US Politics: Florida Pastor Misunderstands "Sign from God", Postpones Burn-a-Koran Day

Headline developments in the US yesterday, as Terry Jones, the pastor of a small Florida church, said he was cancelling tomorrow's Burn-a-Koran Day because he had a "sign from God" that the Park 51 Islamic Community Center, proposed on a site 2 1/2 blocks from the World Trade Center in New York City, would be moved.

Unfortunately, the line between God and Jones was a bit erratic, as the Islamic Center's organisers quickly said that they had made no such promise.

US Politics Video: Clinton Denounces “Disrespectful, Disgraceful” Burn-a-Koran Day
US and Afghanistan: Petraeus Warning over “Burn a Koran Day” (Barnes/Rosenberg)

Jones then said that he was only postponing his Koran burning.

Jones had made his cancellation announcement after a meeting with Imam Muhammad Musri, an Islamic leader in Florida. Although Musri was alongside Jones at the press conference, he soon said that Park 51's leaders had not agreed to find a new location: “The imam committed to meet with us but did not commit to moving the mosque yet.”

Jones also received a phone call from Defense Secretary Robert Gates during his meeting with Musri. Earlier in the day, President Obama had said the Koran burning would be "a recruitment bonanza from Al Qa'eda".

Throughout the week, Jones' plan had been denounced by US officials, including Hillary Clinton and General David Petraeus, the commander of American forces in Afghanistan, who said it would endanger his troops.

US and Afghanistan: Petraeus Warning over "Burn a Koran Day" (Barnes/Rosenberg)

In a telling example that the effects of whipped-up cultural conflict within the US may not remain at home, General David Petraeus offered a comment on this week's proposed "Burn a Koran Day". It is part of a concerted public-relations operation: the International Security Assistance Force is pushing Petraeus' remarks on its Facebook page.

Julian Barnes and Matthew Rosenberg report for The Wall Street Journal:

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said the planned burning of Qurans on Sept. 11 by a small Florida church could put the lives of American troops in danger and damage the war effort.

Gen. David Petraeus said the Taliban would exploit the demonstration for propaganda purposes, drumming up anger toward the U.S. and making it harder for allied troops to carry out their mission of protecting Afghan civilians.

"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort," Gen. Petraeus said in an interview. "It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems. Not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."

Hundreds of Afghans attended a demonstration in Kabul on Monday to protest the plans of Florida pastor Terry Jones, who has said he will burn copies of Islam's holy book to mark the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Afghan protesters chanted "death to America," and speakers called on the U.S. to withdraw its troops. Some protesters threw rocks at a passing military convoy.

Military officials fear the protests will likely spread to other Afghan cities, especially if the event is broadcast or ends up on Internet video.

Mr. Jones, head of the 50-member Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., said in a statement that "We understand the General's concerns. We are sure that his concerns are legitimate." Nonetheless, he added, "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."

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