Oh, For the Love of Pete

Hundreds of protesters have clashed with police and security forces in Afghanistan in a second day of angry demonstrations over reports that copies of the Quran were burnt at an airbase used by NATO and coalition troops.

[...]

"People are marching towards Kabul. Police are trying to stop them. We have sent more reinforcements to the area," the spokesman said.

  alJazeera

I can't believe they're still resorting to Koran burning. What could possibly be the reason?  Really.  Wouldn't it be wiser to lace them with some biological like anthrax and pass them out like blankets to the American Indians?

The US embassy said on Wednesday it was locked down and had suspended all travel in Afghanistan.

[...]

Leon Panetta, the US defence secretary, issued an apology for the "inappropriate treatment" of Islam's holy book at the base and backed General John Allen's call for "swift and decisive action to investigate this matter".

"These actions do not represent the views of the United States military. We honour and respect the religious practices of the Afghan people, without exception," he said.

Isn't that obvious? I mean, we're constantly saying Islam is the reason we're at war.

Carsten Jacobson, a spokesman for the NATO-led international force in Afghanistan, said an investigation had been launched into the issue and preliminary information showed that Quran copies had not been burned.

"Fortunately for all of us, local workers recognised the type of material and intervened. Actually the disposal process was stopped in time but it led to protests over the day. As far as we know, and the investigations are ongoing, they were not burned. But we have to wait for the results."

Which does not explain how the story got out (some Afghan workers found charred remains in the rubbish) or why Leon Panetta would apologize.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.