Bullets 'n' Babes

Islamic protests in the UK today against Britain and America (nothing new in that I hear you say...) but this time because during the interigations of Muslim prisoners soldiers allegedly defaced and disrespected copies of the Quoran (flushed them in the toilet, etc). With thousands of people dead and dying, terrorists roaming the country and allegations of humiliation and beatings until death (see Yi-Long's thread), doesn't it seem strange that such an outcry could be raised over what is essentially printed paper? If someone burst into your home and destroyed your Holy Book (whatever it may be?) sure you would be offended (and pretty pissed off), but lest we forget the circumstances involving the search for terrorists is not a cat and mouse game. If it is possible that a genuine terorrist can be intimidated or lured in confession by offences commited against the Quoran should that be acceptable? Isn't that better than physcial torture? If a fanatic fears most desecration of his religion, isn't that the best way to deal with him? To personalise a bit: if soldiers believed that a Scotsman was guilty of nationalist terrorism, would I complain about them destroying the Saltire to induce confession? No. Would I like it? No. But then I would dislike even more the thought that anyone of my countryman were terrorists. Extreme circumstances require reasonably unusual measures. The treatment of terrorist suspects seems to be more bothersome to many that the actual carrying out of the terrorist action. If an insurgant's bomb kills 50 people, including women and children, it gets less news time than the aforementioned protest. Has the PC fear of ethnic religion overtaken conflicting human morality and decency? I created this thread as an alternative to Yi-Long's to provide a balance. I have great sympathy for what happened to potentially innocent civilians under brutal torture in Iraq and condemn those abuses. But does the reporting of this and other protestations take away from the major issue? Does it encourage extremists? One UK-based protestor - traditonally in robes and long beard - chanted something along the lines of (and I paraphrase slightly) "Watch your back UK and USA, Taliban is here to stay". A threat that in most countries would see you arrested and charged with treason. But Britian is so desperate (scared?) to not offend Islam that they allow behaviour that is totally unacceptable. If I threatened Tony Blair in public for whatever reason I would be arrested? Should I tell them I support the Taliban?



(see Arab guy jailed today for trying to take a bomb on a plane)