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Akhtar Soomro / Reuters
Protests ignited by a controversial film that ridicules Islam's Prophet Muhammad spread throughout Muslim world.
News analysis
Updated at 7:53 a.m. ET: CAIRO — It's been just over a week since hundreds, perhaps a thousand, angry and offended Egyptians gathered outside the U.S. Embassy's gates in Cairo. They carried Islamist banners and chanted, "The only God is God and Muhammad is his Prophet."
At one point perhaps two dozen of the more brazen protesters scaled the wall and breached the embassy grounds. They lowered and destroyed the U.S. flag and raised a black, Islamic flag in its place. They fled when security guards (not the Egyptian police) fired warning shots over their heads.
This amounted to little violence, but the act itself was the psychological equivalent of taking a beachhead. Within hours reports emerged that a similarly sized group had stormed the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Some were calling it a copycat protest, but it was much more perilous: Four Americans were killed in the melee, including the U.S. ambassador.
Within 48 hours the world would witness angry protests unfolding at U.S. embassies, businesses and symbols of power in more than 20 countries.
Protesters scaled the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and pulled down the American flag during a protest over what they said was a film produced in the United States that insulted the Prophet Muhammad. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
This paroxysm of protest — and violence — had begun in Cairo. But what, really, began there?
Much of the mainstream media has played it as a spontaneous reaction to a disgusting film clip which denigrated Muslims and happened to be made and promoted in the USA.
But New York Times editorialist Ross Douthat argued it had nothing to do with a "genuine popular backlash," but everything to do with old-style power politics. For Jim Clifton, chairman of the pollster Gallup, it wasn't about religion or politics, but rather the desperate expression of young Arab males, deeply humiliated because they couldn't find jobs.
'Political manipulation'
Egyptian analysts seem to be more in agreement: Many protesters outside the U.S. Embassy were genuinely offended by the film. But the real driving force behind the protest — in Cairo and Benghazi — were radical Islamist groups who know how to exploit rage for political gain.
Actors and the assistant director of the film "Innocence of Muslims" told NBC News that the original spoken lines in the screenplay were dubbed over without their knowledge. NBC's Mike Taibbi reports.
"There are still a lot of questions that need to be answered," said Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian journalist. "For instance, why after two months of being on YouTube did this film suddenly explode on the anniversary of 9/11? That is political manipulation and manufactured outrage that the right wing is all too happy to use.''
Egypt issues arrest warrants for Terry Jones, Coptic Christians over anti-Islam video
By "right-wing" Eltahawy means ultra conservatives – often called Salafists – who practice a strict, puritanical form of Islam and make up the fastest-growing Islamic political and social movement in the world. On the night of the Cairo embassy attacks, the Salafists saw an opportunity to flex their muscles.
"A lot of people went to the U.S. Embassy not just because of the film, and after the film died down, it wasn't about the film anymore," Eltahawy explained. "They went because of anti-U.S. sentiment, because they know in this region how easy it is to fan the flames of anger."
French officials are preparing for a potential violent backlash as a satirical magazine defends its decision to publish cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.
Dr. Gamal Abdel Gawad, a highly respected Egyptian political analyst, agrees.
"I don't think it was spontaneous," he told NBC News. "People were gathering in one place at a certain time of day, so there was some mobilization behind it.''
Actress sues, says she was fooled into appearing in anti-Muslim movie
And it's clear to Gawad who did the mobilizing. "Radical Salafist groups orchestrated it to express their views and embarrass the [more moderate] Muslim Brotherhood because of competition between Islamic groups."
Post Arab-Spring power play
What's enfolding in Egypt – and to a large extent in Libya — is not just a series of isolated power plays. In both countries the leaders who emerged from the Arab Spring are struggling to eke out a political center in order to govern their new democracies, while under extreme pressure from more radical Islamist — sometimes jihadist — forces. Everything is still at stake.
This has led some Egyptians — like Eltahawy — to worry that their 18-month-old revolution will be hijacked by the extremists.
