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His protest has drawn the objection of the top U.S. and NATO Commander, General David Petraeus, who says images of burning Korans will spark worldwide violence. For the second time in 24 hours, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the demonstration, planned to be held at the dove world outreach center. "It regrettable that a pastor in Gainesville, Florida with a church of no more than 50 people can make this outrageous and distressful, disgraceful plan and get, you know, the world's attention."
Pastor Jones says he's received more than 100 death threats since announcing his September eleventh event ... and is now carrying a handgun with him at all times.
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In Fresno ... a Christian pastor ... an Islamic leader and a war veteran came together on the issue of the burning of the Koran. All of them denounced the act.
Pastor Jim Franklin of Fresno's Cornerstone Church believes plans to burn copies of the Koran are just a publicity stunt. The director of the Islamic Cultural Center agrees.
"What I see today is a small group of extremists becoming very vocal trying desperate acts to remind the community that they exist. And I see a general population that is largely silent," said Kamal Abu-Shamsieh.
Pastor Jim Franklin added, "This is a stunt ... this is a publicity stunt ... I condemn it from day one."
Korean War Veteran Charlie Waters fears for the lives of soldiers in Iraq and Pakistan. Waters says burning copies of the Koran will only agitate Muslim extremists both in the U.S. and overseas.
