Re: Danish Freedom Of Speech??
NameInUse, I looked into the three additional cartoons. I am of the opinion that they were not fabricated, but rather sent to the mullah privately later, based on this NYT article.
“The group put together a 43-page dossier, including the offending cartoons and three more shocking images that had been sent to Danish Muslims who had spoken out against the Jyllands-Posten cartoons.
Mr. Akkari denied that the three other offending images had contributed to the violent reaction, saying the images, received in the mail by Muslims who had complained about the cartoons, were included to show the response that Muslims got when they spoke out in Denmark.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/09/international/middleeast/09cartoon.html?hp&ex=1139547600&en=578cb46567d732ae&ei=5094&partner=homepage
The real point to all of this is that over the past few years we have had rumors and allegations of Quran burnings, Urination on Qurans, and now Images of the Prophet. Each of these instances has had violent outbursts, demands on a free society, no matter how small the minority population in a country. This Islamo-centric view of the world ignores the wishes, mores, and history of the cultures they are effecting. Today a minority Islamist party cancelled a popular song show in Algeria, no doubt through threats and intimidation. The Danes have simply seen through the threats and have chosen to make a stand. The PM, according to the Times article above had declined a number of requests to meet with the local Islamists. My guess is that he judged them to be intollerant, obnoxious, demanding and they decided that international protest was more effective intimidation, since the Muslim population of Denmark is so small.
As Islamic demands grow, so will the spine of other leaders who will not bend to threats and intimidation from a vocal and violent minority. Whats more, I fully expect mass deportations to begin in Europe, as well as a freeze on immigration. The Clash of Civilizations continues…