My email to the author (pardon my use of your first line):
You work too hard. All you really needed to say was, "Showing respect for terrorists and disrespect for America is the Washington Post way."
If the offending cartoons had been aimed at Christians, you would have been falling over yourself to be first to publish them. That's because you know you can get away with it. A few angry letters, a small boycott, a boost in sales due to the controversy, and you're on to the next news cycle. After all that fuss, you can even make your own news with comparisons between the Christian community and the Taliban. More controversy, more sales, no worries.
But these Muslims, they'll burn down your building. They'll hunt you down. And you're nothing but a coward, hiding behind some newfound respect for one religion - one that just happens to be particularly dangerous to criticize. When there's real opposition out there, you suddenly consider that there's no need to be offensive.
You feign a heroic stand for our first amendment rights, but only when there's no need for actual heroism. Your "convictions" are a farce, and most of us - that is, those who don't pay for your rag - can see right through you.