Muslim protests continue over the printing of cartoons that depict the Prophet Mohammed. Various demonstrations, threats of violence, boycotts and condemnations are the rule, but the cartoons have now been reprinted by numerous European newspapers. What we are seeing is a fundamental clash of values. In a secular Europe, the value of free speech trumps that of any religious sensibilities. The Danish Prime Minister has tried, without success and with some exasperation, to explain to the representatives of Muslim governments and media outlets that he can't do anything about what they print in one of his country's newspapers. Muslims, almost all of whom live under authoritarian regimes, simply cannot understand this principle. Even those Muslims who live under elected leadership (Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Turkey, India, Indonesia) probably cannot grasp that there is somehow a "right" to offend Islam or its traditions.

The bottom line is that this is one of those instances in human relations that boils down to an either-or scenario. Either we allow some of our people to use their free speech rights to be insensitive and insulting, or we do not. In secular Europe (and in the U.S.) people are allowed to say pretty much what they want. Burn a flag? Insult the Prophet (or Jesus, of the Jews, or anyone)? It is all free game. Not so in the Muslim world. Since the two societies are, like all the world, intertwined, then one value must trump the other. There is no compromise possible. These are the things wars are made of, by the way.

As for me, if I were the editor of a newspaper I would choose not to run cartoons that insult people's religious beliefs, as a matter of good taste and respect for my readers. But, as a citizen of the Western world, I would, as the saying goes, fight to the death to defend the rights of others to publish just such cartoons.

Charles Krauthammer writes about the Hamas electoral victory. He says we can now see the Palestinians without illusion.

David Ignatius examines whether or not the electoral victories of Islamic radicals can change their behavior when faced with the responsibilities of governing.

Daniel Pipes believes the Hamas victory won't change a thing. He sees Fatah and Hamas as two sides of the same Jew-hating coin, and the Israeli peacenicks as equally willing to negotiate with either, eyes wide shut all the while.

Victor Davis Hanson thinks the world is looking increasingly like the set of a Quentin Tarantino movie.