On ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Thursday, President Barack Obama offered strong words of condemnation against a planned event led by Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville to mark the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by burning Qurans.

Obama agreed with an assessment by Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of American forces in Afghanistan, that the event could lead to reprisals against American troops and civilians.

Talking about what Jones had in mind, Obama pulled no punches about the consequences the Florida pastor could unleash.

"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,” said Obama. “We're already seeing protests against Americans just by the mere threat of it.

"This could increase the recruitment of individuals who'd be willing to blow themselves up in American cities or European cities,” said Obama.