So, Why Now??

So, the fury continues to rage throughout the muslim world over a collection of political cartoons of the prophet Mohammed.

People have died in the rioting, many have been injured... cars and buildings have been destroyed, boycotts have been put in place, and millions live in fear of what could really happen if the powderkeg of extremist Islam blows up.

Oh, lest I forget... are we all on the same page here? Does everybody know that the cartoons were first published back in October 2005? Not only that, but an Egyptian newspaper also published them... right at the height of Ramadan, and there wasn't so much as a "squeak" of outrage...

So, what gives now?

And then, in an unsurprising turn of events, marching muslims in Afghanistan direct their anger toward the United States, rather than the European countries that published the cartoons. Because the U.S. is "the leader of Europe, and the leading infidel in the world."

Again, why all of the rage and anger now... nearly four months after the initial publication of the cartoons?

Can anyone enlighten me here? Comments much appreciated.