More on the cartoons

Tony Blair has finally said that the behaviour of some of the Muslims protesting the Danish cartoons is unacceptable.

Given that these protesters were saying things like this:

The slogans, written in the same style and in similar black felt-tip pen
ink, urged Muslims to use violence. A protester was also photographed wearing a garment resembling a suicide bomber's jacket. The man, Omar Khayam from Bedford, said he had no regrets about his style of dress, telling the Daily Express: "I didn't go there to cause anyone any harm. I went along just to attend a protest. Yet I have been branded a suicide bomber overnight. Did I say, 'Kill Jews?' No. Did I have racist signs on me? No. So why this reaction?" He went on: "Yes, I would do it again to make a point. I could have gone along and held up banners or something, but this made the point better."

Most of the placards appeared on Friday, running through permutations
on several themes. They read: "Butcher those who mock Islam", "Slay those who
insult Islam", "Behead those who insult Islam", and "Kill those who insult
Islam". Some evoked previous al-Qaida suicide bombings: "Europe you will pay,
your 9/11 is on the way", or "7/7 is on its way", "Europe you will pay,
fantastic 4 are on their way", and "Europe you will pay, Bin Laden is on his
way". As well as the rhyming "Europe you'll come crawling, when the Mujahideen
come roaring", there were splenetic varieties: "Freedom go to hell", "Liberalism
go to hell", and "Freedom of expression go to hell".

Downing Street's response is reasonable, if a bit stilted.

Still, Omar Khayam has apologised, though how much his apology is worth is anyone's guess.

I don't think his namesake meant by this:

AWAKE! for Morning in the Bowl of Night
Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:
And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught
The Sultan's Turret in a Noose of Light.

that people should be blown up.