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PROGRAM TRANSCRIPT - CARTOON FURY (NBC NIGHTLY NEWS, NBC TV, 7 PM, FEBRUARY 7, 2006)(Federal News Service (Middle East) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) BRIAN WILLIAMS: Here in Europe there is a palpable feeling that a fuse has somehow been lit in the Muslim world. Today's television images again showed scenes of violence and anger. And it all stems from a Danish newspaper and drawings, political cartoons, of a figure who in Islam should never be the subject of such a thing - the Prophet Mohammed. There have been nine deaths so far and a lot of damage. Our report tonight from NBC's Mike Boettcher in Baghdad. MIKE BOETTCHER: The rage and scope of protest escalated across the Muslim world. In Afghanistan, several hundred demonstrators attacked Western bases and military forces. Three Afghans were killed in one battle. Thousands marched in Pakistan. Indonesia. Iraq. And Iran. To protest the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed published in Denmark and republished elsewhere in Europe. A leading Iranian newspaper retaliated by running an ad announcing a contest for the best cartoon about the Holocaust. The paper's editors wrote, 'Does Western free speech cover issues like America's and Israel's crimes? Or an incident like the Holocaust?' But even some Iranians say the reaction has gone too far. UNIDENTIFIED MAN ON THE STREET: It has been exaggerated in a very big proportion. BOETTCHER: While protesters in Gaza fired at an image of Denmark's prime minister, the prime minister said his country is not to blame. ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN (Danish prime minister): Neither the Danish government nor the Danish people can be held responsible for what is published in a free and independent newspaper. BOETTCHER: President Bush called Denmark's prime minister to offer solidarity and support. Vice President Cheney publicly reinforced the administration's view. VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY: It's appropriate for people to respect one another's religion, but I don't believe that the printing of those cartoons justifies the violence that we've seen. BOETTCHER: Even though the protests have been directed at European targets, here in Iraq U.S. military commanders worry that if this crisis does not abate, American forces too will be a target. Mike Boettcher, NBC News, Baghdad. |