Dear Editor:

The recent news story on CNN about the United States military burning the Holy Bible in Afghanistan left me stunned. What an utterly vile and reprehensible thing for our military to do in the name of political correctness. Their justification for the act doesn’t matter-the act itself is simply so heinous and contrary to everything our country stands for that it simply cannot be justified.

I have written Defense Secretary Gates, asking him to investigate and discharge everyone involved. There can be no defense by claiming, “We were just following orders.” Desecrating the book revered by Christians for almost 2000 years which also served as the foundation for our Constitution and system of law is inexcusable. Anyone involved should be discharged and removed from office. I also asked for the Secretary to resign, for allowing such a loathsome act to occur on his watch.

Please take the time to write, call and email Defense Secretary Gates, President Obama, Senators Isakson and Chambliss, and your US representative and urge them to launch investigations into this incident and make those involved pay for their extreme political correctness. They went too far and we need to make sure they are punished for their actions in order to avoid such a horrible insult to people of faith again.

It should have never happened. It should never be allowed to happen again.

Sid Phillips

LaGrange