Koran Burning to Go Forward Despite Pleas and Global Outrage

The Rev. Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida and his 50-member congregation plan to go forward with plans to burn the Koran (Quran) on the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. This has sparked global outrage and the President has said the church's actions could cause a "recruitment bonanza" for al Qaeda, the group that carried out the attacks using airplanes.

The President said in an interview with ABC's Good Morning America, "You could have serious violence in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan. This could increase the recruitment of individuals who would be willing to blow themselves up in American cities or European cities."

Secretary of State Clinton, actor Angelina Jolie, and the Vatican have spoken out against the planned Koran burning.

According to the CNN Blog, the Vatican implored the church Wednesday not to burn the holy book, saying it would be an "outrageous and grave gesture."

According to Yahoo! News, India has called for a media blackout that would include print and visual media.

A major Islamic group announced Thursday they would distribute 200,000 Quran to replace the 200 copies the church in Florida plans to burn.

Is the Planned Koran Burning a Strike Against All Muslims?

While many would be all for going after radical Muslims, the planned burning of the Koran is tantamount to their burning the Christian Bible in retaliation to extreme or radical Christians who have done them wrong or hurt them. Not one size fits all. The actions of Rev. Jones and his congregation will only serve to provoke and enrage all Muslims and add to the anti-Muslim frenzy in the U.S.

Koran Burning's Potential to Endanger Troops and All Americans:

The planned Koran burning on September 11 has the potential for putting U.S. troops and all Americans everywhere in danger. Despite these warnings and pleas from around the world, Rev. Jones intends to move forward with his plans to "commemorate" the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks that rocked our nation to its very core.

If things haven't been shaky enough between Americans and Muslims over the past nine years, Rev. Jones' plans, which has been called un-American and un-Christian, may only add fuel to the fire; this sort of action does nothing for U.S.-Muslim relations, and may prompt another attack on U.S. soil and Americans overseas.

Update: 5:35 p.m. - Reverend Terry Jones has canceled the church's plans to burn the Quran after apparently reaching a deal that has the proposed New York City mosque moving to another location. The imam planning the mosque, however, knows of no such deal.

Story is developing...

Sources:
President Obama to Pastor Jones: 'Stunt' Endangers Troops - Full Transcript of Exclusive Interview - George Stephanopoulos' Bottom Line

Muslim group to distribute replacement Qurans in response to planned burning - CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

Obama Warns Koran-burning would boost al Qaeda - Yahoo! News