Smoking out the radicals by burning the Koran - maybe we are onto something

by Kim Gebbia

SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. - Springfield Pastor Bob Old said his decision to burn the Islamic holy book on September 11 has nothing to do with the agenda of the pastor in Florida or the controversy surrounding the mosque in New York.

He has his own reasons behind the demonstrations and no intentions of backing down.

"My plans for Saturday are to take a copy of the Quran and burn it," said Old.

He's planning to go forward with the demonstration on 9/11 to be able to make his point and have it heard.

"To the Muslim church I would say the reason I am doing on Saturday because I believe they worship a false god. They have a false text, a false prophet and a false scripture," said Old.

He said the other two reasons are to teach Americans about their constitutional rights and to make them better Christians.

Both General Patraeus and President Obama have spoken out against such demonstrations, worried it will be perceived as an act of hate by Muslims around the world.

But for Old, he asked "How can it be an act of hate when what I am doing is trying to save their souls?"

Military officials worry Old's actions could be putting American lives in danger overseas.

Tanya Fierro, the wife of a Fort Campbell soldier in Afghanistan is upset to hear about Old's plans.

"It's sad because it's a minority, but their actions can be so far reaching and I don't think they understand that," Fierro said.

What's even harder for Fierro to understand is why someone in her own state, who lives just miles from her Tennessee home, would want to put her husband's life and 17,000 other Fort Campbell troops in even more danger while serving their country in a war zone.

"I just want to know that my husband is safe and I wish that more people would stop and say whoa, I need to think about this, it's going to put more lives at risk," said Fierro.

Old answered to Fierro's concerns.

"Does it concern me? I would say to the troops that I would not want to bring any harm to them," Old said.

But he knows it could and that Saturday's demonstration could bring harm to him as well.

Old said he's already had two death threats since he went public with his plans.

"I believe I am right and I am willing to die for that," said Old.

Old plans to burn the Quran on Saturday at noon and post the video on YouTube.com immediately afterwards.