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Barack Obama: Koran-burning gives al Qaeda recruiting tool
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor9 Sep 2010
Barack Obama urged a US pastor to abandon plans to burn the Koran today and warned that the event would be used as an al Qaeda recruiting tool.
The American president appeared on network television to make a direct appeal to Terry Jones to cancel his stunt.
Downing Street also condemned the pastor, who plans to burn the books in a bonfire at his church in Florida on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
President Obama told a TV programme that he hoped that Mr Jones listened to the pleas because book burning was “completely contrary to our values as Americans”.
“This country has been built on the notion of freedom and religious tolerance. This is a recruitment bonanza for al Qaeda,” he said.
“You could have serious violence in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan. This could increase the recruitment of individuals who would be willing to blow themselves up in American cities or European cities.”
The Rev Jones responded by telling the USA Today newspaper he might call off the protest if the President asks him.
"That would cause us definitely to think it over," he said.
"That's what we're doing now. I don't think a call from them is something we would ignore."
This morning Tony Blair added his voice to those urging the Rev Jones to call off his protest.
Mr Blair, who founded a Faith Foundation to promote understanding between the world's religions, said: “I deplore the act of burning the Koran. It is disrespectful, wrong and will be widely condemned by people of all faiths and none. In no way does this represent the view of any sensible person in the West or any other part of the world.
“Those who wish to cause religious conflict are small in number but often manage to dominate the headlines. You do not have to be a Muslim to share a sense of deep concern. Rather than burn the Koran, I would encourage people to read it.”
More condemnation came from Sarah Palin, who wrote on her Facebook page: "Book burning is antithetical to American ideals."
The former Republican vice-presidential candidate said: "I would hope that Pastor Terry Jones and his supporters will consider the ramifications of their planned book-burning event. It will feed the fire of caustic rhetoric and appear as nothing more than mean-spirited religious intolerance. Don't feed that fire."
General David Petraeus, US commander of forces in Afghanistan, has warned that his troops could face fresh threats if the event went ahead.
Pakistan's president also condemned the “despicable” proposal to burn the holy book and warned it could spark serious violence.
Pastor Jones said supporters had posted copies of the Islamic holy text to his Gainesville church of about 50 followers. He said: “As of right now, we are not convinced that backing down is the right thing.”
The Gainesville fire department has denied Mr Jones a required burn permit but under the US constitution he has the right to burn the Korans, with or without the city's permission.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which aims to protecting US troops from religious intolerance, said it would buy one new Koran and donate it to the Afghan National Army for each one burned.
Reader views (48)
Religion: Major cause of wars & death.
- Dom, London, United Dustbin of Europe, 10/09/2010 10:56
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Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings.” (German: “Das war Vorspiel nur. Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen.”)
- Heinrich Heine, Almansor (1821)
- Heinrich Heine, London, 09/09/2010 21:53
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We now live in a world where everything a muslim does is either ignored, considered legal or a justifiable protest for which every politician in the western world kow-tows to the muslim demands, they forget the burning of national flags and effigie's of statesmen, the fact that the bible is banned in most muslim countries, the fact christian churches are very thin on the ground and none in Mecca or you need a permit to worship your god, if this man wants to burn the koran then that is his right if muslims don't like it tough if they want to riot and try to kill this preacher then give him protection and shoot anyone who tries.
- James, Grays, 09/09/2010 20:15
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Comment re. nutters not aimed at Obama, only the obvious nutters.
- M, London, 09/09/2010 19:45
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Obama, needs to tell the pastor to, just do it, and that he'll have tea with him following, don't think the pastor will bother after all, do you.
- M, London, 09/09/2010 19:43
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If Obama feels this strongly and feels good reason for saying so then STOP HIM, tell him to do it in private, sounds like the pastor is a man with an incredible ego, there, there, a little attention goes a long way for some. As for Al Queda, they'll be fueled by this action and anything else if the need arose. Both are nutters, there, that's all it takes, hope I haven't fueled them. Sorry to appear flippant, not attractive I know.
- M, London, 09/09/2010 19:40
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I can't remember Christian Fundamentalists kicking up a fuss when the same disillusioned loony Muslims decided to burn "The Satanic Verses". They are all (insert any 'religious' group) a bunch of idiots believing in a non existent deity but it controls the masses and has done since the year dot. Laugh at them, humour is one thing they don't understand apart from the Jews.
- Derek Porter, London, UK, 09/09/2010 18:45
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If he paid for the books with his own cash then let him watch his money go up in smoke.
- jimbob, kensington, 09/09/2010 18:43
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As a reference - burning of Koran (or the Bible, for that matter) would more likely be protected by the First Amendment's right to free speech. And Paul - burning of US flag is legal in the US on the same grounds. As established in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), and reaffirmed in U.S. v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990). Amendment to Constitution which would ban flag burning passed the House but was rejected by the Senate in 2006. Best check your facts 
- Legal Immigrant, City of London, 09/09/2010 17:23
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Bob, Wimbledon - don't know why you are getting your knickers in a twist.
We have in the UK someone who really does need to be in the Hague - Blair!!
