Korans and Toilets

Newsweek's story that US soldiers at Guantanamo Bay desecrated copies of the Koran (by putting them in bathrooms 'to intimidate the inmates' and flushing one of them down a toilet) turn out to be inaccurate. Whoops! Too late, the wrath of angry religious fanatics around the world has been aroused. Riots in Afghanistan. Sixteen - get that, SIXTEEN - Afghani citizens have been killed, and over one hundred wounded, as a result of these riots.

OK, so it's the height of immorality to put a religious book in a bathroom, but it's - what? - "collateral damage" to kill and injure people whilst rioting FOR WHAT? Are you asking me to believe that the fundamentalist bigots who were out rioting wanted to support efforts to build democracy, as one Arab newspaper said? Um, hello, aren't these the same people who are passionately opposed to democracy if it isn't along strict theocratic lines?

So after both Stephen Hadley and Condoleezza Rice go on TV saying "OMG we're sorry! We don't know if this story is true but if it is, oh no, we wouldn't want to disrespect the Koran! Please forgive us!" it was confirmed that Newsweek retracts its allegations. Too late for those 16 people who were killed in what must have been one hell of a riot. If they are so concerned about respect and democracy, why can't these Holy War people react in any way other than violence? I suppose the one "anonymous source" that NW cited in its original article was a bit flimsy.

God it makes me so sick... the hypocrisy of people who try to use (untrue) stories of "religious desecration" (putting Korans in bathrooms) to paint America as the evil anti-Islamic bigot, whilst they themselves are, of course, completely against any sort of religious freedom whatsoever. Of course, I'm not saying that what has been going on in Guantanamo Bay (or what did happen with the torture allegations, I don't know if it still is) is not important. I'm just saying my God, it's not like the fanatics will really care if America put up its suspected terrorists in 5 star hotels - what America does or doesn't do isn't the issue. So if you're concerned about torture, then go after Bush and company, go after the mullahs in Iran (torture on a far grander scale), go after anyone who you suspect of condoning the practice. Including the Arab governments who the Bush admin. is accused of shipping prisoners to so they don't have to torture them themselves. Oh, wait - weren't these the same governments we were supposed to be impressing with our human rights records? You mean they are among the worst human rights violators in the world themselves? No shit, Sherlock!!

God, all his archangels and beard-trimmers, what is the world coming to?