Apologise but only if necessary

When first reported on TV, I heard that some copies of the Koran had been desecrated by writing anti-Western hate messages on them, something no Muslim would ever do, but perhaps some fanatics did so to incite their followers to action knowing the copies would be destroyed by the US forces. 

Profuse apologies for the burnings were made by senior US military officers and subsequently by President Obama. However, I’ve seen or heard of no further mention of the hate messages until yesterday when Newt Gingrich, in an interview on CNN, strongly criticised President Obama for apologising for the burning of the Koran, citing the significant level of the hate messages as the reason they were burned. He said that if any apologies were due, they should come from the Afghan president for the subsequent actions of the fanatics who executed two senior US officials, as well as the extensive violence that killed so many. If it is true that hate messages were on copies of the Koran, then I would agree with Gingrich’s comments and question why so little information has been forthcoming about the full circumstance of the burning. 

The US forces have rightly been severely criticised for various actions in Afghanistan that have offended Muslims and killed innocent people. However, when the shoe is on the other foot, one never hears of apologies from Muslims.

Sometimes it seems the US cannot see the wood for the trees in Afghanistan, or understand the war they are engaged in is just not winnable under any circumstances. Nobody benefits except arms suppliers, and all sides are suffering needlessly. I am not an American, but wonder why there is not a much stronger outcry from Americans to cease all military actions there and bring the troops home before there is more senseless bloodshed. This war should not be dependent on the whims of politicians striving to achieve votes in the upcoming US election.

Chris Kaye

Chonburi