It’s not often I find myself defending a fundamentalist Christian pastor in Florida. In fact, Terry Jones will be my first and, lord willing, my last. You might remember Jones, if not for his misleadingly badass facial hair, for his controversial plan to burn a Quran on Sept. 11.

The media played right into the hands of this zany zealot, and suddenly President Obama, Gen. David Petraeus and Defense Secretary Robert Gates had to talk some lunatic in Gainesville out of doing something that would put American troops at risk.

Jones came back into the spotlight recently for a video he made March 20, in which he finally set that book ablaze. Having learned their lesson, the press largely ignored Jones this go-around. Less than two weeks after he posted the video, Islamic extremists began using it to fuel fury against the West. (Yes, they have YouTube.) Afghan President Hamid Karzai weighed in March 31, and the next day protesters stormed the UN compound in Mazar-i-Sharif, killing 12 people, including seven UN workers. Protests erupted across the country in the ensuing week, claiming a total of 22 lives.

Karzai-whose main job qualifications seem to be a penchant for nepotism, corruption and poorly timed, unhelpful comments-gave an impassioned speech condemning Jones and calling for his arrest. Jones’ actions had not received any real international attention, but somehow Karzai felt compelled to point it out to his countrymen, many of whom are risking their lives to battle Islamic terrorists and keep him in power.

The accounts of the last hours of the UN workers are horrific. Without going into graphic detail: a mob showed up at the compound and broke in; the workers locked themselves in a bunker; the mob dragged them out and killed them.

Karzai is as much to blame as anyone for the deaths of these people. But his calls for Jones to be arrested, while not a promising sign for the future of free expression in Afghanistan, obviously hold no bearing here in America. Right?

Wrong, apparently. Leaders on both sides of the aisle have spoken in favor of possible legal action against Jones. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke of a possible congressional investigation into Jones’ actions and Sen. Lindsay Graham suggested that Jones’ First Amendments rights should be limited in times of war.

Before I explain why this sentiment is despicable, if not dangerous, let me make this clear: Jones is an idiot, a child, a coward and an asshole. The actions of this petulant, pusillanimous pastor are indefensible, if for no other reason than they put other people’s lives at risk. The heads of many governments, including our own, have condemned Jones, and I, too, am happy to shake my head in disapproval. I proudly stand with those who reserve further condemnation for the barbaric acts committed in response to Jones’ YouTube video.

I don’t defend Jones’ decision to burn the Quran, but I do defend his right to do it. Jones, like any other American, has the right to burn whatever book he pleases. Period. And it is the responsibility of every American, especially elected representatives, to defend his right to do so.

Any legal action by the government against Jones would clearly infringe on his First Amendment right to free expression. We must stand firm against any suggestion that we should compromise our principles in the face of, or out of fear of, extremism elsewhere.

This goes especially for Islamic extremism. We too often cave to fanatical demands to respect the sensitivities of those who have no respect for the most basic human right of free expression.

I have believed, and still believe, there can be a better life for the people of Afghanistan, and I believe our troops can help get them there. But this horrific, bloodthirsty incident has made me doubt that belief more than ever before.

Terrorism, by definition, is the use of violence or intimidation to coerce governments or societies in pursuit political aims. How can we win a war on terror in Afghanistan when Karzai insights violence and intimidation in the same speech he asks us to abandon our political commitment to free expression?

I don’t know how the hell we “win” in Afghanistan; if I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know. But I do know that we lose the larger war, along with any legitimate claim as harbingers of freedom, once we start arresting every pipsqueak pastor who burns a book.

I do not respect his choice, but I will always defend his voice.

Dave Balson is a junior journalism major. He can be reached at 581-2812

or DENopinions@gmail.com