Afghans Protest After U.S. Soldiers Burn Muslim Holy Book

Angry Afghans staged demonstrations outside a U.S. air base north of the capital, Kabul, after learning that Islamic religious materials, including Qurans from a nearby prison, were disposed of in a burn pit. Local Afghan workers recognized the holy book and intervened.

In the days following the event, the country has been gripped by deadly protests against U.S. troops in Afghanistan, leading to the deaths of more than 30 Afghans and at least five NATO soldiers.

U.S. and NATO troops have been in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington that were planned by Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.

Why were the Qurans burned?

	The U.S. issued a formal apology to Afghan President Hamid Karzai for the burnings, but so far it hasn't quelled the violence.

Three investigations are currently underway into the Quran burning incident—one by the Americans, one by the Afghans, and one that is a joint effort by Americans and Afghans.

U.S. Commander of NATO, General John Allen, opened the formal legal inquiry aimed at understanding the events that led to U.S. soldiers improperly disposing of the Qurans at the air base.
General Allen issued a statement recognizing the offense and labeling it a mistake.

"I offer my sincere apologies for any offence this may have caused, to the President of Afghanistan, the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and most importantly, to the noble people of Afghanistan," he said.

"We are thoroughly investigating the incident and are taking steps to ensure this does not ever happen again. I assure you, I promise you, this was not intentional in any way."

President Obama also issued a formal apology to Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Afghans are angry over cultural insensitivity

	Afghans say this isn't the first time they have been insulted or dishonored by U.S. troops.

Many Afghans who have taken to the streets in protest say this is not the first time American troops have offended Afghan cultural and religious traditions.

“This is not just about dishonoring the Quran, it is about disrespecting our dead and killing our children,” said Maruf Hotak, who was protesting on the outskirts of Kabul last week.

In January, a video showing four U.S. Marines urinating on the dead bodies of Afghan insurgents provoked condemnation and anger around the world.

Future U.S. presence in Afghanistan jeopardized

	President Obama announced plans to withdraw 33,000 troops from Afghanistan this year.

President Obama plans to withdraw 33,000 troops this year.  The White House has made it clear that the withdrawal timeline has not been affected by the surge in violence. Spokesman Jay Carney said the U.S. will stick to the set plan of creating an Afghan government stable enough to allow for troop withdrawal, despite rising resentment among Afghan civilians.

And while there are angry protests in the streets, the overall attitude towards Americans is complicated.

“I don't think that translates into Afghans wanting international forces to head for the exits right away, because if there's one thing Afghans fear more than anything else, it's a return to anarchy and civil war like they had in the 1990s,” said Andrew Wilder, director of Afghanistan and Pakistan Programs at the United States Institute of Peace, on the NewsHour.

“I talked to one cabinet member there who said, if you took a poll today and asked the majority of Afghans do you want the international forces to stay, they said no. But if you turn around the next day and ask them do you want them to leave, they would also say no. So there's a real ambivalence about international presence in Afghanistan.”