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| More on the State Department statement |
| 2006-02-04 |
| EFL from what we already know. This makes it a little more defensible, though I still don't see why State is getting involved in this to begin with. The Muslim world erupted in anger on Friday over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad published in Europe while the Bush administration offered the protesters support, saying of the cartoons, "We find them offensive, and we certainly understand why Muslims would find these images offensive." The State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, reading the government's statement on the controversy, said, "Anti-Muslim images are as unacceptable as anti-Semitic images," which are routinely published in the Arab press, "as anti-Christian images, or any other religious belief." Still, the United States defended the right of the Danish and French newspapers to publish the cartoons. "We vigorously defend the right of individuals to express points of view," Mr. McCormack added. At the United Nations, Secretary General Kofi Annan also criticized the publication of the cartoons, but urged Muslims to forgive the offense and "move on." "I am distressed and concerned by this whole affair," he said. "I share the distress of the Muslim friends, who feel that the cartoon offends their religion. I also respect the right of freedom of speech. But of course freedom of speech is never absolute. It entails responsibility and judgment." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #4 You nailed it, lotp. Two things jump out at me about this reaction to the State Dept saying anything: 1) it shouldn't create new problems for the few allies we have in this war -and- 2) the entire world expects a response from the US and the MSM won't let it go until they get one. So it has to be a rational global response, not some knee-jerk foolishness. |
| Posted by: Flimble Jitle8716 2006-02-04 17:35 |
| #3 In Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai said: "As much as we condemn this, we must have, as Muslims, the courage to forgive and to not make an issue of dispute between religions or cultures." We've got a lot invested in Afghanistan and Iraq. While we may not be able to control events, I can understand a carefully balanced message that doesn't put Karzai and the Iraqi officials in an impossible situation with their citizens. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-02-04 15:53 |
| #2 Absolutely lame State Department. Disapointing Condolezza. |
| Posted by: Spugum Elmaviting6339 2006-02-04 07:45 |
| #1 I hope this runs and runs because most people will see this for what it is. A bunch of people with an agenda, manufacturing an issue. It has the added bonus that it presents a nice paradox for the Left to tie themselves in knots over. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2006-02-04 03:35 |