US marines accused of war crimes in Afghanistan.

[Mr Angry]

All four marines involved have apparently now been identified.

Interestingly, from the article:

"The Taliban have indicated that while they condemn the video, its release would not affect the political process."

[TheDaddy]

Not a war crime but what were they thinking, were they even thinking or did they want the entire country to turn against them

At least six people have been killed and dozens injured in Afghanistan after protests spread over the burning of copies of the Koran at a US airbase.

US officials apologised on Tuesday after Korans were "inadvertently" put in an incinerator at Bagram airbase.

Officials at Bagram reportedly believed Taliban prisoners were using the books to pass messages to each other.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17123464

[martyh]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Not a war crime but what were they thinking, were they even thinking or did they want the entire country to turn against them

At least six people have been killed and dozens injured in Afghanistan after protests spread over the burning of copies of the Koran at a US airbase.

US officials apologised on Tuesday after Korans were "inadvertently" put in an incinerator at Bagram airbase.

Officials at Bagram reportedly believed Taliban prisoners were using the books to pass messages to each other.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17123464

I read about this yesterday and immediately thought that no way was this an accident .Given the delicacy of the Afgan situation i would assume that the US top brass would be drilling into the rank and file the nuances of the Islamic religion especially after their past indiscretions

[heero_yuy]

There was an interesting discussion on R4 Today program this morning and the question was asked: What is the correct way of disposing of a copy of the Qu'ran.

There are apparently three options according to the Islamic schoolar that they consulted:

1.It may be burnt (!) but it must be fully to ashes and then those ashes scattered over flowing water or interred.

2. It may be buried.

3. It may be weighted with a stone and cast into flowing water.

It seems the problem in Afghanistan was that the local workers helping to burn the materials that included copies of the Qu'ran removed the partially burnt copies and then gave them out rather than let the fire take its course which would have been the correct action.

It is interesting to note that these copies of the Qu'ran had already been defiled by Muslims writing in them.