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...

[Urbane_Guerilla]

The war on Islamists is correct....and if it is personal.....personal for who?

The War on Islamists is like saying The War on Nazis or The War on Communists ... it is correct, but it sounds dumb because it trivializes the war by personalizing it. Islamists are people, the ones carrying on Jihad.

Jihad has one meaning: military and violent conquest of the infidels.

[Paul Ross]

Good Public-Relations sound-bite BUMP!

[Deb]

I just hope CNN management doesn't hand him his head or that fat Muslim apologist guy doesn't sit on him.

[B Knotts]

Jihad has one meaning: military and violent conquest of the infidels.

That's incorrect; for many Muslims, at least, it means a spiritual struggle. Well, supposedly, anyhow.

[dawn53]

Finally somebody who was willing to call the elephant in the living room an elephant.

However, I did hear Glenn Beck do the same thing the other day and was grateful to hear somebody call a spade a spade.

[thinktwice]

Will Lou Dobbs join Salman Rushdie on the Islamic hit list?

[cake_crumb]

He could have covered his rear much better if he said we were at war with Islamic EXTREMISTS, rather than just "Islamists". Trust me, the term "extremist" doesn't give the bad guys much room to maneuver. They are easy to spot.

[Enterprise]

And my response to your post? (Heh heh heh, you rascal)

[LA-Lawyer]

"With stunned viewers from Arab countries registering strong complaints. "

And here's the unpublished addendum: The irate Arab callers went on to state that unless Mr. Dobbs retracts his statement and affirms the peaceful, loving nature of Islamists, the children of the CNN infidels would be targeted for liquidation. [not a threat, only sarcasm]

[Oldeconomybuyer]

ji·had also je·had    (j-häd)  n.

1. A Muslim holy war or spiritual struggle against infidels.
2. A crusade or struggle: “The war against smoking is turning into a jihad against people who smoke” (Fortune).

[Arabic jihd, from jahada, to strive. See ghd in Semitic Roots.]

---

\Ji*had"\, Jehad \Je*had"\, n. [Ar. jih[=a]d.] (Moham.) A religious war against infidels or Mohammedan heretics; also, any bitter war or crusade for a principle or belief.

[Their] courage in war . . . had not, like that of the Mohammedan dervishes of the Sudan, or of Mohammedans anywhere engaged in a jehad, a religious motive and the promise of future bliss behind it. --James Bryce.

jihad  n : a holy war by Muslims against unbelievers [syn: jehad]

 

[Walkin Man]

Good for Lou Dobbs! I will never believe the government is serous about the "war on terror" until it admits that the war is against radical muslim extremists's or Islamofascists! This is a religious war whether the government likes it or not. This PC-BS about muslims being just like anybody else is bovine excrement and is going to get thousands more Americans KILLED because we can't "profile" the terrorists and those who aid and support them in every mosque in America! When is the government going to protect our borders and stop the flood of cheap labor and terrorist sleepers that come in everyday? Maybe after an Islamic killer for allah detonates a nuclear device in Washington DC? Or after a chem\bio weapon kills a few hundred thousand people? Perhaps then the government will aquire the stones to call a spade a spade and REALLY start the "war on terror"!

[swarthyguy]

Only in America and Europe in the first decade of the 21st Century, would calling an enemy by ideology raise a firestorm.

[Deb]

Today's show should be pretty interesting.

[swarthyguy]

He he would that be a personal inner struggle or an all out whoopass against the Saudis and all their sycophanctic lapdogs?

[eraser X]

I believe he had a falling out with Kaplin(sp) but left on his own initiative and started space.com--which, IMO, leaves a lot to be desired regarding his business acumen.

[RabidBartender]

Christine I-ma-poor-moron is probably jockeying for his position and time slot as we speak.

[swarthyguy]

Fox needs some new blood anyway. (Oops, bad choice of words)

[Itzlzha]

With stunned viewers from Arab countries registering strong complaints

Many Muslim Arabs stated they were so upset by Dobbs' comments they would be unable to attend the daily "Death to America" festivities.

LOL!!! Bump for my vote for "Quote Of The Day"!!!