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| Europe |
| Danish PM blasts Euro companies, praises Bush |
| 2006-02-10 |
| Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said today that attempts by European companies in the Middle East to disassociate themselves from Denmark or Danish products was considered by Danes to be "disgraceful." At the same time, Mr. Rasmussen tried to shield the Bush administration and some of Denmark's partners in NATO from accusations that they had been tardy and overcautious in coming to its defense in the crisis, which he attributed more to attempts by Iran and Syria to cause diversions in the Middle East than to a few cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper. Looking tired after what he acknowledged had been a difficult week, Mr. Rasmussen said in an interview in his office that attempts to secure commercial advantage at his country's expense had struck at the hearts of all Danes. Mr. Rasmussen did not mention a particular business organization or country. But his response came in reply to a question referring to attempts in the Arab world by companies associated with Nestlé, the Swiss food giant, and Carrefour, the French retailer, to distance themselves from Denmark. Danish industry estimates it has lost more than $55 million in sales in the Middle East since the furor began. Mr. Rasmussen appeared particularly irritated about the circumstances because they contradict "all our efforts to promote free trade." But the prime minister gave a pass to criticizing the Bush administration about its slow and cautious defense of an ally. President Bush referred to his solidarity with Denmark for the first time on Wednesday after five days of rioting in the Middle East against Danish citizens and Danish embassies. "I have never doubted that Bush would stand up for Denmark," Mr. Rasmussen said. "He values faithfulness and loyalty. I was not surprised he decided to call me and express support." Mr. Rasmussen reiterated that there will be no Danish apology for the cartoons. He brushed aside any suggestion that Denmark's policies requiring that immigrants accommodate themselves to Danish tradition were at fault, and asserted: "We are on the right track." More broadly, he said, "I see a very clear tendency that other European countries will go in our direction." In light of statements here that Denmark had been abandoned in the early phase of the crisis, Mr. Rasmussen was asked if the Danish Parliament would maintain troops in Iraq and Afghanistan if it was asked to vote on the issue tomorrow. "The situation would be the same. We haven't changed," he said. He added, referring to the allies: "It's crucial that Denmark feel their strong support when we need it." Mr. Rasmussen argued that the cartoon crisis had been hijacked by Middle East countries that were using the caricatures for domestic ends. He said Iran, isolated over its nuclear program, was using the cartoons to generate support in the Muslim world while Syria, under investigation for the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, was trying to create a distraction. The Palestinian Authority, divided over the recent election of Hamas, was exploiting the cartoon crisis to unite its disparate elements, Mr. Rasmussen said. "We have religious extremists who exploit the situation and fuel the flames to pursue their own agenda," he added, "and people shouldn't make any mistake about that. Religious extremists aim at destabilizing the situation in the whole region." The crisis will be discussed at a meeting, continuing Friday, of NATO defense ministers in Sicily, he said. But Denmark expected no statement at the meeting's conclusion. Mr. Rasmussen said he believed that Islam was compatible with democracy but argued it was incumbent on Muslim immigrants in Denmark and Europe in general to embrace the liberal values of their adopted countries. "Denmark is a liberal country," he said. "We do believe in individual liberty and freedom. People can live according to their own customs. "However, I think we have to insist on respecting our core values," he added, "including freedom of expression, gender equality for women and men and a clear distinction between politics and religion." Mr. Rasmussen said that the perception of Denmark in the Muslim world had been distorted by falsehoods spread by cellphone and Internet messages across the Middle East. In particular, he said the Danish government was re-evaluating its relations with local Muslim leaders who traveled to the Middle East in December, and had stoked tensions by showing religious leaders the cartoons, including caricatures depicting Muhammad as a pig that never appeared in the Danish press. Asked if, in retrospect, he would have done anything differently to handle the crisis, Mr. Rasmussen said he had no regrets. "I don't think we could have done something in another way," he said. "We are witnessing events with deep sadness and disbelief. We are not used to it in Denmark." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #14 I like this C&F take... |
| Posted by: .com 2006-02-10 21:13 |
| #13 Good to see the Viking descendants at least have some cajones in Europe. |
| Posted by: Brett 2006-02-10 17:39 |
| #12 The Islamists, esp Iran will use the Cartoon Madness™ as a tool to isolate Denmark from everyone else. It is divide and conquer by the installment plan. Make Dhimmis of Danes and France, and keep hammering on other vulnerable countries. Any issue will do. The issue is not the issue, it is a means to an end. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-02-10 16:09 |
| #11 LOL .com . Thanks. The "pig" photo of Mohammad was of a French pig calling contestant: see here The imams made a rough, grainy black and white photo and went around with it, claiming the Danish newspaper published it to defame Islam. Don't know about Carrefour, but Nestle has always been bad news. The used to, and probably still do, sell their infant formula to third world mothers to use instead of breast milk. Of course the mothers would try and make it stretch by mixing with unclean water and so forth. Babies were malnourished and dying as a result, but Nestle didn't stop. They sent reps who looked like nurses out to these areas to promote the product, and since mothers want to do the best for their children and want what's modern, they would go with the info presented by the authority figure. They pulled back after a boycott of their chocolate products here in the US and Europe--my point is, I'm not surprised that they're backing away from Denmark. Jerks. Anders Rasmussen is so cool: "I think we have to insist on respecting our core values," he added, "including freedom of expression, gender equality for women and men and a clear distinction between politics and religion." That sounds pretty good. FRIENDLY REMINDER: Have you purchased your Danish Havarti cheese today? Hmm . . . ? Or shopped these fine establishments? (Danish Troll Beads) lundtrading.com can purchase online at: smalltreasureslp.com (Danish, Swedish, Norwegian Gifts/Products) ingebretsens.com solvanggifts.com genuinescandinavia.com scandinaviansouth.com hemslojd.com swedensfinest.com andersonbutik.com scandinavian-touch.com And don't forget the Norwegians!: oslosweatershop.com *personally used all of these companies and can vouch for them |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2006-02-10 14:45 |
| #10 Thar t far side picture has been altered, the original showed "Billy Jackalope" with a pair of six-guns strapped to each hip, this picture the guns are gone. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2006-02-10 13:30 |
| #9 Spot on cartoon, .com But do you think PM Rasmussen has horns that long? |
| Posted by: BigEd 2006-02-10 12:04 |
| #8 Maybe time to breakout the RB classic video of the Lions and the *ackals or was it hyennas? |
| Posted by: Pheaque Ebbeter8966 2006-02-10 10:45 |
| #7 Jackal, Atlas Shruggs Blog has a list of Danish brands. She's also hot. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-02-10 09:11 |
#6 Billy Jackalope... |
| Posted by: .com 2006-02-10 08:48 |
| #5 How many Danish companies had previously refused to do business with Israel. I hope those companies (if any) go bankrupt. Has anyone set up a "Buy Danish" website? I have a couple of significant (>$200) purchases to make soon. |
| Posted by: Jackal 2006-02-10 08:11 |
#4  via EU Referendum blog |
| Posted by: ed 2006-02-10 08:07 |
| #3 Ditto, TW. Rasmussen rocks. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-02-10 07:55 |
| #2 Well said, Prime Minister! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-02-10 06:38 |
| #1 One of the less appealing aspects of capitalism. If and when Europe falls to sharia law, there will be fierce competition amongst Western companies to supply the cranes for hangings, the knives for amputations etc. "Hand-E-Slice - the no. 1 choice for teaching thieves a lesson." |
| Posted by: Uneagum Glomolet7023 2006-02-10 04:39 |