What should the President have done? Tell the billion or so followers of Islam to go **** themselves?
Frankly, the world would be a safer and better place if every Koran, every Bible and every 'Holy Book" were subjected to the test of 451 Degrees Fahrenheit. Then and only then would such artifacts which survived be truly "Holy".
The Korans were desecrated by the Prisoners. They should have been properly destroyed. If there was an error, it was in how it was done. What is the proper way to dispose of a desecrated Koran? A Bible?
“Proper treatment of the Koran is a highly sensitive issue for Muslims across the world, including in Afghanistan ... Experts in Islam say copies of the Koran should be buried or released in flowing waters if they need to be disposed of, but religious leaders in Afghanistan said Tuesday that local practice is not to dispose of the texts at all.”
Many religious traditions accord their holy books the same respect as they give human remains. Most traditions say scripture and other sacred texts cannot be burned. Below, religious scholars give guidance on how holy books from each faith can be disposed of:
Koran burning in Afghanistan — how should holy books be disposed of? - BlogPost - The Washington Post