The American Spectator

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The Pakistani Foreign Office has summoned Britain's High Commissioner (Ambassador) Robert Brinkley, to protest the award. Britain in return has expressed "deep concern" over comments by a Pakistani minister that knighting Rushdie could provoke radical Muslims to carry out suicide attacks.

Moving a little further off the planet, a Pakistani parliamentarian and head of a religious political party has demanded a "Sir" title for Osama bin Laden in retaliation (from what font of honor is not quite clear, particularly since knighthood is of specifically Christian origin).

Sami ul Haq, leader of the pro-Taliban Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, claimed: "Muslims should confer the 'sir' title and all other awards on bin Laden and Mullah Omar in reply to Britain's shameful decision …"

Mad as this is -- I don't think there's anything wrong with laughing at it and Australian blogger Tim Blair has already evoked a vision of progressive retaliations leading to "knights everywhere, with maybe a few squires and liege lords as well," which sounds rather fun and colorful -- the knighting of Rushdie in the present circumstances still looks senseless. If Britain wants to show defiance of Islamic fanaticism or take some strategic initiative in the present great clash of civilizations, then there are more effective ways to do it. It gives a new point -- if one is needed -- to the question: What the hell is going on in the mind of whoever is governing Britain?

topics:
Business, Islam, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan