U.S. soldier uses Quran for target practice. Military apologizes.

The soldier has now denounced his actions, and promises to now only shoot at iraqi children and/or their puppies.

No apology should have been issued.U.S. forces need to leave the region and muslims need to leave the U.S.

The sniper's actions were wrong. But they were indicative of the cultural ignorance and insensitivity that are common throughout the United States. America was founded on the principles of freedom. We are a melting pot. Our diversity makes us strong. So how is it that the average American can be so isolated, culturally ignorant, linguistically ignorant, and intolerant? It is a sad paradox.

The war in Iraq is not the US, the West, or the Christians against the Muslims. Believe any of that and you’re playing right into Al Qaeda’s hands.

Regardless of the reasons we initially invaded Iraq, it is our responsibility to clean up the mess before we leave: both morally and by international law.

For those who aren’t aware, the current fight in Iraq is a combination of defeating Al Qaeda (foreign fighters), quelling an insurgency among the religious sects and tribes who are vying for power, and building a stable system of government and social support to ensure the welfare of the Iraqi people.

Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines are doing an excellent job in both Iraq and Afghanistan and they deserve the support and respect of the American people. The level of stress they face every day is almost impossible to communicate to someone who hasn’t faced it.

Imagine spending a day walking amongst a suffering populace trying to figure out how to help them. You can be walking through the local marketplace and shaking hands one minute, reacting to sniper fire the next, helping to plan a public works project (well, clinic, school, etc.), next you can be taking cover from mortar or rocket fire, and you also might be arresting a local bully who has been forcing residents of his neighborhood our of their homes because they come from different tribes than him.

Think about how easy it would be in that environment for a young soldier to identify all of his/her problems as being caused by the Iraqi people or Muslims at large. They’re different, right? I read the Bible, they read the Koran. That which symbolizes everything that is different or stressful to me is that little book. Maybe I’ll relieve some stress from yesterday’s mortar attack and shoot at it. I’m not defending the Soldier’s actions. They were wrong, plain and simple, and have been dealt with by the chain of command. I am just trying to encourage a little empathy.

Terms like “Baby Killer” were popular during the Vietnam-era. However, accusations of wholesale atrocities like the killing of children and/or puppies is both ignorant and inflammatory, TAPPA. If you object to US actions in Iraq, perhaps you should exercise your right to vote and/or influence those in political power who ordered the military into the conflict. The men and boys who are in the fight are doing the best we can. Think you can do better? I’ll bet there’s a recruiting station within 10 miles of where you are right now.

We all enjoy the freedom of speech as Americans. I am exercising mine by expressing my opinion that the actions of the Soldier were wrong. However I am further trying to explain the context in which those actions were taken to those who have no point of reference. It’s never black and white, though it may seem so to a Monday Morning Quarterback.

I am an Airborne Ranger who has volunteered thrice over to take on the toughest jobs asked by my Country. I have deployed in support of Iraq two times and Afghanistan once. I will be deploying again in early 2009. What I am saying comes both from first-hand experience and analysis.

Tappa wrote:

The soldier has now denounced his actions, and promises to now only shoot at iraqi children and/or their puppies.

F off you liberal America hating punk.I hate islam,muzz and liberals.

I pis#s on the quran!

Bob, the whole hate and intolerance thing isn't really American. I get the fact that you're hacked off at Tapa. But you need to realize that your ignorantly inflammatory statements are just as bad.

Army Major wrote:

Bob, the whole hate and intolerance thing isn't really American. I get the fact that you're hacked off at Tapa. But you need to realize that your ignorantly inflammatory statements are just as bad.

wll said skipper.

Thank-you Army Major.

Thank-you both for your service to me, my family, and our country; and thank-you for the very simple, clear and concise statement on the topic. I help train soldiers, and I can see all kinds of PR damage being done by this soldier's lack of foresight. I'm glad you are understanding of the frustrations that build up in troops that are having a hard time comprehending a foreign culture, in a foreign language, in a world made up of feuding tribes and political causes.

It sounds like the Army has got a find commander in you.

God bless and keep you.

Right on "Army Major"!
We need to hear more truth like this and not the politically motivated garbage we constantly hear.
Propaganda that Al Qaeda just loves!

Army Major wrote:

Bob, the whole hate and intolerance thing isn't really American. I get the fact that you're hacked off at Tapa. But you need to realize that your ignorantly inflammatory statements are just as bad.

I will hate who I want,its called freedom.
I dont appreciate you calling me ignorant.I remember 9/11.I will always hate islam,muzz
and the F ing liberal scum who let these islamic
terroist beasts into our great nation.If you
dont like it to F ing bad.

Bob, you are exercising your freedom of speech. Good on you! You are correct that you can hate who you want, as long as you don’t act upon those thoughts. Not sure if you’ve read a newspaper lately, but those pesky little hate crimes are frowned upon these days.

Just to make sure we’re being accurate, I didn’t call you ignorant. I said your statements were ignorantly inflammatory. There is a subtle difference. You might be a rocket scientist, but your statements are along the lines of a booger-eating moron….

All unpleasantness aside, I would recommend you mix in a little spell check into your comments to give them some validity.

