Muslim Cartoon Controversy: What the Media Isn't Telling You

[FloridaPat]

It doesn't seem to be * this time. But maybe it's his good buddy. Interesting read on why now and who may be behind the flames.



http://www.weblog.ro/soj/2006-02-05/Muslim+Cartoon+Controversy%3A+What+the+Media+Isn%27t+Telling+You.html#66675

"So what triggered this? Well it takes a blog to explain it. What CNN and the other traditional media failed to tell you is that the thousand gallons of fuel added to the fire of outrage came from none other than our old pals Saudi Arabia.

While it was a minor side story in the western press, the most important of Muslim religious festivals recently took place in Saudi Arabia - called the Hajj. Every able-bodied Muslim is obligated to make a pilgrimage once in their lifetime to Mecca, which is in modern-day Saudi Arabia. This pilgrimage can be done at any time of the year but most pilgrims arrive during the Muslim month known as Dhu al-Hijjah, which follows a lunar calendar that does not exactly match the western Gregorian calendar.

And while the deaths of these pilgrims was a mere blip on the traditional western media's radar, it was a huge story in the Muslim world. Most of the pilgrims who were killed came from poorer countries such as Pakistan, where the Hajj is a very big story. Even the most objective news stories were suddenly casting Saudi Arabia in a very bad light and they decided to do something about it.

Their plan was to go on a major offensive against the Danish cartoons. The 350 pilgrims were killed on January 12 and soon after, Saudi newspapers (which are all controlled by the state) began running up to 4 articles per day condemning the Danish cartoons. The Saudi government asked for a formal apology from Denmark. When that was not forthcoming, they began calling for world-wide protests. After two weeks of this, the Libyans decided to close their embassy in Denmark. Then there was an attack on the Danish embassy in Indonesia. And that was followed by attacks on the embassies in Syria and then Lebanon."

[Auntie Bush]

1. The whole world is acting like Bill O'Liely.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. The Saudi state religion is behind nearly all Muslim extremism

Wahhabism, an extreme puritanical and legalistic form of Islam that most other Muslims consider to be heretical. Saudi Arabia was founded as a Wahhabi theocracy with the mission to destroy all other forms of Islam and then destroy all non-Muslims. Saudi petro-dollars have propped up the teaching of violence, extremeism and fanatical devotion to the Wahhabi views since the mid 60s, and the United States has consistently turned a blind eye to what it has helped spawn.

[Erika]

4. W opens his Texas home to the Saudi princes

I wonder what Laura thinks about multiple wives? Evidently she has no problem with it. Stepford wives don't think.

[kutblok]

13. Wahhabi views

The blind eye assumed they had no sting.

[Wordie]

18. It's important to note that the Saudi princes are said to be worried about

the extremes of Wahabism. It is a threat to them as well. I did read a while ago that they are trying to wean their country away from the influence of the Wahabi clerics. In fact, they broadcast a program on Saudi national tv not long ago encouraging more moderate beliefs. They may have to go somewhat slowly in this effort due to the influence of the clerics on the citizenry. The clerics hold tremendous power, which they do not want to lose.

There is also an effort by the Saudi government to reduce extremism in the school system. Many DUers will probably be surprised to read this:

Public Debate in Saudi Arabia on Extremism in the School System
January 4, 2005
memri

Recently, some senior Saudi education officials have called for a ban on the dissemination of extremist views in schools, and launched activities to increase teacher awareness of the issue. At the same time, education ministry officials, editors, columnists and TV critics insist that the Saudi government is not doing enough to eradicate extremism in the schools. The following are excerpts from discussions about the issue:


New Guidelines for the Educational System as School Begins

With the beginning of the Saudi school year in September 2004, senior Saudi officials called upon teachers not to disseminate extremist views among their pupils, and warned that any teacher found doing so would be fired.

On September 5, 2004, Crown Prince Abdallah bin Abd Al-'Aziz told senior education officials: "Watch your teachers. We want to serve the religion and the homeland, not terrorism..."(1)

..."Criminal deeds are the result of criminal thoughts... Teachers must understand the great difference between the teacher and the mufti. They must teach the pupils, in the best possible way, what is in the curricula, without issuing religious rulings and without deviating from the curriculum and force-feeding the pupils with issues that have nothing to do with them...

...On another occasion, Al-Rashid said that: "the Education Minister will in no way accept a teacher who holds misguided views that influence the younger generation,"(3) and that "any element implementing an extremist policy will be uprooted from the educational system."(4)

...Tabouk District Governor Prince Fahd bin Sultan said in a September 12, 2004 speech to members of the Tabouk Educational Council: "The teachers are responsible for preserving the way of thought of the young generation at the beginning of its crystallization... It is unacceptable for one of us to disseminate extremism, fanaticism, terrorism, and apostasy. We must not allow anyone who identifies with the group holding a dangerous and deviant view to among us... The weapon to which we must cling in fighting the deviant view is faultless adherence to faith, free of extremism." In his speech, he also called upon teachers to encourage the pupils to implement the principle of dialogue and to accept the view of the "other."(6)

http://www.freemuslims.org/news/article.php?article=298

We in the west understand very little of the inner workings of the middle east and of Islam.

[bemildred]

3. There is nothing new about these sorts of cartoons.

So the question as to why we have riots now? does arise, and one may infer that it was not just a spontaneous outburst.

[Erika]

5. It was asanine to ridicule the Prophet of Islam n/t

[bemildred]

6. It certainly was, but it's not at all new.

You can find this sort of stuff all the time, if you care to look. So I'm just saying the question arises as to why we have world wide riots now? I'm not trying to defend the cartoons.

