An Afghan mob apparently angry over a Quran burning in Florida set upon a United Nations compound Friday, killing as many as 20 employees and setting fire to several compound buildings.
The attack, which may be the deadliest assault on the UN in Afghanistan, grew out of a protest in response to news that US pastor Terry Jones oversaw a Quran burning on March 20. Mr. Jones drew worldwide criticism last year for threatening to burn Qurans on the anniversary of 9/11.
One, Jones is no doubt a world class jerkwad, if you'll excuse the technical term. But he didn't cause the violence. Members of other religions aren't so easily worked up into raging mobs by similar (and greater) insults to their religion. Or did I miss the Catholic riots over Piss Christ? There was anger, yes, and even death threats. And someone attacked the so-called art. But there were no mobs attacking or burning artist communities around the world or coffee shops where artists congregate. Nobody attacked NEA headquarters for their role in funding the project. In a free society, we are responsible for our actions even when other people just piss us off with stupid exercises of their free speech. To claim Jones "caused" the riots denies Moslems the status of responsible adults.
And then there is the spectacle of violent Moslem protests because they are upset that Jones burned the Koran as "punishment" for his "trial" that found Moslems guilty of violence.
Leave aside that the protests of outrage over the Koran burning are probably just Taliban-instigated propaganda crowds in the context of the Afghan war and al Qaeda's struggle to mobilize Moslems for the great jihad, the outrage ginned up does resonate with a lot of Moslems. Then consider what doesn't inspire outrage amongst those same Moslems.
Yeah, this was named the Long War for a reason.
UPDATE: Mark Steyn has related thoughts.
UPDATE: Putting the blame where it properly belongs. And shame on Westerners for going along with the idea that the murderers couldn't help themselves under the circumstances.