- Peter, Vienna, Austria, 09/09/2010 17:12
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This guy is obviously a bit of an idiot looking for publicity.
However the bigger picture is that once again the Western World panicking about how Muslims will react.
I am a Catholic but because i see cartoons making fun of The Pope or see Bibles being burned in Muslim Countries I do not complain - as it is the rights of an individual to do what the like within the law.
Also the Pakistan President calling it "despicable" maybe he should worry about the behaviour of his own Government and not take any interest in this non story,
- Sean, London, 09/09/2010 17:09
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- Kat, london
There's free speech and there's inciting religious/racial hatred which is against the law in the UK. Which one do you think this is?
You would think that in a country where it's also illegal to burn the national flag that they would have similiar laws to stop idiots like this 'Man of God'.
- paul mcdee, london, 09/09/2010 17:01
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"Al-Q don't need any excuses. As long as non-Muslims exist that is all they need". True, but up to a point. Koran-burning creates moral support for the extreme views amongs moderate Umma, ultimately increasing their hiring pool. Not to mention that book-burning is just plain ugly, whatever the book.
- Legal Immigrant, City of London, 09/09/2010 16:58
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"You will have no problem with this burning of the Koran then?". Yes, I will. I see it as pointless, uncultured and illiberal thing to do. It has nothing to do with what I think of Wahhabi Islam of the Saudis. Or PASDARAN proxies in Lebanon and Iraq. Or Mullah Omar's Taliban. They "highlight" as much of Islam as Terry Jones or pope Benedict "highlight" Christianity.
- Legal Immigrant, City of London, 09/09/2010 16:38
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If you insult people, you provoke them. 1+1=2. Provoke someone and they're likely to do something they would not necessarily have done - another 1+1=2 example. Wrong = wrong, an even simpler equation. There, that should be simple enough even for Richard Merrell - or maybe not. Certainly it should be enough for those who think their own thoughts
- Rogan, Irving, 09/09/2010 16:38
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Al-Q don't need any excuses. As long as non-Muslims exist that is all they need.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 09/09/2010 16:30
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"The man should be in the Hague facing a war-crimes trial". Bob, why don't you put your money where your mouth is and bring the actual case? Too much hot air otherwise.
- Legal Immigrant, City of London, 09/09/2010 16:28
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"We should burn Blair's book instead". But of course - the more you burn, the more money goes to charity. Creative destruction - nearly :))
- Legal Immigrant, City of London, 09/09/2010 16:02
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"US officials say they cannot intervene as the church's actions would likely be protected by the US constitution's guarantee of freedom of speech."
This is not about "freedom of speech" but the freedom to offend and the freedom to terrorise the emotions of hundreds of millions of people!
If the US constitution's guarantee of freedom of speech (and act), then it must also guarantee the reaction and retaliation this "guarantee" will bring!
There are no absolute freedoms anywhere in the world. "Freedoms" that have the real potential to create chaos, turmoil and loss of life must be rejected by every civilized society.
- hele, Leeds, 09/09/2010 15:59
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So that disgusting war criminal thinks it's disrespectful to burn the Koran (and that may be so) - yet he thinks it's OK to kill innocent Iraqis. Somwhat perverse I'd say. The man should be in the Hague facing a war-crimes trial not signing books behind closed doors. What's the difference in his crimes than those of Charles Taylor in Sierra Leone. For those people who queued to get a signed book - same macabre people who'd go to great lengths to get a Hitler signed momento - must have the blood of Iraqis and British troops on the book.Don't buy the book - donate directly to the British Legion.
- Bob, Wimbledon,UK, 09/09/2010 14:01
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@ Legal Immigrant, City of London
You will have no problem with this burning of the Koran then?
It is Saudi money that backs the Islamists and the spread of the vicious Wahhabi Islam. You will find Saudi money behind the Mosque they want to build in New York. You will find Saudi money backing elements in this country forcing women to wear the Niqab.
Saudi Arabia are a very apt example to draw on given their filthy influence in other countries politics and policy making. It highlights very clearly the hypocrisy of Islam and Islamic states.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 09/09/2010 13:52
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We should burn Blair's book instead.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 09/09/2010 13:29
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"How ironic this is given that millions of people fled to America..." blah-blah. Melvyn, you have to have your sweeping generalisations on every subject! On which basis do you think the tiny The Dove World Outreach Center is representative even of America's Christians, least of all entire America?? Next we will have to see BNP as representative for the UK?
- Legal Immigrant, City of London, 09/09/2010 12:43
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"Funny, nobody seems to have a problem when Saudi Arabia". Frank, Saudis do not bill themselves as a liberal democracy - nor they ever constitutionalised freedom of speech or religion. As well as any other civil liberties we take for granted. Choose a better benchmark next time.
- Legal Immigrant, City of London, 09/09/2010 12:28
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How ironic this is given that millions of people fled to America (the promised land!) to flee religious persecution! Hence the many different and often odd religions that are found in America.
As for how Saudi Arabia treats christians well why do we have to sink to their levels to prove ourselves?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 09/09/2010 12:16
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Burning the book isn't the issue, your faith is in your heart and mind. So it doesn't matter if some idiot burns a book or not, as long as you remain true in your heart.
