February 1, 2006
GRATING DANES:
Punishing Denmark, the wrong enemy (Ramzy Baroud, 2/02/06, Asia Times)
The anti-Danish movement managed to build up across Muslim countries at an impressive speed: grassroots collective action and decisive political moves led by various governments - with Libya and Saudi Arabia at the helm - quickly turned into determined diplomatic efforts. Arab League missions in Denmark and across Europe united in one of the most coordinated campaigns organized by Arabs since the war of 1973, heaping even more pressure on both Denmark and Norway. Meanwhile, a serious economic boycott campaign is rapidly translating into empty shelves in grocery stores that once offered Danish products across Saudi Arabia and other countries.Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, although he didn't apologize personally, commended Jyllands-Posten for offering a clear apology for offending Muslims and Muslim nations by its editorial decision to publish the cartoons. But that would not suffice in the face of the gathering storm, as Arab League representatives are surely taking the matter to the United Nations, with the hope of passing a UN resolution, backed by sanctions that would protect religion from insults, according to the British Broadcasting Corp.
While one must commend such a unified Arab and Muslim stance - hoping that it would remain confined to legitimate forms of protest - one cannot help but wonder: Where was such collectiveness when it was needed most?
This is not to suggest that transgression on a people's beliefs - any people and any belief - should be taken lightly. However, if Arabs can be so efficient in organizing such popular (and effective) campaigns that use economic, political and diplomatic leverage to extract concessions, then why the utter failure to carry out such campaigns protesting the US war on Iraq, its unconditional support of Israel and its condescending foreign policy and grand democracy charades it wishes to impose on everyone?
Let's all put our heads together and see if we can figure out why you'd stand up to Denmark, or any Euro nation, instead of Israel and the U.S.? Posted by Orrin Judd at February 1, 2006 9:12 AM
While one must commend such a unified Arab and Muslim stance...
The Darfurians in particular, or what's left of them, ought to be commended for refusing to buy Havarti or drink Carlsberg.
Posted by: Barry Meislin at February 1, 2006 9:26 AMSlightly off-topic but have you been following the story where the new Finland president is almost a dead ringer for Conan O'Brien and that O'Brien made ads supporting her in the election? Pretty funny stuff.
Posted by: AWW at February 1, 2006 9:28 AMWhile one must commend such a unified Arab and Muslim stance...
The Darfurians in particular, or what's left of them, ought to be commended for refusing to buy Havarti or drink Carlsberg.
Posted by: Barry Meislin at February 1, 2006 9:29 AMo.j. -- Very good: boycotting Denmark sounds so trivial, as if someone said they were boycotting Latvia or Canada.
Posted by: Lou Gots at February 1, 2006 9:31 AMI'm going to support the Danes by BBQing some high quality Danish baby-back ribs this weekend.
Posted by: Rick T. at February 1, 2006 10:41 AMGO ARAB NATIONS!
GET that question "to the United Nations, with the hope of passing a UN resolution, backed by sanctions that would protect religion from insults".
THAT'S an international debate I would dearly dearly love to see.
Posted by: Andrew X at February 1, 2006 10:53 AMI'm going out this afternoon to buy some Danish Ham, Canned Mackeral, a case of Carlsberg and a bottle of Aqua Vit for Super Sunday. I like the goods and they've been of help, limited by their size, but helpful in the WOT. Buy Danish!
Posted by: Genecis at February 1, 2006 11:14 AMRick, that's funny because I barbequed some Danish babies with Karl Rove out at Bohemian Grove last weekend. Good stuff!
Posted by: Bryan at February 1, 2006 12:26 PMInstapundit's reporting that France Soir republished the cartoons.
Posted by: Sandy P at February 1, 2006 12:35 PMLGF says, "Two German newspapers on Wednesday reproduced controversial drawings depicting the Prophet Muhammad, with one of them arguing that a “right to blasphemy” was anchored in democratic freedoms...."
Good.
Britain should hop on the train.
Posted by: Sandy P at February 1, 2006 12:56 PMThat's the spirit! I think that Republicans should run on this in the fall election. They could say "We are the pro-blasphemy party! Blasphemy rights!!"
Posted by: Robert Duquette at February 1, 2006 1:11 PMWhat's most grating is that these Muslims expect outsiders to do their anti-blasphemy dirty work for them. And too many in the West are all to eager to do it.
And let's face it, any Danish company hurt by this boycott is probably not doing business in Israel in order to get that Arab/Muslim business in the first place.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at February 1, 2006 2:28 PMHow does this Arab unity square with President Bush’s frequent reference to “a few radical Muslims”?
Posted by: tgn at February 1, 2006 2:43 PMInstapundit's reporting that France Soir republished the cartoons.
And we thought Old Europe would never fight back. They can't be sleeping well in Teheran tonight.
Posted by: Peter B at February 1, 2006 2:56 PMA shout out to the Danes. Let us remember that they didn't cooperate with the nazis in WWII.
Let me tout Danish havarti cheese. Plain its a good soft cheese, but they also make it flavored with herbs or spices, we like caraway and dill flavors. I put a slice on my toasted bagel in the morning instead of butter or cream cheese -- yummie.
Robert:
They didn't cooperate with the Nazis on the arrest of Danish Jews. In fact, for the times, their resistance on that score was astounding and to their undying credit. But in terms of resisting Nazism itself, they did almost nothing.
Posted by: Peter B at February 1, 2006 7:48 PM