As Mimi says, the protests over the cartoons have gone way over the top.  They have traveled far from the worries of the Muslim minority in Europe and seem to now represent a much broader anger and fear in the Muslim world.  

However, the other free speech news from western Europe is worth noting.  David Irving was convicted in Austria for Holocaust denial.  Despite my being somewhat of a free speech absolutist, I can see why some European countries might think about criminalizing anti-Jewish statements.  I don’t agree, but I can understand it.

However, consider how you would feel if you were a member of Europe’s most beleagured minority, the immigrant Muslim.  Malicious anti-Muslim cartoons can be described as an assertion of “western values” while Holocaust denial is a crime.  (Although it’s not every country that imposes a three-year prison sentence.)

As an American, I tend to think the solution is more free speech, not less.  Tony Blair is apparently not so certain.

Pete DeWan