Yesterday, President Obama fired back at critics who claimed that his apology to Afghans for the military’s accidental burning of Korans was a sop to extremists.Appearing on ABC News, he stated that the apology had “calmed things down.” He continued, “We’re not out of the woods yet. But my criteria in any decision I make, getting recommendations from folks who are actually on the ground, is what is going to best protect our folks and make sure that they can accomplish their mission.”If only that were true. Obama hasn’t just apologized – he’s threatened punishment for the servicemen who accidentally burned the Korans (which terrorists had been using to coordinate with one another). And Obama’s apology, which he gave a full five days ago, did nothing to quell the violence in Afghanistan. The riots continued unabated, and two US military advisers were shot after the apology.The fact is this: these riots generally peter out on their own. They don’t require florid apologies from the president of the United States. The problem with the apology isn’t that it made rioting worse (it didn’t). It’s that the apology gives the bad guys incentive to continue acting insane, as I wrote in my syndicated column today. Next time they see something they don’t like, they’ll simply riot and wait for the West to surrender. It’s worked before, after all.Leave it to our self-centered president to claim credit for the riots ending. Fortunately or unfortunately, Obama’s words do not make seas recede or Muslim extremists stop burning things and killing people. All they can do is betray our unwillingness to hold evil people to account, emboldening them.
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