http://www.voanews.com/english/figleaf/ramfilegenerate.cfm?filepath=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Evoanews%2Ecom%2Fmediaassets%2Fenglish%2F2005%5F05%2FAudio%2Frm%2FGollustRiceGuantanamo12may05%2ErmU.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday disrespect for the Koran is abhorrent and will never be tolerated by the United States. She urged Muslims around the world to reject incitement over charges that interrogators at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, may have desecrated the Islamic holy text.
The statement by Secretary Rice, at a congressional hearing, underlined the degree of concern in Washington over the violent protests in Afghanistan and Pakistan over the desecration charges.
Opening a round of budget testimony before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, Ms. Rice said Americans honor the sacred books of all the world's great religions, and that disrespect for the Koran is not now, nor has it ever been or ever will be, tolerated by the United States.
The Secretary said the abuse allegations at Guantanamo are being fully investigated by military authorities, and if they are proven true, the United States will take appropriate action.
In the meantime, she appealed to those in the Muslim world to reject political incitement, in order to help avoid further violence. "During the past few days, we have heard from our Muslim friends around the world about their concerns on this matter. We understand and share the concerns. Sadly, some people have lost their lives in violent demonstrations. I am asking that all our friends around the world reject incitement to violence by those who would mis-characterize our intentions," she said.
We held these folks for years without counsel or any measure of due process and even ended up releasing dozens without indictment or charge after detaining and torturing them for months, seemingly without end. Now we want to claim that no mistreatment occured and that we respect their culture and religion. In the wake of the low level scapegoating that the government seems satisfied with there will continue to be expressions of outrage over the refusal of our government to hold any upper level officials responsible for the obviously sanctioned abuses, tortures, and illegal detainments.VOA reports:
Afghans Protest in Kabul Over Alleged Koran Abuse at Guantanamo
http://www.voanews.com/english/Afghans-Protest-in-Kabul-Over-Alleged-Koran-Abuse-at-Guantanamo.cfm US Terms Alleged Koran Desecration at Guantanamo 'Repugnant'
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005_05_11_voa109.cfm At Least Five Killed in Violent Afghanistan Protests Over Koran Abuse at Guantanamo
http://www.voanews.com/english/Violent-Protests-in-Afghanistan-After-Report-of-Abuse-at-Guantanamo-Bay.cfm US Official Assures Lawmakers on Guantanamo Abuse Investigation
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-05-11-voa4.cfm US Condemns Alleged Koran Desecration at Guantanamo Detention Facility
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-05-11-voa3.cfm