- ash, birmingham, 09/09/2010 12:01
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Bring on the petrol! Lets stand up to the idiots who think they have the right to stop free speech. How many times have you had to keep your mouth shut and tred lightly around this faith, no matter what they can do to you you must keep quite, never!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Kat, london, 09/09/2010 11:45
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Lets just burn Tony Blair instead.
- stuart, chesterfield,derbyshire, 09/09/2010 11:43
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Wars have nothing to do with religion, they are to do with Power and money and land. Bad people use religion to sustain wars and idiots like Jones just help these people.
- Alex C, London, 09/09/2010 11:42
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The Koran LIES and says, God has no son, the Koran LIES again and says, that Yeshua did not die. ..it's about time Christians learned exactly that the Koran DENIES the gospel !!.............end of lesson
- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls, NSW Australia, 09/09/2010 11:39
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Seriously tho', we've got the idiot Jones spouting hatred of Muslims and now we have the cleric Mukhtar spouting hatred of Americans. Both of them are beneath contempt and should be dismissed as unhinged lunatics.
OR, organise a boxing match between them?! Just a thought.
- Peter M, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 09/09/2010 11:38
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Why don't these Islamists get some maturity, wisdom and humour into their guts and just laugh this stunt off?
After all wit and laughter are the strongest forms of ridicule not petulant outrage.
- Barney, Surbiton, 09/09/2010 11:36
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If Tony Blair is against you, you know you're in the right
- John Smith, London, 09/09/2010 11:33
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Let's just burn Tony Blair's book.
- Mike, Sutton, 09/09/2010 11:27
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Muslims burn a 15 year old schoolboy to death(Kriss Donald),no response from the Muslim world... !
Bloke threatens to burn a paper book... Muslim world is in uproar... its obvious there is something bad and wrong here.
- moronamid, London England, 09/09/2010 11:26
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Why would a lunatic American listen to an incredulous twit like Blair?!
We didn't, and we had to live in a country run, I mean ruined, by the two-faced Princess.
- Peter M, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 09/09/2010 11:24
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Spot on Graham and Moronamid!!!
- karenf, London, 09/09/2010 11:18
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Tony Blair. He's got some nerve - how does he sleep at night ?
- SqUiz, IslIngton, 09/09/2010 11:14
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Nutters, acting supposedly in the name of religion, but in the reality out of dumb ignorance. No, he's not the same as a murderer, but he is as deluded as others who claim to be "Christian", "Jewish" or "Muslim". The last thing we need is a competition between a Christian and a Muslim to see who can be the most misguided, deluded, bigotted and essentially pig-ignorant.
- Adam, Billericay Essex, 09/09/2010 10:31
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Terry Jones has got nothing to do with Christianity. He had to run away from Germany where he set up his first church due to financial irregularities.
This is nothing but a very bad taste PR exercise. Jones is motivated by money - not any higher cause.
Disappointing to see that all the furore around this will benefit him financially - more followers, donations, sales of merchandise etc.
- Richard, London, 09/09/2010 10:30
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The actual act of burning a book of nonsense is not what causes offence... its having their inner most thoughts revealed that is what galvanises them to shut him up... !
Salute a brave man...
If we don,t confront the devil and his works then the devil and his works will destroy us.
- moronamid, London England, 09/09/2010 10:21
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For me the really concerning aspect of all this is that many people liken the behaviour of the Pastor to that of the Taliban. Because apparently burning a book can be compared to stoning women, suicide bombing, cutting heads off on video, disfiguring women and banning them from education and work, etc etc.
Maybe the Pastor is right to take a stand no matter how disrespectful it is. After all if Islam is so advanced and superior as many believe it is then surely they will treat the stunt with the contempt it deserves as we do whenever anything representing us is burnt?
- Rob, London, 09/09/2010 10:09
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Funny, nobody seems to have a problem when Saudi Arabia confiscates and burns bibles? You are not even allowed to wear a crucifix there!
I am an Atheist so quite frankly I do not give a damn, but seeing blatant hypocrisy in the political world of religion does annoy me somewhat.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 09/09/2010 10:05
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Tony Blair, that true upstanding Catholic who started trying to bomb muslims back to the stone age? Like he can criticise.
- Bob, Cheam, 09/09/2010 09:37
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If he reads the Koran while he is warming himself fireside, he will be most surprised to find contained within it many of the same stories and characters we are all familiar with from the Bible. On second thought, it does appear unlikely that he has read a Bible either. More fuel for the fire, Rev?
- Bloke, Lambeth, 09/09/2010 09:34
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As the true Terry Jones would say......"He's just a very naughty boy."
- Derek Porter, London, UK, 09/09/2010 09:33
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Has this deluded ignorant cretin actually read the book?
- Alex C, London, 09/09/2010 09:15
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It's a devil book so what's the problem?
This is what Christianity is all about - denouncing the evil and promoting the love. Terry Jones is a true Christian.
- Graham, Hamptead, London, 09/09/2010 09:02
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