Another Post I have recovered from my corrupt backup database files. Woo Hoo Outdated now but what the heck I wrote it.
Conducting a search for information relating to the cartoon situation brings up sites that refer to this statment attributed to Kurtis Cooper at the State Department.
From Reuters:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Washington on Friday condemned caricatures in European newspapers of Islam’s Prophet Mohammad, siding with Muslims who are outraged that the publications put press freedom over respect for religion.
“These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of Muslims,” State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said in answer to a question. “We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression but it must be coupled with press responsibility. Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in this manner is not acceptable.”
I have searched all over and can not find any reference to this statement. It is not in the Daily Briefing and if it is I sure can not find it. Perhaps I missed it?
Meanwhile, the list of worldwide news sites that are covering the reaction to this story is buiding. Editorials and blogs are debating the issue. America v Europe. Europe v Muslims. But, I still can not confirm that anyone at our State Department made any statement close to this. Time will tell.
Now, once again, I am left wondering whom to believe. Is the rest of the world misquoting , creating propaganda, or misinformed? If they are misinformed, who or what, is responisble for the initial distribution of the bad information. If the information is correct, why can I not find documentation to something a State Department Spokesperson has said as easy as I can locate what someone across the globe has written.
I will keep looking.