[Machette]

Links to this dissent.

Also this may suprise/piss off people.

UPDATE 2-U.S. backs Muslims in European cartoon dispute
(Adds more from U.S. official, background on U.S. cartoon)

By Saul Hudson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States backed
Muslims Friday against European newspapers that printed
caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad in a move that could help
America's battered image in the Islamic world.
Inserting itself into a dispute that has become a lightning
rod for anti-European sentiment across the Muslim world, the
United States sided with Muslims outraged that the publications
put press freedom over respect for religion.
"These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of
Muslims," State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said in
answer to a question.
"We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press
and expression but it must be coupled with press
responsibility. Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in this
manner is not acceptable."
He said he had no comment as to why the United States chose
to pass judgment in a dispute that ostensibly does not involve
America.
"We call for tolerance and respect for all communities for
their religious beliefs and practices," he added.
The United States, which before the Sept. 11 attacks was
criticized for insensitivity to the Islamic culture, has become
more attuned to Muslim sensibilities.
Accusations last year that U.S. officials desecrated the
Koran sparked deadly riots in Asia and heightened that
awareness.
Major U.S. publications have not republished the cartoons,
which include depictions of Mohammad as a terrorist and offend
believers as blasphemous.
In contrast, some European media responded to the criticism
against the Danish newspaper that originally printed the
caricatures by reproducing the images and fueled anger that has
led to boycotts of Danish products and widespread protests.
Stephen Zunes, a professor of politics at the University
of San Francisco and a Bush administration critic, said the
United States was responsible for creating far more anger in
the Muslim world because of its invasion of Iraq.
"The United States is the last nation that should caution
against unnecessarily inflaming sentiments in the Muslim
world," he said.
The official U.S. response also contrasted with European
governments, which have tended to acknowledge the tension
between free speech and respect for religion but have generally
accepted the newspapers' rights to print the cartoons.
The U.S. criticism of the newspapers also comes after the
Pentagon complained over a Washington Post cartoon.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff sent an unusual letter to the
editor published Thursday, denouncing as "reprehensible" and
"beyond tasteless" a cartoon earlier in the week portraying
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as insensitive to U.S. troop
casualties.
The cartoon portrayed a soldier who had lost his arms and
legs with Rumsfeld at his hospital bedside saying, "I'm listing
your condition as 'battle hardened."'
REUTERS

Reut 13:25 02-03-06