Oh come on, Jan. If they burned a bible do you seriously think we would riot and kill over it? Who does that, kills people because a book got burned? That's not just stupid, it's insane.

Newsflash, they hate Americans. They're tired of being occupied. What did you expect? Does that justify anyone dying over this? No, and I never stated that. I was explaining the culture surrounding their holy book. It may be anachronistic but nevertheless, why do something to bring on such a response if you know that is the response you will get by doing it and you have other options? So yes, you come on. It wasn't a defense of subsequent actions it was an explanation based on reality. Human beings on all sides have been killed unnecesarily. It is time to get out. Stop the occupation, Stop the drones, Stop the wars, Stop burning books, Stop pushing corporate ownership on the resources. They will not be bombed into "democracy". They will never accept Jesus or the Bible. They do not want us there. It is beyond arrogant to think othewise and to keep inflaming this. There have been enough repercussions as a result of not respecting culture regardless of how insane you may find it to be because you in your own heart (general term) hate. How many more generations are we ensuring will hate now as well? This is about more than just some burnt pages. The symbolism of it only fans the flames. That's what I think and all I have to say on this.

Well yes, shredding I suppose would also be seen as a desecration so not that. Burying them however would have been appropriate. And is there proof inmates wrote in them? I guess not now because they are gone. If that was the case shouldn't they have been kept as evidence? There might have been valuable information in them. (?) But I do agree, get them out. This has all done enough to fan hatred towards our children and theirs we did not ask for or bring about.

If that's the way they behave, let them have their shithole country, we need to get our troops out now. What sane person would think a book being burned would bring on a response of killing people, what kind of people act like that. Forget it, they aren't worth it.

They need to change their culture, then. One cannot apologize for murdering people over burning a book.

{And is there proof inmates wrote in them?}

Consistent pattern.

Conservatives begin from the premise that America probably is decent and did the right thing.

Left-wingers begin with the premise that America is malevolent and evil.

Exactly.

Look at it from another perspective. If the Bible were burned, what would Jews do? There might be some complaints, of course, but they would not riot and kill.

And if the New Testament were burned? Nothing except a few articles in the news and possibly some outspoken people in the media.

I'm sure they agree. They'd be quite relieved to see the US stop "spending money on them" in the form of high powered bullets and drone attacks on their families.

I'm not in the business of defending religious fundamentalists but I find your line of argument about how over-reactive and primitive those "other guys" are to be just the kind of blinkered thinking that led to this mess.

You don't think killing people because a copy of a book got burned is over-reacting?

Well then we should give them their wish and let them kill each other for a change in that case.

No, they are wrong to riot and murder over burning books. Some things are right and wrong. Moral relativism is nonsense.

See your pal's JohnA's comment above for an example of your red herring argument that you are only opposing "moral relativism."
What a howler. You both repeat the same tired rants about the how wrong the "other guys" are to resist being bombed and culturally assaulted in their own country and how "generous" and "culturally superior" we are to invade, occupy and kill them.
Just for a moment try the thought experiment of having an Afghan Islamic army drop from the skies and occupy your cities, your state, and your country, set up road blocks on every corner, install a puppet dictator from a US oil company as President, and kill your family members who resist, or just happen to be in the way.
That's not "moral relativism," that's reality in Afghanistan.

You're right, of course.
Sometimes one can barely restrain oneself.

The British did something akin to that to my grandparents, and I am all the better for it.