Posted on 02/04/2006 6:40:55 AM PST by doctora
February 4, 2006 -- Why did the Bush administration need to insert itself into the increasingly violent worldwide protests by Muslims upset by the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed?
And, having chosen to issue an opinion, why did the administration take a position that is, frankly, shameful and wholly antithetical to the basic freedoms that Americans hold dear?
Even as European and Asian leaders appealed for calm and understanding in the wake of escalating violence, the State Department yesterday came out foursquare in support of the demonstrators — and condemned the "offensive" cartoons.
"These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of Muslims," said department spokesman Kurtis Cooper. "We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression, but it must be coupled with press responsibility."
He'd have done better to call instead for respect for freedom of the press, rather than kowtow to rampaging mobs attempting to intimidate newspapers worldwide.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
politically correct pandering.
At the State Department? I'm shocked.
I don't read any opposition to Free Speech in the quotes.
What I heard was a call for common sense. Printing inflammatory cartoons that are offensive to a militant and terrorist religion is only asking for trouble. We, the U.S, are too busy fighting terrorists in the Middle East to come to Europe's rescue when they piss of their resident Muslims.
I agree with the article but I don't like the term "Bushies."
While I agree with the editorials stance to some degree....it would have more weight if the paper had the guts to carry the photos.
I never thought I'd say this about a member of the MSM, but.......
Bravo!
YouJd think they would know better. PC is so very September 10th.
The time has come to leave PC behind.
Are you saying Bush isn't responsible for what his own State Department says?
I haven't seen the cartoons. Have they been printed in any newspapers/publications outside of Europe?
i agree
It's inappropriate coming from the State Department, or any other government agency.
If that's true then let's hear Bush or Rice clarify.
Free speech is not just reserved for the media you know. They can print whatever they want, and we could say whatever we want which includes the cartoon was insulting and shouldn't be printed. Using violence to force someone to stop printing something is alot different to saying, hey that was rude, maybe you shouldn't have said that
Yup!
Btw... there a movie somewhere (The Fokkers?) that shows a dog named Moses flushed down a toilet. Gee... maybe me and some of my co religionists should riot, too.
What a pathetic bunch of crap.
O.K. FREEPERS!, who has the NATIONAL CLOUT to organize a massive telephone, e-mail and letter protest to the White House. I don't care if the Prez is a lame duck and will not face the electorate again, Washington pays attention to numbers.
Only asking for trouble??
How much more 'trouble' can we be in after 3000 people died by planes being flow into the towers, pentagon, and pennsylvania field?
Not to mention a few 'beheadings'. And don't forget the workers that were fried and hung from a bridge?
We're asking for trouble?
Try the other way around.
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