How this...

...became this:

The German newsmagazine Der Spiegel has the scoop on a cartoon that Danish imams shopped across the Near East, presumably with the goal of inciting the ongoing riots. The "cartoon" in question purports to show the prophet Mohammed with a pig snout; an inflamatory picture, no doubt, if that were indeed the intent. However, it is not.

Der Spiegel quotes the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet in detailing the origin of the lower image. It is culled from a 43-page dossier that Danish imams showed around the Near East to illustrate supposed offenses against Muslims in the Danish press.

Here's the backstory: the image at top was taken during a yearly carnival in the French town of Trie-sur-Baise, a small farming hamlet in the Départment of Hautes-Pyrénées about 80 miles from Toulouse. The main industry of the town is, other than tourism, the raising of what must be rather delectable pigs – hence, their celebration in local folklore and at carnivals. The gentleman pictured above with the pleasing snout is one Jacques Barrot, who went on to win the contest he was taking part in. The goal of said contest was to produce the loudest, most natural oink.

In other words, whatever the "caricature" may be, it does not show Mohammed. Perhaps someone should inform the 'spontaneous mobs' running around in that bastion of free expression and liberality, Damascus. And the Danish imams should apply for positions at Faux "News" or other reactionary organs that value just such expertise – the term 'swift boat veterans' comes to mind - as they seem to possess.

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