I'd think that it's a little bit silly to equate the headscarves business with the cartoons of Muhammad. There is dissension within the wider Muslim community about headscarves, even if the trend everywhere is towards headscarves. There is none about imagery of the prophet, no matter that there have been images throughout history. There is some debate about the proper response, but those wanting a more measured response are being drowned out now. Even Shia in Iraq are up in arms, despite Sistani's statement. At the moment, Malaysia might be the only Muslim majority country left where there hasn't yet been a demonstration and the Prime Minister has called for calm.
Anyway, it might just be more useful to view what's happening as a tipping point kind of thing; also, possibly related to the Euro-American response to Hamas' win. Also, something that a majority of moderates would feel justified in protesting, even when they would disapprove of the more violent acts.
Still, it's all rather 'cute' and 'neat' -- the US and UK govt coming out in support of Muslims, the EU threatening to refer the Arab boycott (at the moment it's an Arab boycott) to the WTO, several European govts hanging tough. Bet you anything there have been numerous calls back and forth between the North Atlantic govts, possibly with US govt telling the Euro govts, incl 'old Europe', "we told you so". The final rapprochement?
kj