On September 11, 2012, a mob of traditionalist Salafi Muslims stormed the U.S. embassy in Cairo, vandalizing the compound. The same day, protesters in Libya attacked the U.S. consulate with RPGs, resulting in the death of our ambassador, his aide, and 2 Marines.
All because of a 14-minute YouTube film, made by a private citizen, that caricatures the prophet Mohammad.
Now, the demonstrators in Egypt promise an "escalation" unless the U.S. government formally apologizes.
Don't give it to them.
Not just because the film is fully protected by the First Amendment, not just because the violence is an outrage, but because any group that reacts in this way should be treated as juvenile by the international community, not reasoned with or welcomed to the bargaining table for "apologies".