[FerdieMurphy]

The difficulty is that what started as an issue of editorial judgment has become a question of public order.

...no sight has been more wretched than that of Jack Straw last week kowtowing to militant Islam.

The Government's response is especially feeble when compared to Margaret Thatcher's behaviour during the Rushdie Affair.

Kowtowing to the vicious muslims encourages more outpourings of violent demonstrations. This goes for governments on both sides of the Atlantic.

[generally]

This newspaper would not have published the cartoons of Mohammed at the centre of this controversy, images which we regard as vulgar and fatuously insulting. But - and this is the crucial point - we reserve absolutely our right to make our own decision, free of threat and intimidation.

This is the best article I have seen on the topic.

Freedom for me, but not for you, is what the radicals want.

[libertylover]

"Behead those who Insult Islam", "Britain you will pay - 7/7 is on its way"

The folks carrying these two signs should've been arrested in my view. Protesting peacefully is one thing, but both of these advocate violence.

[bronxboy]

Like I stated before, I have no hope for Europe. They will all be wearing burkas and donning beards soon.

[randita]

Every day that goes by demonstrates that it is near impossible to coexist peacefully with Muslims in a pluralistic society.

[MedicalMess]

We have pried open the soft underbelly of the beast!

Don't stop now!

DRAW MORE CARTOONS!!!

Then the world will begin to see this trash for the Nazis that they are.

DRAW MORE CARTOONS!!!

ALL ARTISTS TO THEIR PALLETTES!

[davisfh]

Hey! We're in trouble people. It's just like the
worst cancer that anyone can imagine and it's steadily
growing. Take a lesson (if it's not already too late)
America.

[WorkingClassFilth]

What's 7/7? Is that connected to their prayer deal - seven times a day, every day? Whatever they mean, I'm sure it ain't a good thing.

[voletti]

The Telegraph is the best bri mainstream newspaper, period.
Apart from the editorial opinion above, another bitof evidence is that they syndicate Steyn's columns.

[yoe]

***But some Muslims might like to consider how insulting their own views on women's rights, theocracy and Western practices are to many non-Muslims. The offensiveness of these views is no reason to close British mosques or Islamic newspapers.***

Muslims might also want to consider their views about Israel and the Jewish faith or how intolerant they are of Christians.

How many non-Muslims are aware that Nationals of “Israel” may not enter the U.A.E.? I find that beyond offensive however what's good for the goose should be good for the gander i.e., no more visas for Muslims to any God fearing country.

[MaggieCarta]

The Government's response is especially feeble when compared to Margaret Thatcher's behaviour during the Rushdie Affair.

Yeah, well, most Government responses have been feeble since the "Iron Lady" left office.

Why can't these people (the terrorist-demonstrators) simply write a strongly worded letter to the editor and cancel their subscription to the offending newspaper? Now, there's a response.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

"These protesters were exercising - and in many cases abusing - the freedom of protest and freedom of assembly that are foundation stones of British democracracy."

This is just lawlessness, and as long as people keep tacking the, freedom of speech, tag on the end it will only get worse.

[Drew68]

The protesters in London with their disgraceful slogans - "Behead those who Insult Islam", "Britain you will pay - 7/7 is on its way" - have made it all but impossible for a genuinely free debate on this issue to take place.

From what I've gathered, I'm coming to believe that International ANSWER has a heavy hand in organizing a lot of this.

[conservativecorner]

Religion of peace my arse BUMP!

[gotribe]

But some Muslims might like to consider how insulting their own views on women's rights, theocracy and Western practices are to many non-Muslims. The offensiveness of these views is no reason to close British mosques or Islamic newspapers.

What a load. What if ... "But some Nazis might like to consider how insulitng their own views on jews, religion, and aryan superiority are to many non-Nazis. The offensiveness of these views is no reason to close Nazi offices or Nazi newspaper."

[SuzyQue]

This newspaper would not have published the cartoons of Mohammed at the centre of this controversy, images which we regard as vulgar and fatuously insulting. But - and this is the crucial point - we reserve absolutely our right to make our own decision, free of threat and intimidation. Nonsense. The cartoons are integral to the story that they are reporting. Obviously they were intimidated into NOT publishing them.

[SandRat]

[CaptRon]

The offensiveness of these views is no reason to close British mosques or Islamic newspapers.

Yet.

[backhoe]

Everything I have found about The War of the 12 Cartoons ( links, blogs, quips, quotes, aggravating pictures ) is located here- click the Pic, and scroll backwards:

[WarEagle]

In this wretched affair, no sight has been more wretched than that of Jack Straw last week kowtowing to militant Islam. "There is freedom of speech, we all respect that," the Foreign Secretary said, "but there is not any obligation to insult or to be gratuitously inflammatory." How pathetic that Mr Straw did not find time to condemn the outrageous behaviour of protesters at home and abroad. Where, also, was Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, as Islamic militants called for bloodshed?

Jack Straw is an idiot and an absolute distaster as Foreign Secretary, equally as bad as he was as Home Secretary. Clarke is disaster, part deux.

Wonder where Tony Blair picks finds these clowns?

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

What is completely unacceptable is that this debate should be carried out in a climate of fear.

Two things not understood:

1. This is not a "debate". Debate is an attempt to persuade. It is haram (forbidden) for Muslims to listen to persuasion from non-Muslims. Persuasion is strictly one way. And having been granted the "mercy" of an offer to convert to Islam, strictly at the discretion of a Muslim, it is required to subjugate and permitted to kill the infidel.

2. Islam is based on fear itself.