Islamic Riots Against Cartoons

The recent riots and threats of death against the Danish cartoonist and editors who published unflattering images of the prophet Mohammed demonstrate another example of increased transparency in the middle East.

Muslims countries and their state-run newspapers have been publishing horrific cartoons showing Israelis as demons and blood-sucking vampires for years. Yet they have zero tolerance for anyone who exercises free speech in criticizing their religion--a religion, that, quite frankly, has been the inspiration for true terrorism and the deliberate spilling of innocent blood as a tactic.

In a startling move reminiscent of "Oh yeah? Well, YOUR mother wears army boots!" retort, an Iranian newspaper is sponsoring a "Holocaust Cartoon Contest".

"It will be an international cartoon contest about the Holocaust," said Farid Mortazavi, the graphics editor for Hamshahri newspaper - which is published by Teheran's conservative municipality.

He said the plan was to turn the tables on the assertion that newspapers can print offensive material in the name of freedom of expression.

"The Western papers printed these sacrilegious cartoons on the pretext of freedom of expression, so let's see if they mean what they say and also print these Holocaust cartoons," he said.

Are these guys a laugh riot, or what? An interesting thematic choice of topic, since their leader has proclaimed the Holocaust a 'myth'.

(By the way, I haven't heard any Hollywood celebrities recently admonishing us Midwestern rube-types that "Islam means peace" since Muslim youths started torching cars in Paris).

Victor Davis Hansen, as usual, provides thought-provoking analysis at RealClearPolitics.

He makes several great points:

*Despite all of their bluster during the lead-up and beginning of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Europeans have not proven any better at dealing with Islamofascist regimes than George W. Bush.

*The Europeans appeasement strategy towards Islamic immigrants has not bought them any respite from terrorism and domestic uprising.

We have seen thousands of Muslims demonstrating in the street and heard their religious leaders calling for retribution against the cartoonists (tonight, one Imam called for his hands to be cut off). This is not some fringe minority of misguided terrorists. This is a large group of Islamic fundamentalists.

If there is a 'moderate Islam', which we are told actually exists, why are they silent? This would certainly be the time to come out against the rhetoric and violence and call for cooler heads to prevail.