A Florida pastor who plans to burn copies of the Koran to “protest the September 11th terrorist attacks” has acknowledged a warning from top US commander in Afghanistan Gen. David Petraeus, but Terry Jones intends to carry on with the event as planned.
Jones, pastor at the Dove World Outreach Center, says the group is spiritually contemplating their plan, but it looks like a go so far- even though Gen. Petraeus says that the incident could incite violence against US troops in Afghanistan:
“We have firmly made up our mind, but at the same time, we are definitely praying about it,” said Jones, who heads the Dove World Outreach Church in Gainesville, Fla., told CNN Tuesday.
Jones said his group is “weighing the situation.”
Gen. Petraeus explained the effect the Koran-burning could have on operations in Afghanistan:
“It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan. Were the actual burning to take place, the safety of our soldiers and civilians would be put in jeopardy and accomplishment of the mission would be made more difficult.”
Jones cited scripture as a basis for the event, which is scheduled to occur over three hours on Sunday:
“Once in awhile, you see that in the Bible, there are instances where enough is enough and you stand up,” Jones said.
There will be “heightened security” at the scheduled Koran burning.
