Clinton to media: Turn blind eye to Quran burning

BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor: You could use that old phrase the whole world is watching. It is true that people around the world are, especially in the Muslim world . Everyone wondering what's going to happen on Saturday. And tonight there's new reaction from around the world. Our chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell here with us in our New York studios tonight. Andrea , good evening.

ANDREA MITCHELL reporting: Good evening, Brian . Indeed, there is reaction from around the world. The pastor's plan to burn the Quran has been denounced now by the White House and the US military and -- fearing that it will inflame the Muslim world ; but now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has gone even further. Even the threat of burning the Quran ignited protest today in Jakarta , capital of the world 's most populous Muslim country .

Unidentified Man #1:

MITCHELL: Hillary Clinton said this one tiny church does not represent America .

Ms. HILLARY CLINTON: It's regrettable that a pastor in Gainesville , Florida , with a church of no more than 50 people can make this outrageous and distressful, disgraceful plan, and gets, you know, the world's attention.

MITCHELL: Then she went further, suggesting the media shouldn't pay attention.

Ms. CLINTON: So we are hoping that the pastor decides not to do this. We're hoping against hope that if he does, it won't be covered as a...

Unidentified Man #2:

Ms. CLINTON: ...as a, you know, an act of patriotism.

MITCHELL: But with protests already erupting in Kabul this week, the US fears retaliation against American troops. General David Petraeus speaking to Brian Williams today.

General DAVID PETRAEUS: We're concerned that the images from the burning of a Quran would be used in the same way that extremists used images from Abu Ghraib . That they would, in a sense, be indelible.

MITCHELL: The Florida pastor even got the Vatican 's attention.

Father FEDERICO LOMBARDI (Papal Spokesman): This act would only call for new hate and violence.

MITCHELL: Some of the families of those killed on 9/11 said that burning the Quran "is unacceptable and abhorrent, and an insult to the victims." But some say, while distasteful, it is still not illegal.

Mayor MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (New York City): The US Constitution says you have a right to do that. Period. End of story . The government can't stop you from burning a book.

MITCHELL: Sarah Palin has now tweeted that Pastor Jones should please stand down, that people have a right to burn a Quran but that it is insensitive and an unnecessary provocation that will feed the fire. Brian :

WILLIAMS: All eyes on this pastor and this weekend. Andrea Mitchell , thanks.