Here is an excellent series of comments regarding those Danish cartoons:

http://phoenixwoman.blogspot.com/2006/02/more-on-saudis-and-cartoons.html

As the blogger comments, the intense reactions seem to have begun about 4 months late, and some faked ugly cartoons are being circulated among the real ones.

Short story: as the current Secretary of State claims, the reactions are being hyped up. - but NOT by the entities she accused, Syria and Iran. No, the reactions were set off by phase-timed moves on the part of the Saudi government. If there is any Arab government capable of helping Bush foment a global war between "the West" and Islam, it is the Sauds.

Meanwhile, the Bush administration has given diplomatic immunity to the former head of Saudi intelligence by accepting him as ambassador to the U.S. (His previous post was as Saudi ambassador to Great Britain, confirming what I've heard thirdhand about Tony Blair, namely that he really is remarkably unintelligent. It is a cliche and not only in humor that Americans tend to think British sound smart, because they speak in British accents.) Prior to acquiring diplomatic immunity, the Saudi intelligence head abruptly quit his position or was removed, a few days before 9/11. Even the scant investigation following 9/11 has placed him in the nexus of interests joining Osama bin Laden, Pakistan's ISI, and the GWBush administration and its cronies.

Maybe the Saudi regime wdn't shed too many tears over a cruel and inhuman bombing of Iran. It is a terrible thing to suggest. But if they really wanted to save the lives of thousands of Muslims, surely they would help to calm present fears and wrath over those shortsighted and boorish cartoons.

Meanwhile, the stock market is up by more than 100 points. Are large-scale investors really stupid enough to be joyous over the expansion of war in the Middle East?

It is way past time to cut back on some military and "intelligence" contracts and subcontractors.