If the Pope was doing the normal, then it should be done. But if ordinarily such a man would have been baptized in his own parish, then it is perhaps a problem of sending signals through the media. Christ did not provoke the Romans at all by saying a thing about their empire because that would have stopped his real mission which was to the Jews first. You do the normal thing and if that offends...fine. But if this was not the norm for another convert from that man's neighborhood, then there is a problem.
The nun in East Africa was killed due to a quotation in Regensburg that could have been replaced with a less media reportable anecdote and one less susceptible of soundbite. The Pope was not risking in that case with his own life but with someone else's since in those far off regions is where such murderers are not tracked down with vigor. I have a real question as to passive aggression in Benedict due to a number of past incidents.

You are just repeating what's in the quote, in different words. Benedict at Regensburg was speaking the TRUTH, and you are not much of a Christian if you think he should "tone it down." The religious sister in Africa was not killed by the Pope, but by sick evil men. She is a martyr, and will have her reward in heaven. (You do believe that, don't you?) And the Pope was of course putting himself in great danger, and is guarded day and night because he is a high-priority target.

Christ's entire mission to the Jews was an extreme provocation that he knew all along would lead to his death. Just using the messianic phrase "Son of Man" was enough to get him crucified.

And preaching to Rome and the rest of the world was the job of his followers, and he told them plainly that they were going to be persecuted and killed, and that the world would hate them.

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. (John 15:18-21)

Except John,the Pope disavowed through Cardinal Bertone the quote in question as being his opinion at all. So the truth you have him saying bravely as the gospel is something he disavowed.
Can he preach to Islam? Sure...if they are the audience. They were not the audience at Regensburg.

Except John,the Pope disavowed through Cardinal Bertone the Regensburg quote in question as being his opinion at all. So the truth you have him saying bravely as the gospel at regensburg is something he disavowed.
Can he preach to Islam? Sure...if they are the audience. They were not the audience at Regensburg.
The baptism is separate. If it was normal for anyone from that neighborhood to be baptized by the Pope and it gave a message along with it being a normal event, then it was fine. If it was solicited by either party to be done at the Vatican to send a message, that is indirect preaching and that is not a good idea because the indirectness then makes people wonder what is just an event and what is a coded signal.

The Holy Father is always preaching to the world. Urbi et Orbi. Of course he was speaking to Moslems at Regensburg, though they were not sitting in the audience. And he meant what he said. He always does, whatever Cardinal Bertone may say.

He was raising the essential question about reason in faith, which is a precondition to any dialog. He was, in fact, paying Islam the great compliment of taking it seriously. He was saying he expected the Moslem world to act like grownups. The message will take a while to sink in, but I suspect that those who can hear have heard, and that it will bear fruit over time.

Your instinct to flinch away from conflict is, on the other hand, an insult to Islam. You are treating it like a lunatic encountered on the street. That's not the road to peace, in the long run.

Likewise with this baptism. It IS a clear deliberate message. It says that we believe what we believe. This too is a pre-condition to respectful dialog or negotiation.

Be not afraid.

Read the rules of fraternal correction at new advent dot com in the free Catholic encyclopedia there. It is to be done by us (not the same for religious leaders but not totally different)...it is to be done by us when there is some hope of the other listening and some chance that it will have a good effect....it is not to be done simply to prove that we have the macho to do it (that motive is a species of pride). Christ was silent concerning Rome's sins such as infanticide...not because He was afraid...but because He knew they would not listen and railing against them could have destroyed his mission to the Jews specifically.

You have lots of excuses for appeasement, and so far they are all nonsense. Or rather, they are "common sense," when you should be thinking in "Christian sense."

Christ did not, in the flesh, condemn infanticide, because it was not a Jewish problem. But the Apostles condemned it as soon as they began preaching to the Gentiles. (It is in the Didache, a 1st Century document)

And that is the same thing. The Apostles and the Church are the Body of Christ. (You do believe that, don't you?) Jesus the Messiah was, and IS, the head of the Church. The Pope is just his vicar. When the Apostles condemned infanticide, it was Christ doing so, acting through them.

Jesus was not just some historical character whose simplicity we can smile at, and not take too seriously. He didn't fail to denounce Imperial abuses because he was afraid of stirring up trouble, but because that is our job. Your job. God has graciously allowed us to participate in his plans, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (You do believe that, don't you?)

We are not, as Catholics, required to agree with everything the Pope says. But for the most part it is our duty to "think with" him. Not think with "common sense."

There is too much machismo and interpersonal comparisons in your debating of Christianity. In the next world God will show us who saw the most danger...you or I. Wait til then...."the work of everyone will be made manifest for the day of the Lord will reveal it for that day will be revealed in fire." The internet of its nature has more heroes than I can possibly count. The last word is yours. Peace to you and yours.