On May 9th, a U.S. Staff Sergeant who was a sniper section leader foolishly used a Qu’ran for target practice (cue the looting, arson, and murder). The tattered holy book was later discovered by Iraqi soldiers and reported to U.S. officials.

Suffice it to say the “Arab street” was outraged prompting U.S. Army officials to take swift action. The Sergeant who perpetrated the offense was relieved of his command with “prejudice” and reassigned back to the United States.

Suffice it also to say the raging Muslims don’t feel that punishment was adequate and are calling for a “severe” punishment.

So the U.S. military held an official “apology ceremony” and Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, Commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad, graveled at the feet of the tribal leaders.

On Saturday, Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad, appeared at an apology ceremony flanked by leaders from Radhwaniya.

“I come before you here seeking your forgiveness,” Hammond said to tribal leaders and others gathered. “In the most humble manner, I look in your eyes today, and I say please forgive me and my soldiers.”

Another military official kissed a Quran and presented it as “a humble gift” to the tribal leaders.

Hammond also read from the shooter’s letter: “I sincerely hope that my actions have not diminished the partnership that our two nations have developed together. … My actions were shortsighted, very reckless and irresponsible, but in my heart [the actions] were not malicious.”

Hammond said, “The actions of one soldier were nothing more than criminal behavior. I’ve come to this land to protect you, to support you — not to harm you — and the behavior of this soldier was nothing short of wrong and unacceptable.”

Sheikh Hamadi al-Qirtani, in a speech on behalf of all tribal sheikhs of Radhwaniya, called the shooting “aggression against the entire Islamic world.”

What that soldier did to the Qu’ran was incredibly stupid and he should have known better. His commanders were right to send him home, because his stupidity put our entire mission in Iraq at risk.

I also recognize how critical it is that we have the support of local clerics and the like in Iraq, but it’s frankly humiliating to see one of our guy’s kissing a Qu’ran.