Did you not see the pictures?

[walldude]

You know, the ones from the German Paper?

I'm sorry but, those who believe these beheadings and protests in Afghanistan are all about Terry Jones, are easily distracted. Yes the burning of the Koran has something to do with it. But is that the "real" reason?

Again have you seen the photos? I don't suggest you look at them. They are worse than Abu Grahib. MUCH WORSE.

The Afghani people are burning Obama in effegy. Funny, I didn't see Obama burn the Koran.

Imagine a country invading the US in the guise of "helping us". Then you find out that the people who are helping you are busy at home burning your Bible.

Meanwhile the troops occupying your country are busy pulling farmers out onto the road and blowing their brains out. Then cutting off fingers and pulling out teeth as souvenirs, while they laugh about killing a "savage".

Yeah. It's all about Terry Jones.

Oh and.... SQUIRREL!

[tekisui]

1. For almost 10 years the US has occupied the country and killed

the people there. Perhaps they have had enough. The Quran burning is simply adding insult to murder.

[Taverner]

2. It's about friggen religion

The Afghani rioters were looking for an excuse to kill for allah. Just like Terry Jones. Just like many of our Soldiers. Just like George Bush. Just like the IRA and Ulster in the late 20th century. Just like any "holy warrior."

Religion is dangerous. It is "disruptive technology" if you will. It states that the believer's "reality" is more real than our shared reality. As a result, those religious folks get to do a lot of killing because "god will judge us all."

DU Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, etc please realize this is not a PERSONAL attack. This is an attack on an idea - an anti-social one that lies at the heart of any religion. It's the same idea Phred Phelps, Osama bin Laden, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Terry Jones have. That is, the idea that their fantasy world is more real than our shared collective world.

Christians of the evangelical variety often say they "hate the world" and that they are "not of this world."

When they spell it out like that, its hard not to see it as a looming threat.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. +2,000,000 n/t

[Hannah Bell]

8. religion is the cover story. as per usual.

religion is one of the tools the masters of the universe use to get schmucks to fight their wars.

[Taverner]

10. This is true...but it never fails

Ask soldiers to appeal to reason, and we'd rarely if ever fight a war

But ask them to appeal to their "hearts" which in Christianspeak means that part of their mind that functions like a Religious Agent in their mind, and they will do all kinds of sick things to please their "god"

[Bluerthanblue]

11. or their 'country'-

nationalism is akin to religion.

[Taverner]

12. Yes, yes it is

We don't understand that here, yet

But in other places, there is a whole "son/daughter of the soil" concept that breeds racism and fanaticism

[Hannah Bell]

17. we don't understand that here yet? c'mon.

[Taverner]

19. Oh its budding

But it is not the driving force it is in Europe, Asia or Africa...

And nationalism is not necessarily American Exceptionalism

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. Some take thier religion much more seriously than others

Imagine if it had been Mohammed or the Koran that was used in Piss Christ, or other artistic and provocative use of religious symbols? What would the reaction be and would we still support freedom of expression?

Yes Jones is a fundie asshat, but that is no reason to abandon our basic principles just to kick his ass.

[Bluerthanblue]

3. it isn't all about Jones, but he sure as hell didn't help anything-

we can point out that it is LEGAL in this country for him to do this, while stating our disapproval of what he did.

It's important not to let him speak for "US".

He had an opportunity to stoke the flames of hatred and discord, and he took it without as he says any regrets, or responsibility.

THAT is wrong.

There is NO defense for what the pictures testify having happened.

NONE.

Jones' actions are not intended to do anything but to stoke the fire, feed his ego and spread hatred and intolerance.

He's succeeding.

[AKDavy]

4. After 20+ years of investigation "incidents" I've learned that

there is seldom one root cause. Usually, there are a set of causal factors waiting for a trigger event.

Afghanistan is a collection of tribes forced into artificial national boundaries imposed by the West.
Afghanistan's people are proud and resist invasion and oppression, as we would.
Afghanistan's people see the reality of our occupation, not the filtered propaganda we see.
We are an empire, we are acting like an empire, and those we invade resent it.
And yes, there is religious tribalism and ignorance at play.

The moron in Florida wasn't the fuel, he was the match.

[Hannah Bell]

7. "Our guy" Karzhai was reportedly the person who brought Jones to the attention of

Afghanis.

[AKDavy]

13. We tend to weave tangled webs, ignoring the advice of those

like Jefferson and Washington, who counseled against "entangling foreign alliances."

The more complicated the system, the more fragile, the less predictable, and the more sudden and violent the collapse. This is another lesson I've learned from investigation of incidents.

[valerief]

18. Rich people want to be richer so they can be the best with the most. That's the root cause.

They do everything to be the best with the most, and that sets off a chain reaction of lies, hate, more lies, anger, lies about lies, and war. The Best with the Most. It's always the same. They can cloak it in "humility" by claiming God's Will in their relentless drive for riches, but it's just greed. The Best with the Most. Always the same reason. There is no other.

[bvar22]

22. "The moron in Florida wasn't the fuel, he was the match."

Exactly.

[liberal life]

5. K&R

http://fucorporatemedia.com/

[malaise]

9. Ding ding we have a winner

Good spin though

[girl gone mad]

15. k & r

[Tx4obama]

16. Which german newspaper? Do you have a link? n/t

[druidity33]

20. It's in Der Spiegel...

google "death squad" trial and you'll find it.

:(

[Hissyspit]

23. "Kill squad"

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,752310,00.html

Rolling Stone published more: http://www.businessinsider.com/rolling-stone-kill-team-photos-2011-3

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-kill-team-20110327

[JoeyT]

21. Not to mention people have publicly destroyed Korans before and it never caused this. n/t

[Thunderstruck]

24. Patraeus roundly condemning Jones, but has he commented

on these images? I looked but I can't find it.

Patraeus on Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aartZApikmo

[EFerrari]

25. I didn't see the pictures

because I can't look at bodies any more. You're right, of course.