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White House Says Obama May Call Florida Pastor to Halt Koran Burning

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White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Thursday hinted that President Obama may reach out directly to Florida pastor Terry Jones to dissuade the pentecostal preacher from engaging in a Koran-burning ceremony on Sept. 11.

"I think there are discussions inside of the government about the possibility of doing that," Gibbs said during a press conference. "I don't know that a final decision has been reached."

Gibbs noted recent comments by the president on "Good Morning America," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan Gen. David Petraeus and former top U.S. military commander in Iraq Gen. Ray Odierno that such a protest would endanger the lives of American troops overseas.

"Judging from the publicity that this individual is attracting, I doubt it is hard for him to have missed the commander in Afghanistan, the former commander in Iraq, and the commander in chief all discussing the potential impacts of troops that we have deployed throughout the world that are in harm's way protecting the very religious freedoms that we all enjoy," said Gibbs. "This is a monumentally terrible idea."

In explaining his motivation to burn copies of the holy book of Islam, Jones has said, "we must send a clear message to the radical element of Islam. We will no longer be controlled and dominated by their fears and threats. It is time for America to return to being America."

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7 Comments

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hailey

what about jesus's word of forgiveness isnt that jesus's main message to others, many not all muslims arent extremist like everyone thinks. i agree with obama =]

September 10 2010 at 7:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
katie01967

Barrack Obama doesn't understand. Tolerance cannot be a one way idea. Rather than lecture Americans on religious tolerance, he should be lecturing the leaders of Islamic countries. Not one Mosque was burned to the ground by Americans following 9/11, not one Muslim family was slaughtered by a mob. The terrorists of 9/11 and the terrorists continuing barbaric behavior today cite Islam as their cause and reason for murder. Their pronouncements are the reason so many Americans distrust Muslims. We keep hearing how Islam is a religion of peace yet Iran (controlled by Islamic fundamentalists) demands the destruction of Israel solely because it is a Jewish nation. None of the leaders of other Muslim countries will renounce the goal of eliminating Israel (except Jordan and Egypt: who did so only because they keep losing the shooting war). Nowhere in the countries dominated by Islam is there any tolerance for non-muslims. The Shia and Sunni Muslims do not even tolerate each other.

September 10 2010 at 5:58 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Dennis Tyson

Mr.Jones: God said, "Thou shalt not kill". Is this not the Word of God that you seek to cease your burning of another religion's holy works. Listen to God. His words are plain and easily read. Your actions will incite the act of killing, thus making you a participatory agent in these deaths.

September 09 2010 at 9:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
joe

If the President calls the Pastor to stop the burning of the Qurans, but he does not call the Imam in an attempt to stop the building of the mosque, the President's actions will not be appreciated by the public.

September 09 2010 at 7:13 PM Report abuse +10 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to joe's comment
whoissurprised

Imam stated he would not toy with religion or barter. Imam will NOT condemn HAMAS. Iman's statements tells it all for me.

September 09 2010 at 7:22 PM Report abuse +8 rate up rate down Reply
tsunamicoming

Iman needs to MOVE the mosque or shut it down permanently.

September 09 2010 at 5:23 PM Report abuse +15 rate up rate down Reply
greatbirdusa

Just Announced, this agreement! -- Florida pastor Terry Jones agreed NOT to go ahead with the Koran-burning ceremony on Sept. 11 and in return the Muslims will NOT build the mosqe at the 9/11 site!! True? We'll soon see!!!

September 09 2010 at 5:19 PM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to greatbirdusa's comment
bpdarling

Muslims are NOT building a mosque in NYC. They will build, and yes, they DO intend to build a COMMUNITY CENTER which will be multi cultural, and open to the entire community. It will have dedicated prayer space for muslims, christians, jews, and other religeous beliefs. This will be limited space within a much larger complex. THe new community center will be a symbol of renewal, rebuilding, and a celebration of DIVERSITY within a multi cultural city. This center reflects the demographic of the surrounding neighborhoods. As for Mr. Jones, I question his credentials to even CALL himself a man of God. Through his actions he clearly demonstrates mental instability and deficiency, bigotry, hatred of ALL muslims, and a feeling of power. He thinks muslims want to take over the world, so in his mind, he needs to try an d insight a holy war to solve the conflict in his own mind. He has 49 people who think he's a saint. President Obama.....PLEASE DO NOT ENGAGE with this WHACK JOB! Perhaps Sharron Angle can use her second amendment remedies, or that senate candidate woman in Arizona who ran campaign ads showing her shooting an AK47....for protection!!! Terry Jones is certainly no pastor, and should not be treated as such. He should be viewed as a mentally unstable sociopath.

September 09 2010 at 5:37 PM Report abuse -15 rate up rate down Reply

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