Embassies ablaze as Muslim anger spreads (muslims of the world unite against "infidels")

The Observer ^ | Sunday February 5, 2006 | Jamie Doward, Mark Townsend, Bartle Bull in Damascus and Gaby Hinsliff

[indcons]

The increasingly bitter row over the publication of a series of controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad reached a new intensity last night as protesters set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Syria.

With police signalling that they will launch an investigation into the behaviour of protesters in London who called for those insulting Islam to 'be beheaded', protesters in the Syrian capital, Damascus, defied tear gas and water cannon to enter the Danish embassy and replace that country's flag with another which read: 'No God but Allah, Mohammad is His Prophet.'

Last night the Danish embassy, which was empty when attacked, was a charred hulk. The Norwegian embassy was still burning. As well as the dramatic scenes in Damascus - not known for its Islamic militancy - rising tensions among Muslims over the publication of 'blasphemous' cartoons in Denmark threatened to boil over across the globe.

[Getsmart64]

Hello Doug....you know...I only responded to your earlier message because it almost sounded like you were being an apologist for Islam.....I think quite a few people in the general population realize that Islam cannot coexist with the modern world.....I don't believe "terror" has anything to do with it....the islamic religion is a disease and needs to be cut out of the world body.....every day brings us closer and closer to anarchy when dealing with Islam....do you see something other than anarchy to bring the islamist into the fold of the modern world?

[doug from upland]

I am hoping that as Democratic, freely elected governments are put in place throughout the Middle East, our Western culture will have an influence on the next generation. When enough of the bad guys are dead, perhaps what is left will think it a good idea to co-exist. We won't know in our lifetimes. I met a potential client the other day and spent three hours with him. He is a Muslim originally from Afghanistan. I don't know about the rest, but I think he and I can peacefully co-exist.

[Getsmart64]

Do you think any of the cartoon upheavel is brought about because we are starting to bring democracy to the ME? Are the Imans going to try and despertately hold on to power and tell the masses to do desperate acts and if so, how do we counteract?? I'm sorry but I see this getting much worse....and....in our lifetime.....

[RightWhale]

the cartoon that started World War 3

Could be.

[doug from upland]

Maybe they are getting more desperate because Iraq has had free elections. When people get a taste of freedom, they like it. I also see the real possibility of it getting much worse. Iran is just waiting to cause the world a lot of trouble.

[Lady Heron]

I hate to say this, but is there inbreeding in certain parts of the world that is little reported in the papers?

What else is a muslim father to do in the islamic world if he actually loves his daughter, when you consider how islam is allowed to treat women? If he marries her to her cousin then it is less likely that she will be mistreated by somebody in the family than a stranger whom the father has no relation or control with.

[Max in Utah]

Marriages between cousins are common in the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia the rate is something like 60% of all marriages.

In the western world such marriages are generally prohibited because the danger of producing idiots.

[grey_whiskers]

Marriages between cousins are common in the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia the rate is something like 60% of all marriages.

In the western world such marriages are generally prohibited because the danger of producing idiots.

What we are seeing here is "The Hatfields and the Abdullahs"...

Cheers!

[hinckley buzzard]

The cartoons were published six months ago and no one cared. You really think this is about cartoons?

[elcid1970]

We "shouldn't have to walk around on eggshells"!

Absolute ping!

[outofhere2]

Don't they know the Super Bowl is on. I'm rooting for Detroit! Give it a break, stop burning embassies, pop open a can, sit back and watch the game while you have a brew.

[Deltaforceeoo7]

So there's trouble in Denmark??? I always heard the statement There's something rotten in Denmark. LOL

[meema]

So much for the "religion of peace".

It burns me up every time I remember the first time I heard this phrase used...

[doug from upland]

Yes, it is about cartoons. They don't have a better excuse right now, so this worked.

[nopardons]

You're helping fellow Americans. "Danish"/delkeral, isn't imported ( it never was! ),but made fresh and sold here.

Home made ones are better than anything you can buy and yes, I make them sometimes. :-)

[doug from upland]

I know.

[nopardons]

I know that you know. LOL

[doug from upland]

I knew you knew I knew.

[EverOnward]

Bump - thanks.

[nopardons]

I know you knew that I knew you knew. :-)