This story induces vomiting!
Not because of what the soldier did, though he should have been smarter and released his frustrations in privacy so as not to cause an uproar. However, when a CO -after all that is being done for these people- has to literally kiss this vile book of hate and beg forgiveness from some primitive semi-nomad...Ugghh

Clear view: It is about respect. It's knida tough to help rebuild a society when they're less than you. Kissing the book, as Muslims do, is simply a sign of respect. It doesn't mean we're acquiescing or prostrating ourselves before the Muslims. Sounds like you're signaling game-on for a holy war? Jihad!

Army Major wrote:

Clear view: It is about respect. It's knida tough to help rebuild a society when they're less than you. Kissing the book, as Muslims do, is simply a sign of respect. It doesn't mean we're acquiescing or prostrating ourselves before the Muslims. Sounds like you're signaling game-on for a holy war? Jihad!

Well said!:) except, I don't think muslims are less than me. They are just as human.

Dart wrote:

No apology should have been issued.U.S. forces need to leave the region and muslims need to leave the U.S.

So US millitary leaves all the middle eastern outposts. Will you pay for my gas?

And if they are law abiding citizens, what makes it your country and not theirs? last I heard US constitution or any other important papers have nothing about which religious sect can live in the US. Perhaps you should follow them too if they ever fall for your suggestion. You can then live in the vatican or jerusalem.

Army Major wrote:

Regardless of the reasons we initially invaded Iraq, it is our responsibility to clean up the mess before we leave: both morally and by international law.

You are the mess, you cretin.
The reason why Iraq was invaded and currently illegally occupied (oil)has not altered on iota. American greed is not something that's about to change, especially after the expenditure of $12 billion dollars monthly and the cost of keeping its 30,000+ limbless, maimed, braindead cripples for the rest of their worthless lives.
The U.S. has no intention of cleaning up any mess or even repairing Baghdad's clean water and electricity services it bombed 5 years ago.
The shame is that the troops, aka the scum of earth, don't possess the intellect to realize that they are despised by decent people all over the civilized world, that they cannot win this "war" and that the shame they have brought upon America will last for generations.

The statement I am making here is about the coversation I have just read. We all as Americans have to realize, we are at war. Not with each other, but against terror! It saddens me to read statements mad by so many angry people. I know all of you have the right to be angry, but remember who you should be angry at. Not each other. If we are to ever have a sense of security again it will have to start within each of us. We are the United States of America! So please quit fighting with each other and use the obvious brain power you have demonstarted to unite!

Marat wrote:

<quoted text>
You are the mess, you cretin.
The reason why Iraq was invaded and currently illegally occupied (oil)has not altered on iota. American greed is not something that's about to change, especially after the expenditure of $12 billion dollars monthly and the cost of keeping its 30,000+ limbless, maimed, braindead cripples for the rest of their worthless lives.
The U.S. has no intention of cleaning up any mess or even repairing Baghdad's clean water and electricity services it bombed 5 years ago.
The shame is that the troops, aka the scum of earth, don't possess the intellect to realize that they are despised by decent people all over the civilized world, that they cannot win this "war" and that the shame they have brought upon America will last for generations.

Talk about people who hate,lol,
islam is a evil deathcult from hell.islam murdered
millions.muzz are dirty worthless savage barbaric
animals.muhammad was a childmolesting caravan
theif and murderer,conartist,at least the pig
is dead.I hate islam and all muzz.

Army Major wrote:

Regardless of the reasons we initially invaded Iraq, it is our responsibility to clean up the mess before we leave: both morally and by international law.
For those who aren’t aware, the current fight in Iraq is a combination of defeating Al Qaeda (foreign fighters), quelling an insurgency among the religious sects and tribes who are vying for power, and building a stable system of government and social support to ensure the welfare of the Iraqi people.

If you object to US actions in Iraq, perhaps you should exercise your right to vote and/or influence those in political power who ordered the military into the conflict.

We all enjoy the freedom of speech as Americans. I am exercising mine by expressing my opinion that the actions of the Soldier were wrong.

'
'
But by looking at the sufferings in Iraq after US attacks where 1.2 innocent Iraqis killed, hospitals, schools, bridges, museum etc destroyed, there's nothing good about the war no matter what your justification is. What kind of freedom is achieved in Iraq? Think about the Iraqis welfare. You turned the country into hell, now you should sincerely rebuild it and leave.

It is obvious that Al Qaeda works for the US government and now you need them to continue your existence in Iraq. John McCain will need Al Qaeda to make some last minute threatening messages and appearances for his presidential election campaign just as Bush did. Nothing new.

Not a Sunni or Shiite, but a Muslim

Army Major wrote:

Clear view: It is about respect. It's knida tough to help rebuild a society when they're less than you. Kissing the book, as Muslims do, is simply a sign of respect. It doesn't mean we're acquiescing or prostrating ourselves before the Muslims. Sounds like you're signaling game-on for a holy war? Jihad!

You are not and have never been an Army Major.
You're a liberal Obama loving piece of filth who gets on an internet form and preaches garbage.
Go to Hell Maggot