While I could find no official population figures for religious affiliation in the United States, experts estimate that there are approximately six million American Muslims but the statements by the military do not seem primarily concerned with the effect upon these fellow citizens

U.S. military commanders have condemned the International plea to Burn the Qur'an Day

General David Petraeus, the U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said in a statement
"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort,"
Lieutenant-General William Caldwell, commander of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan, added
"We very much feel that this could jeopardize the safety of our men and women that are serving over here,"
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs echoed the concerns raised by Petraeus. "Any type of activity like that that puts our troops in harm's way would be a concern to this administration,"

Hilary Clinton has praised the joint statement by US religious leaders condemning what they described as an "anti-Muslim frenzy" in America which had been whipped up in part by "misinformation and outright bigotry" in response to plans to build an Islamic community centre and mosque close to the site of the 9/11 attacks in New York

However, it appears to date that the American Secretary of State remains the highest ranking US official to criticise the plans

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg - while calling the burning of the Muslim holy book "distasteful," - has defended the Florida pastor's decision because of his commitment to 'freedom of speech'

Although Jones has been denied a burning permit, he reported that his lawyers said that his First Amendment right to express his beliefs supersedes any local law or regulation

IT REMAINS AN EXCRUCIATING IRONY THAT, POSSIBLY, MANY PEOPLE MAY CONDEMN ALL OF A WORLD RELIGION BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF A FEW HATE FILLED EXTREMISTS.