This islamic ban on depicting their prophet in any way seems to apply only in the sunni sect. Shite and Suffi muslims have been drwing and painting respectable pictures of mohammed for centuries and they still do. The cartoons may have been in bad taste but muslims publish anti jewish and anti american stuff in their papers all the time so they realy had no reason to riot. It seems like they are blaming the USA for printing those pictures when they were not printed in America. The american army base in afganistan was broken into and some people were killed. It seems like they think they can make fun of other religions all they want but other religions can't make fun of islam.