[Saaf_laandon_mo]

SWW, re your numbered points above. The fact is that they (the pictures) are portraying those characters to be Muhammed and this has been explicitly stated, that the cartoons are of the prophet Muhammed(unless ive totally missed something). Most muslims would have just laughed the cartoons off if, like its been said they are just satiricising (sp) Islam. I for one wouldnt have been offended if they were in this coptext (i.e a generalisation as opposed to specific to the Prophet).
You make an interesting point about the bomb shaped turban. Without it we would have had no where near the level of protest we've had today, even if the person in the cartoon was wearing a I am the prophet Muhammed teeshirt on. Its the whole, The Prophet is a terrorist/demonising the prophet thing was has caused the uproar.