have heard from our Muslim friends around the world about their concerns on this matter. We understand and share the concerns. Sadly, some people have lost their lives in violent demonstrations. I am asking that all our friends around the world reject incitement to violence by those who would mis-characterize our intentions," she said.

We held these folks for years without counsel or any measure of due process and even ended up releasing dozens without indictment or charge after detaining and torturing them for months, seemingly without end. Now we want to claim that no mistreatment occured and that we respect their culture and religion. In the wake of the low level scapegoating that the government seems satisfied with there will continue to be expressions of outrage over the refusal of our government to hold any upper level officials responsible for the obviously sanctioned abuses, tortures, and illegal detainments.


VOA reports:

Afghans Protest in Kabul Over Alleged Koran Abuse at Guantanamo
http://www.voanews.com/english/Afghans-Protest-in-Kabul-Over-Alleged-Koran-Abuse-at-Guantanamo.cfm

US Terms Alleged Koran Desecration at Guantanamo 'Repugnant'
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005_05_11_voa109.cfm

At Least Five Killed in Violent Afghanistan Protests Over Koran Abuse at Guantanamo
http://www.voanews.com/english/Violent-Protests-in-Afghanistan-After-Report-of-Abuse-at-Guantanamo-Bay.cfm

US Official Assures Lawmakers on Guantanamo Abuse Investigation
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-05-11-voa4.cfm

US Condemns Alleged Koran Desecration at Guantanamo Detention Facility
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-05-11-voa3.cfm

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. They showed their disrespect

for the Qur'an, the Bible, the Torah, the Dhammapada, the Bagavad Gita, the Zendavesta, and every other holy book by the way they treated these prisoners. Any spiritual path will tell you that your actions speak louder than your words.

[Cocoa]

2. when does Karen Hughes start her new job?

send Karen over there to spin the Muslims into a pacified state. They'll forget all about that Koran in the toilet.

[LSparkle]

4. This is a big job -- better send Karl

[rodeodance]

6. the the WH is concerned about the violence--well they should be

....The statement by Secretary Rice, at a congressional hearing, underlined the degree of concern in Washington over the violent protests in Afghanistan and Pakistan over the desecration charges.

[Double T]

3. Bush Has Created A Gargantuan Mess That May Not Be Able To........

....Be Salvaged.

[punpirate]

5. Why do I have a mental image...

... Kindasleezza in an ROTC uniform yelling to the mob, "remain calm! All is well!" (Splat!)

Probably too much "Animal House," yeah, probably that's it. :)

[rodeodance]

8. Fox news just said it was a detainee who ripped pages out and stuffed

down the toilet in protest (Brit Hume). --hey-i am just the messenger.

[TheFarseer]

12. Wow, that is not the least bit believable

Christ, they believe if they eat pork they are going to hell, if they are buried next to a pig, they are going to hell, if their women don't cover themselves from head to toe, they are goig to hell - but they are going to rip pages out of the holy book, yeah, I'm sure!

[bigtree]

13. .

[Malva Zebrina]

7. send Laura

she knows how to handle them in only five hours. Shopping for carpets and yeast rolls plays a big part in it.

[rkc3]

15. Mmmmmm, skunk cabbage.

Just have Laura tell jokes about jerking off horses. That'll get them calmed down.

[TheFarseer]

9. They've wiped their ass with all the great documents

the Koran, the Bible, the Constitution - you name it

[Botany]

10. No worries Condi is on the job.

We have 19,000 troops in a Country of how many million?

everything * and company touches turns to shit.

[hatrack]

11. After Laura Bush eliminates gangs, she can tame the tribes, right?

One riot, one former Texas librarian!

:evilgrin:

[spanone]

14. We put their Sacred Koran in toilets as a form of torture.

The Fundamental Muslims will make the Fundy Christians look like rank amateurs.

[countryjake]

16. Friday (tonight in real time) was the original call for those demos!

When they heard the reason, from that Newsweek article and the Sixty Minutes interviews, the outrage exploded immediately; CNN had live coverage on Monday night and it was eye-opening! Since those first four students were mowed down, the anti-American feelings have only been gaining steam all week! The CARE offices have been attacked and burned, everything with US influence is being targeted and Americans can do nothing but run for cover. I have a hunch all hell may break loose over there tonight, as both Pakistan and Afghani officials have already shown they do not have much sympathy for the demonstrators. Karzai is out gallavanting looking for "more international support" while his police are home shooting down, at last count, eight demonstrating students. Of course, our soldiers were reported to only have been "shooting into the air" but on last night's live report, it sounded as if they were hunkering in their camps. Also, earlier in the week, the demonstrators were shown to be carrying sticks and branches; today, the claim is being made that they are armed.