"I'm hoping that this right-wing drive of the past days is the dying pangs of a group that understands that the revolution was started by us, the majority, and we remain very much the majority."
Crowds of angry protesters showed up in Kabul, Afghanistan and Jakarta, Indonesia. The violent uprising followed a deadly weekend marking the deaths of eight International Security Assistance Force members. NBC's Atia Abawi reports.
Gawad is more sanguine about the future. "The revolution is over. The president is in power, and Egyptian political parties are busy preparing for elections and campaigns. The radical groups can't get significant numbers elected," he said. Still, as dramatic scenes over the past week have shown, those groups — often armed — can wreak havoc.
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi seemed to give ground to the Salafists, even leaving the country at the height of a standoff between stone-throwing protesters and riot police for diplomatic meetings abroad.
Finally, last Saturday, he gave the order to clear out the protesters and appeared on TV calling on Muslims to protect foreign citizens and property. Some called it a turning point.
Now that a Paris-based satirical magazine has published cartoons of a naked Prophet Muhammad, will Egyptians respond with silent indignation, peaceful marches or be the first to storm their French Embassy?
Jim Maceda is an NBC News foreign correspondent based in London and currently on assignment in Cairo. He has covered the Middle East since the 1970s.
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Leave a Comment:
I would figure that Islamists would know that killing in the name of there prophet is the ultimate in unforgivable sin. Killing in the name of god is surely a fast way to hell, its described in great detail.
How did they miss those parts after doing nothing but studying there "Holy" book for most of there life?
Are they really just that stupid?
And HOW did Christians miss the Commandment "THOU SHALT NOT KILL" and what Jesus instructed - TO TURN THE OTHER FACE when slapped. LOL! In spite of these COMMANDMENTS the Christians have not only killed but also committed GENOCIDES in the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, etc., not to mention the SIX MILLION JEWS murdered and the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS killed during WW2 and in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. If you can ANSWER this you will have answered your question rgarding Muslim behavior.
well far as i know the wars in korea and vietnam was not for relegion. it was political....We took out sadam (I still think that was a mistake) due to he was using nerve gas on the kurds...we sold him that gas for the use on iran not the kurds....afgani....well they were hiding a man that we wanted his head. im sure you know why.... as for muslims over there they are taught to hate anybody not like them. we have extended our hand and it was bit. I don't blame the misguided people i blame the dictators and the clearics who have there boot on them....they have no concept of free thought or speech. they just don't get it...the muslims i know here are good people...they even drink a beer once and awhile. they to have told me that it took awhile to get use to the free speach thing. Comics baffeld them. No they see the humor they under stand that in a place where you are alowd to say somthing what you want some times a a hole talks....just the way it is. just brush it off.
Your prophet, not ours.
Our free speech, not yours.
"Manufactured Outrage" --- LOL! Those who "MANUFACTURED" INTELLIGENCE & PRETEXTS to invade & occupy other countries and kill their people have the NERVE to say that this is a "Manufactured Outrage"? MY! What ARROGANCE. THIS is an OUTRAGE of an OUTRAGE.
No, this is a manufactured event, by people who know how easily to manipulate the mindless in the name of their religion......guess what.....six months from now, Wallstreet will be going long oil, then posting anti-muslim videos on youtube waiting for a pop in oil prices.
Don't these people see how easily they are being played ?
We know what the answer is. We have the guts to start, but do we have the resolve to see it through to the end. This must be done, without the stupid pointless ending of OIF. By their logic, they won the war.......
Firsat, let me make this clear; I have not seen and have no intention of viewing any film, cartoon, or reading material that uses hate as a way to denigrate another whether it be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buhdist, Hindu, or atheist. That stated, I agree totally with the authors of this article. This so-called anger is manufactured the United States had nothing to do with it and if there are people whom are so outragged by an internet nothing then I am sorry they will just have to be outraged. The very sad part of this is that no-one seems to be outraged at the loss of life and destruction. If one believes Muhammad is the prophet of God and you are killing people over some irrelevant film; one must ask the question, is a poorly made film worth another human beings' life? I do not believe this is a genuine movement; it is being manufaactured by those who hate from the other extreme. No one would have heard of this film if these right-wing extremists did not bring it to the world's attention. jwt
So... we are told by a NY Times editorialist that the worldwide outrage, protests and violence over the anti-Islamic film/video are all about "old-style power politics." And according to the chairman of Gallup, they are by "young Arab males who can't find jobs." And according to Egyptian officials, "radical Islamist groups are exploiting the protests for political gain."
