DANISH PM NAMED NEW NATO CHIEF

Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has been appointed new Secretary General of NATO despite the opposition posed by the Turkish government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.  Rasmussen’s appointment in this position is meaningful as he is accused of tolerating religious slurs. He has promised to respect all religions in his new role at the head of NATO!  At the Alliance of Civilizations summit in Istanbul, a meeting that promotes dialogue between leaders of the West and the Islamic world, he has called for a balance between religious respect and freedom of speech. His track record as Danish prime minister is dubious leaving enough scope for the skepticism of the Muslim world on this particular development of his recognition as a role in the world affairs. As prime minister, Rasmussen did not condemn cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless and greet him) as a terrorist. He is not apologetic even today on the plea that any punishment to the paper would have infringed on freedom of speech and of the press. He said that freedom of opinion was “of central importance” to democracy.