CNN DOBBS ON HOT SEAT AFTER CALL FOR WAR ON ' ISLAMISTS'

Drudge Report ^ | 6/6/02 | Matt Drudge

[Brian Mosely]

CNN star Lou Dobbs hit maximum controversy after calling for a 'War Against Islamists.'

Dobbs made the comments Wednesday evening during the opening segment of his MONEYLINE program, which airs worldwide on CNN.

Dobbs: "The government and media for the past nine months have called this a war against terror. So have we here. But terror is not the enemy. It is what the enemy wants to achieve. So on this broadcast, we are making a change... in the interests of clarity and honesty. The enemies in this war are radical Islamists who argue all non-believers in their faith must be killed. They are called Islamists. That's why we are abandoning the phrase, "War Against Terror". Let us be clear. This is not a war against Muslims or Islam. It is a war against Islamists and all who support them. If ever there were a time for clarity, it is now. We hope our new policy is a step in that direction."

The comments immediately ignited angry phone calls to CNN, according to insiders.

With stunned viewers from Arab countries registering strong complaints.

The Dobbs comments -- which were not labeled commentary -- remained intact during reruns of MONEYLINE, after producers could not reach CNN News Group Chairman Walter Isaacson for guidance.

Developing...

[nutmeg]

Bravo, Lou Dobbs! I guess he's been getting lots of angry e-mails (from regular viewers of the Clinton News Network)
over his remarks. Let's send him a bunch of COMPLIMENTS for his comments tonight! I just did.

Here is the link to send him a comment: CNN Feedback for Moneyline with Lou Dobbs

[nutmeg]

Thank you for providing that link to 'CNN Feedback for Moneyline with Lou Dobbs' on that other "locked" thread. :-)

I added to Lou's 'compliments' e-mail tonight.

[Tony in Hawaii]

I believe that it is appropriate to include the following groups in the war on jihad:

ALF

What did he do?

[Jamten]

You mean one cannot critize an individual like Wen Ho Lee without being called a racist? Who are these low-lifes? What if you critizise Dubya, does that make you a racist too? Are there only certain Americans that cannot be critized, I do not understand this?

[Jamten]

U bet!

[TLBSHOW]

war is with Islam, Lou almost gets it.

[Aaron_A]

Good for Lou...time to call a spade a spade.

[janeliberty]

Jihad means war. So you're saying it should be called The war on war. I think Dobbs version is very accurate. We were drawn into a war by the fanatical mulims, who want to conquer the world in the name of Allah and bring it back to the dark ages.

This war is a cultural war that we can't afford to lose.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

I guess the point is that someone had the balls to speak the truth.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

that fat Muslim apologist guy ..

You mean Hussien Ibish? (Gag, barf, spit, choke) And has anyone ever seen Ibish & Jerry Nadler in the same room?

[Deb]

That's the guy. I always wanna call him Ish kabibbel.

[ladtx]

You mean Hussien Ibish? (Gag, barf, spit, choke) And has anyone ever seen Ibish & Jerry Nadler in the same room?

They tried to get them in the same room once but couldn't find one big enough.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

How about Ish Kabob? sorry, it is early yet :-)

wonder if they lurk?

[lavaroise]

I'm impressed. Are liberals waking up?

[Republic]

WOW--I have newfound RESPECT for Lou Dobbs! He is correct! This is a WAR against certain people who call themselves Islamists who WANT TO KILL everyong who does not subscribe to their hateful beliefs! (Imagine the hate filled Taliban regime that even forbade women to let sunshine fill their faces or that forbade little children to sing or play games. Very sick, that. Must have made Allah weep with anger at such cowardly men who enacted such joyless rules.)

[aristeides]

"Islamism" is a different word with a different meaning from "Islam," and "Islamist" from "Muslim." Islamism is the brand of political Islam that we have seen in the past couple of decades. It calls for imposing sharia law and waging jihad to that end. It calls for destroying Israel and imposing Islam on the whole world. Lou Dobbs was absolutely correct in his statement.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

I watched him last night and couldn't imagine what he was thinking or why he was doing it. It was pretty brave, but I don't quite get the point.

Maybe he wants to be let go so he could take his "views" to FOX? Maybe team up with Neil Cauvoto?

Just a thought

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

whoops

[Deb]

I was real proud of him last night. He didn't back down a bit and continued to call the terrorists "Islamists" throughout the show. He even got the coltish, faux-Republican William Cohen to admit he was right . I missed his editorial at the end though.

[katman]

Outstanding job by Lou, I've already emailed my feedback in to Moneyline. For an excellent follow-up, see Charles Johnson's excellent weblog entry. See also his comments section, one of which creates crystal clarity around the whole "My American Jihad" Harvard Commencement controversy (hint: what does "My Jihad" literally translate to in German?)