Republicans are quick to claim that Democrats do not support the troops when some of us don’t want to support Republican wars of greed and conquest, but when the troops needed equipment, health care, a raise, family support, and educational benefits, Republicans said no. But the most recent example of their ‘support’ is positively shameful.
The pastor of a tiny, fringe evangelical church in Florida on Tuesday rebuffed a plea for restraint from Gen. David H. Petraeus, who warned that a plan to burn the Muslim holy book could provoke violence against American troops and citizens overseas.
"Instead of possibly blaming us for what could happen, we put the blame where it belongs — on the people who would do it," Pastor Terry Jones of the 50-member Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., told the Associated Press. "We should address radical Islam and send a very clear warning that they are not to retaliate in any form."
Jones also said he was still praying over his decision and hinted that he might change his mind. "We understand the general’s concerns and we are taking those into consideration," he told WOFL-TV in Orlando.
A coalition of Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders held a news conference in Washington on Tuesday to condemn Jones’ statements and other slurs aimed at Muslims nationwide.
"The threatened burning of copies of the Holy Koran this Saturday is a particularly egregious offense that demands the strongest possible condemnation by all who value civility in public life and seek to honor the sacred memory of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11," said a statement by religious leaders organized by the Islamic Society of North America… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <LA Times>
In the past, I have said that I oppose burning the American flag, but I defend the freedom to do so. I also defend my own freedom to speak out against it. In the same way I am speaking out against burning the holy book of Islam. In my opinion, burning it is just as wrong as it would be for Muslims to burn Bibles.
Although I oppose the war in Afghanistan, I don’t want out troops put in unnecessary danger, and I don’t want Al Qaeda, Islam’s version of the Tea Party, to have this recruiting tool. So if I, an opponent of the war, support the troops in this, where are the Republican leaders on the issue?
Keith Olbermann and veteran Todd Bowers have the answer.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Why are the Republicans silent? The answer is simple. They fear offending the very people whose hatred they have so carefully cultivated for political advantage. If American soldiers die as a result of their silence, they do not care. They only express support for the troops when it serves their end to use war to transfer wealth from the poor and middle classes to the rich.
Every Republican in office is one Republican too many!
29 Responses to “How Republicans Support the Troops”
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I guess this matchbook preacher doesn’t realize that WWI was started for an incident less than this. They just used simple assassination as an excuse. This is fundamental societal religious hardcore beliefs, just as radical as his own. Petraus is absolutely right, this could harm our troops and citizens in every Muslim country in the world.
Where is the voice of the right? They are the party built on hate an decisiveness. That’s where.Thier tacit silence is support for the fool.
100%, Mark. 🙂
don’t burn the books but write book that can clear the true of the islam that will be better than that you’ll doing they will take that reason to kill all the cristian pepole and here we live in country alost of them are muslimes so we are worry than the americans ……
😕
Welcome, Ramy. 🙂
If I understand what you mean, you want Americans to tell the truth about Islam instead of burning the Qu’ran. You are also saying that, where you live, you fear that angry radical Muslims might kill Christians because of it. Is that right?
I agree. As a Christian, I honor your Muslim faith.
They are silent TC because they agree-it’s just that simple. Where are the dims in this calling them out? Oh that’s right they were told to hold their tongue.
Thanks again for the shout out-there were hits coming from all over. I hope there were a few who learned a bit about these men and this holiday. TB
Fly, I think some agree and some do not. Those who do not lack the integrity to say so.
You got hits from all over, because I put it up on Buzz Flash and it was popular enough to publish there. YVW.
Thank you so much, for your be I find it to be very interesting. Just been through your profile and I have learnt there is so much to learn from the past.
Thank you Rebecca, and welcome. 🙂
The republican leadership silence speaks volumes. Burning Korans fuels hate, just what the republicans want. It heats up their base. It also highlights their hypocrisy. Where is their “support the troops” talk now. Of course it was empty talk then (they did much to hurt the troops) and just as their silence hurts the troops now.
The republican three H’s: Hate, Hypocrisy, Hoodwink
LOL, Jerry!! Now we need to get then the H out of office. 😉
Makes me sick that a group of people would burn any book. Have they not learned anything from history?
http://www.pafundi.com
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Number of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom casualties as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 5663
Not since fundamentalist Christians burned the great Library of Alexandria.
The only thing people should condone the burning of would have to be child pornography. And Caddyshack 2, but that’s just my opinion.
But seriously, good call, I hadn’t really noticed Republican silence on this I’m so sickened by this whole affair. And I really doubt the good reverend is taking Gen. Pteraeus’ statements under consideration. If they go ahead and burn these books, the only thing they will accomplish is getting americans killed- soldiers and civilians alike- and creating more radical violent islamic militants. As much as these people and those like them see all muslims as responsible for 9/11, some muslims will see all americans as being Koran-burning hypochristians.
Another thought- won’t they need some kind of permit from the fire department to stage a large fire like this? Or will ‘Freedom of Speech’ be invoked and used as a shield to do it? Maybe preventing them from burning the books via simple fire-code law is an easy out from this spectacle. In my opinion, damage is already done- the media attention has been relentless, and the muslim world is already aware.
Just add this event to the ‘this is why radicals of every major religion are a danger to civilization’ file.
Colin, I agree with half. 🙂
The fire department has denied them the permit, but they won’t let that stop them.
Our Taliban is every bit as destructive as theirs.
I am really conceerned for my sons in combat. This is really going to piss off all those so called terrorists and guarantee many more. I am really concerned for our troops. I refuse to believe that isn’t Religious terrorism. That FFing idiot! I’m sure he’d be pissed if they burned the Bible. Hell the Bible like the Koran can be interpreted to justify killing. That ass refuses to relent, man I hope someone puts him to sleep first!
Jim, I share your concern for your sons.
The silence is deafening.
This is from ThinkProgress – and it includes the YouTube clip from this morning’s GMA wherein George Stephanopoulos asked Boehner three times if he would condemn burning the Koran … and was met with either platitudes or silence.
Thanks Nameless. I see you like the new toolbar. 🙂
You know what REALLY endangers the troops???
Two immoral, illegal, imperialist, genocidal, infantcidal, ecocidal, war profiteering, endless wars OF terror!
Of course, when Republikkklans see the above statement, they accuse me of endangering the troops.
What REALLY endangers the troops, also endangers the future of the US. Just ask the former USSR!
Kevin, I agree.
I was wondering if Sarah Palin would have any backlash for her comments against the burning… The GOP leadership need to step out and speak out against this. They chimed into the Park51 non-issue but they don’t want to open their trap for this… and they claim to love the military?
Kevin, I think she’ll escape that, because she tied opposing one act of hate to supporting another act of hate.
I am really afraid of the backlash from fundamentalist Muslims and the Taliban for burning the Koran. Could we perhaps burn the bible and the torah next store to show we are equally anti religious? 🙄
Lisa, that might have undesired consequences. Muslims honor both the Bible and the Torah.
Of course the republicans must equate burning the Koran with building an Islamic center. THEIR “First Amendment” is so flexibly applied they see no difference.
It is vile, isn’t it?
Screw the Republicans.
Here’s a great parady at Progressive Eruptions:
http://progressiveerupts.blogspot.com/2010/09/this-tells-story.html
Thanks Leslie. Visited and commented.