Really? Let's see someone make a film/video that caricatures and ridicules the Holocaust, and see if the outrage, protests, violence -- and censorship -- that ensue are the result of the above.
There is no doubt here that this situation was indeed designed to incite violence but the real question should still be: by who? The Salafists...perhaps. But what would they have to gain? Are they "invested" in that area as much as the other groups are?
I can certainly make up a lengthy list of groups and individuals who want to see the violence happen and yes, escalate. The US state dept, Israel, American religious extremists, Anti-Muslim groups, and any one else who does not want to see peace in the Middle East or simply just hate Muslims.
I am amazed that journalists will grab at any sources to get a story out.
Journalists are the weak minded who think they are superior....easily manipulated...just like these poor sots on the ground in Egypt & Libya
These wretches didn't feel the need for a rationale to burn Christians alive in their Churches before. Must be a PR thing. What an evil joke the Muslim world has become-the part that pushes this violence & hate and the other part that condones it because of a supposed "film", along with their helpers in the US media who believe and publish every word. Newsflash "newsmakers" -we are in a real war and innocent people are dying.
So.......Facebook was claiming credit for the organization of the rebels in Tunis, Libya, and Egypt during the initial Arab spring movement........the talking heads that portrayed this awesome new social network tool that gave organizartional power to the mob hasn't been stepping up lately to announce their part in this uprising.......why not ? Was not every network dropping hints about how Facebook was the catalyst that lead to popular revolution around the globe ? Where are you on this one Zuck ? Still trying to convince yourself that you care about your shareholders?
I am sick and tired of reading all the anti-US bullcrap. We need a Government with a backbone to pull allour people out of the Muslim Countries. Both civilian, political and military. Then we simply turn our backs on them. No Aid whatsoever. No food exports, no military support, nothing. Leave them alone, Period.
First of all we must all accept the concept that every government and its media has its own levels of cencorship, propaganda, and population controlls.
The worlds powers seem to be fascinated with pitting christians and muslims into endless years of killing each other off. The real problem is that everyone buys into the mutual hatred , and everyone is dumping thier God given humanity. Muslims and christians have proven over and over, that they can live in peace together, IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO. Those who have chosen war endured war.
The huge difference between christians and muslims is christians are more forgiving, and tolerant. Christians are not armed to the teeth in thier churches. Christians do not organize into attack teams, and attack foriegn countries for thier beliefs. Christians are not out to eliminate evry last muslim from the planet.
If people think our nation does not use propaganda, and influence to force its interests in other nations they are foolish. Where ever tensions arise every faction will send out its News update. This can motivate a lot of people...
I think we are seeing some expiermentation from the muslim worlds hardline face, with mass controll and triggering.... Dangerous, but interesting....
As muslims and christians continue to fight each other, they BOTH become more hated by everyone else for it. In the mean time more christians and muslims find reasons to NOT get along and antagonize each other.
I suspect that the entire situation is engineered by the Global elite, that see these 2 religions as a major problem for thier view of a perfect world order. Solution = Let them kill each other off. Instigate it, set it up, fund it from both sides, Profit from it.
I I feel like I'm losing my religion.....Well my freedom for it anyways.
Will anyone on here admit to killing another human being? If you have not killed yourself go to Japan and see the aftermath of nuclear war. We, citizens of the U.S.A., did that through a wish to see our soldiers live.
If you would like to kill and cannot do it yourself go hire a killer to get it done.
Then you will know what a thrill it is to kill without regret or compassion.
It is always wise to think before you speak. Say an Amen to that, if you will.