By Schon Beechler
The Action: In February, U.S. officials removed 1,652 books with writing in the margins from a military detention facility in Afghanistan because they feared detainees might be using them to communicate and “organize.” The books, including copies of the Koran and other holy writings, were sent for incineration. Four holy books were badly burned before Afghan laborers and Afghan National Army officers intervened to retrieve them.
The Results: Nationwide rioting in Afghanistan and numerous attacks on American troops. In the past week, 29 Afghans and 6 American soldiers were killed and U.S.-Afghan ties fell to ruin. Can anything positive can come from this? (more…)
