(CNSNews.com) – Gen. John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is defending his apology to Afghans for the burning of Qurans by U.S. troops at a Bagram air base.
Allen said he thinks the U.S. and the people of Afghanistan all want to “move on,” although infuriated Muslims, some in Afghan army uniforms, have killed at least six Americans in retaliatory attacks s since the Feb. 20 incident.
In an interview with ABC News that aired Monday evening, Allen said the Quran is “the central word of God” for Muslims: “Why wouldn’t we (apologize)?” he asked. “We didn’t do it on purpose, but we should apologize, and we did.”
President Obama also has apologized, a move that’s drawn criticism from his Republican rivals.
The burning of the Qurans — which reportedly were being used by prisoners to exchange messages — prompted rioting in Afghanistan and calls for the U.S. troops involved in the incident to be punished.