[Erika]

8. It is new in that MSM published the cartoons. n/t

[bemildred]

10. OK, whatever you say. nt

[incapsulated]

7. Very enlightening.

Can't say I'm surprised.

[DemInDistress]

9. its just my feeling that the bush crime family/arab division who

is causing most of this muslim strife,like in France,and Hariri bombing in Lebanon their not beyond this kind of chaos and they do have muslims,arabs and the ilk on the payroll...jmho

[TomInTib]

11. Reminds me of the Black Panther coloring books....

FBI crap in the 60-70s.

[guidod]

12. Thanks for the link...

I'm going to refer someone else to it on another thred if you don't mind. Thanks again

;)

[Dunvegan]

14. Who's Fueling the Fire? Bush's Friends at the House of Saud.

What is the real driver of these riots? Why this reaction, and why at this particular time. Who's fueling the fire?

Our blogger mentioned in the OP seems to have nailed it: Source much of this back to the House of Saud.

From the "Flogging the Simian" Blog: http://tinyurl.com/85rfg

There are a number of depictions of Mohamed (PBUH), some in very unflattering situations, in Christian churches in Europe, especially Italy. The famous book/poem "Inferno" by Dante makes a very unflattering reference to Mohammed (PBUH) and there are several pieces of artwork depicting Dante's descriptions.

There have been several derogatory or potentially inflammatory usages of Mohammed (PBUH) in American entertainment vehicles, perhaps the most famous being South Park. And last but not least, there is an actual sculpture of Mohammed (PBUH) on the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC.

The point I'm trying to make here is that Mohammed (PBUH) has been depicted, painted or made appearances in animated cartoons on many, many occasions and yet there's been no rioting, storming of embassies and CNN coverage. The question becomes, not why were the Danish cartoons offensive or inappropriate, but why is there such a strong reaction now?"

The cartoons came out in Sept. of 2005. Why the furor now?

Our blogger has a spot-on analysis to offer.

It's the Saudis, Dubya's pals, stirring the pot.

The House of Saud is under intense scrutiny regarding their responsibilities in protecting the "two holy cities" and their overseeing of the Hajj. That is their main purpose and duty. When the House of Saud neglects the cities or the hajj they are under the microscope and their hold on power comes back into question.

Hundreds of pilgrims to this January 2006 hajj died in a stampede in the same place that one killing more hundreds occurred several years ago. The Saudi royals have been under intense criticism in some Islamic countries for this in the last several weeks.

The pressure was getting a little too hot for the House of Saud, goes this analysis. So, they began the campaign in all their state owned papers and from their very highly respected clerics against the Danish images of the Prophet.

It has been a very concerted and strong campaign.

Look at the proliferation of Saudi flags in these photos.

Note the number of Saudi flags flying in these photos.(The Saudi flag is a green field with a white scrip in Arabic of the shahada, "There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" above a sword.)
:

Mind you, these are not what you would expect: these are not national flags of the protester's countries, but Saudi Arabian flags


Thousands of demonstrators, waving Islamic banners, shout slogans as they protest in Beirut.


Lebanese demonstrators set fire to the building housing the Danish consulate in a Christian neighborhood of Beirut


A Lebanese Islamist waves a flag as a fire engine burns during a demonstration in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut


A demonstrator uses a tool to damage the wall of the building housing the Danish mission


A Lebanese Muslim woman carries a flag as she walks over a Danish flag during a demonstration in Beirut February 5, 2006.

Far more Saudi flags are symbolically flying than any local national flags. And in a trans-lingual culture where literacy in not assumed, symbols are very important to the analysis of the demonstrations. There is a strong Saudi influence in all these demonstrations.

Only among the Pakistani demonstrators have I seen more national flags than Saudi flags. This is another country where Bush and the United States has some limited "supposed" diplomatic influence.

It's as reasonable to source this entire madness to Bush's buddies, the House of Saud, as anyone under this analysis.

But it's not something you can explain to Westerners in a sound-byte or by easy quip. Nor is anyone in the Western press being pointed to the involvement of the Saudi royals in this imbroglio so far that I've seen, other than the blogger cited in the OP.

Bush should exert pressure on the House of Saud to shut this down now.

Anyone want to take bets on whether he does or not?

[Wordie]

20. Please see post #18. I am concerned that it may be the neo-cons who

ultimately are behind the attempt to pin this on the Saudi Royals. One could easily blame them for not taking steps against the Wahabis sooner, but they are taking steps now, and in fact may be the west's best hope of restraining the influence of the religious extremists in Saudi Arabia. If the House of Saud were to fall, what we would see in it's place would be far worse, both for the Saudis and the rest of the world.

[phoebe]

15. owner of significant portion of RW media - Saudi prince Alwaleed bin talal

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2360972

[Neil Lisst]

16. The worst cartoons were frauds made up God only knows where.

Those are the ones used to inflame Muslims the most, and they were allegedly passed around by radical clerics.

I never give Team Bush a pass, however, when it comes to stoking the coals of Islamic trouble. They are involved in a PR offensive to make TERROR the focal point of all things in the US.

Even though alcohol, cigarettes, prescription drugs, gunshots, car accidents, hospital infections, and fatty foods all threaten Americans much more than any realistic "terror" threat.

[orleans]

17. if we make fun of bush will the saudi's demand an apology? n/t

[Hello_Kitty]

19. Oh yeah! Thanks for the link. I couldn't find the story.

I was just talking to someone earlier about how this was being used to deflect anti-Saudi sentiment that would arise from those deaths. It's the Saudi version of "The War on Christmas" bullshit.