Florida Pastor Terry Jones is planning on burning a Koran this weekend. For some reason, this is the hottest news around. Even President Obama has weighed in on the controversy during an interview with George Stephanopoulos:

OBAMA: If he’s listening, I just hope he understands that what he’s proposing to do is completely contrary to our values of Americans. That this country has been built on the notions of religious freedom and religious tolerance. And as a very practical matter, as commander of chief of the Armed Forces of the United States I just want him to understand that this stunt that he is talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women in uniform who are in Iraq, who are in Afghanistan. We’re already seeing protests against Americans just by the mere threat — STEPHANOPOULOS: What more could happen? OBAMA: –that he’s making. STEPHANOPOULOS: What are you worried about? OBAMA: Well, look, the … this is a recruitment bonanza for Al Qaeda. You know, you could have serious violence in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan. This could increase the recruitment of individuals who’d be willing to blow themselves up in American cities, or European cities. You know and so you know, I just hope that, he says he’s … he’s someone who s motivated by his faith.

But I wonder, which is a better recruitment tool for potential terrorists: the burning of a Koran or the following news items from the past month or so? Consider:

But yeah, I’m sure the Koran thing is a big deal too. I believe that burning a Koran is an example of First-Amendment protected free speech, just as I believe that there is every right for Muslims to build a mosque cultural-center a few blocks from Ground Zero. Mr. President, given that you are the commander-in-chief of our armed forces, when can we expect some accountability and truth about our imperial adventures in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, etc…? Why is burning a Koran so much more likely to be used as a terrorist recruiting tool than all the civilians that we are killing?