Dempsey calls for U.S. troops' rededication to profession of arms

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- With violent protests spreading against the burning of the Quran by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey on Thursday urged U.S. service members to "rededicate themselves to the profession of arms."

In a white paper to U.S. troops, Dempsey said that U.S. service members must continue "to learn, to understand and to promote the knowledge, skills, attributes and behaviors that define us as a profession."

Pakistani people attend a demonstration against Quran desecration in southwest Pakistan's Quetta, on Feb. 23, 2012. (Xinhua/Mohammad)

The top U.S. military officer said it was precisely this dedication that has allowed the U.S. military to survive the wars across the world in the past decade.

The U.S. military extended "well beyond any limits imagined as the era of persistent conflict unfolded, its resilience arguably exceeded the expectations of its architects," Dempsey wrote in a blog post announcing the white paper.

Pakistani people attend a demonstration against Quran desecration in southwest Pakistan's Quetta, on Feb. 23, 2012. (Xinhua/Mohammad)

Dempsey stressed that U.S. service members must "uphold the values that underpin the profession of arms," including duty, honor, courage, integrity and selfless service, as well as a commitment to the rule of law, which provide "the moral and ethical fabric of our profession."

"Renewing our commitment to the profession of arms is essential to ensure we maintain the best led and best trained force in the world," Dempsey said. "Leadership is the foundation of our profession."

Protests in Afghanistan over the alleged Quran burning by U.S. troops in Bagram airbase entered its third day on Thursday, leaving 15 people dead and 59 others wounded across the war-torn country.

U.S. President Barack Obama has offered a formal apology for the incident in a letter conveyed to his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai, while promising a full investigation into the matter.