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By NiteOwlDave
Evangelist Franklin Graham didn't mince words in a statement in
October, 2001, about the actions of the often violence-driven followers of Islam.
In the wake of the September 11 Islamic terrorist attacks in
Washington and New York, Graham's hammer-job on the ruthless Muslim religion was
refreshing and desperately needed.
"Islam," he said, "is wicked, violent, and not
of the same god."
He went on to say in remarks broadcast on NBC, "I don't
believe this is a wonderful, peaceful religion. When you read the Qur'an, it
instructs the killing of the infidel, or those who are non-Muslim.
"It wasn't Methodists flying into those buildings (the
Pentagon and the two World Trade Center towers). It was an attack on this country
by people of the Islamic faith."
In a follow-up, Franklin stood firm to his remarks. To which we
say, way to go, Franklin; you just grew taller!
President Bush and other administration spokesmen are collared
into offering sugar-coated praise about the "peaceful religion of Islam,"
which is a crock.
But, it was understandably stated to hold together the
multi-country, multi-faith coalition which Washington patched together to flush
out and stop terrorists world-wide. The terrorist cells are primarily Muslim
extremists.
Refusing to take the political middle road followed by many
political and church leaders, even by his famous father, evangelist Billy
Graham, Franklin is not only correct in his observation about the Satanic
Muslim religion, but he has earned the right to serve comment about the nation
of Islam.
Graham's outspokenness came one day after his ministry's
Operation Christmas Child began processing one million shoe boxes of toys,
school supplies, and personal hygiene items for needy children overseas.
Thousands annually are sent to many Muslim nations.
Graham oversees Samaritan's Purse, which has supported more
relief and aid to Muslim people than to any other people in the world. Many
millions of dollars in aid is regularly sent to countries like Bosnia, Kosovo,
Lebanon, Sudan, and Afghanistan.
"As the leader of an international relief organization, my
calling is to provide food, clothing, housing, supplies, and medical care to
hurting people everywhere, regardless of faith," Graham said.
"As a Christian minister, my calling and focus are to
proclaim the God of the Christian faith to all who will listen."
Muslims Licensed to Kill
Muslims are authorized to kill in the name of their god, Allah.
Captured US Taliban fighter, 20-year-old John Walker Lindh,
told CNN December 19, 2001, that he believed the Qur'an permits Muslims to kill
in a holy war.
He defended the terrorists' suicide attacks on New York and
Washington target, stating, "In certain cases, Muslims, by necessity, can
kill, and there are situations in which a Muslim can be killed (by other
Muslims)."
When in power, the late Iranian tyrant leader, Ayatollah
Khomeini, declared, "The purest joy in Islam is to kill and be killed for
Allah."
When establishing and spreading his religion in the seventh
century, Mohammed and his followers slaughtered thousands.
Said Mohammed, who declared war on the entire world, "I
have been ordered by Allah to fight with people until they testify there is no
god but Allah and Mohammed is his messenger."
Check out what Mohammed's Qur'an states in Surah (or Chapter) II
(39):
"...Take not to yourselves friends of them
(the disbelievers) until they emigrate in the way of god; then, if they turn
their backs, take them, and slay them wherever you find them..."
Peaceful guy, peaceful teachings? Hardly!
The god of Islam is certainly not the God of the Bible.
The one and only true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob does not
force anyone to choose Him, nor kills those who refuse Him.
The Muslim "courage" to blow themselves up or to
crash planes at a loss of their own and many other lives is based solely on the
unique doctrine of Islam.
The only sure way in Islam of achieving Paradise is to
sacrifice one's life in a jihad (or holy war).
Suicide is forbidden as self-murder, but to sacrifice one's
life in killing infidels carries the highest reward.
The reward is strange but somewhat alluring. A jihad martyr
receives:
1. A palace of pearls in which there are 70 mansions.
2. Inside each mansion are 70 houses.
3. In each house is a bed made of 70 sheets.
4. Each sheet contains 70 beautiful virgins.
5. The "lucky" martyr is also assured that
he will have the appetite and strength of 100 men for food and sex.
This is the fantastic dream that is fed to Muslim boys from
earliest childhood.
The Media Blew It!
Jerusalem Post writer Naomi Ragen hits the target in a September
20, 2001, page-one article under the headline "From a Distance: Mass
murder, sex, and paradise", where she blasted the foreign press for buying
the Muslim line.
"One thing that the reporters miss is that it's not
nationalistic fervor or outrage at their 'persecution' that is motivating
these young men, as much as the Muslim religious teachings that promise each of
them unlimited free sex with virgins in paradise as a reward for spilling
innocent blood. From my own experience with many good people abroad, this
information is not well known.
"Recently, Bob Simon interviewed Mohammed Abu Wardeh on
CBS's Sixty Minutes," Ragen wrote.
"His remarks in Arabic were translated on the program as,
'God would compensate the martyr for sacrificing his life for his land. If you
become a martyr, God will give you 70 virgins, 70 wives, and everlasting
happiness.'
"The point is this," concludes Jerusalem Post's
Ragen: "Horny Arab teenagers are being convinced the way to sex in the
puritanical Arab world (where brothers routinely murder sisters who are even
suspected of losing their virginity), is through hate-filled mass-murders."
Too bad you missed that, CNN, BBC.
Takes away from the 'nobility' of the 'sacrifice', huh?
Author/speaker Dave Hunt, who is a stickler for documented
factual reporting in his hundreds of writings, points out that there are more
than 100 verses in the Qur'an advocating the use of violence to spread Islam.
"In the Qur'an, Allah commands Muslims, 'Take not the Jews
and Christians as friends... Slay the idolaters (non-Muslims) wherever you find
them... Fight against such... as believe not in Allah...' (Surah 5:51,
9:5,29,41, etc.)," says Hunt.
"Though most Muslims would shrink from obeying such
commands, this is official Muslim and it cannot change without admitting that Mohammed
was a false prophet and murderer."
Hunt goes on to say, "The suggestion that Islam as a
religion does not condone violence; that radicals represent only themselves—an
extremist and violent fringe—is simply not true.
"It is not because men are Arabs or extremists that they
turn to terrorism, but because they are devout Muslims. Yet who will face this
obvious fact?
"Hate for Israel and the call to destroy America for
supporting her are what motivate the angry Muslim. No Arab map in the world
admits Israel's existence.
"Terrorists act in direct obedience to Mohammed,
the Qur'an, Allah, and Islam. While nominal Muslims reject the idea," says
Hunt, "all Islamic scholars agree that it is the religious duty of
every Muslim to use violence whenever possible to spread Islam until it has
taken over the world."
Hunt continued, "The world has sided with Islam in its
false claim to the land of Israel, which is now inaccurately called Palestine.
"This promised land, given to Israel by the God of the
Bible, has been occupied by Jews continuously for the last 3,000 years, and they
are the only people to have done so.
The biblical stamp of approval confirming that the Jews have the
ongoing right to the Land of Israel is clear.
Deuteronomy 1:19-21 states:
"Then we (Moses and the children of Israel)
left Mount Horeh and traveled through the great and terrible desert, finally
arriving among the Amorite hills to which the Lord our God had directed us.
"We were then at Kadesh-barnea (on the
border of the Promised Land) and I said to the people, 'The Lord God has given
us this land. Go and possess it as he told us to. Don't be afraid! Don't ever
doubt!'"
Joshua 1:1-4 states:
"After the death of Moses, the Lord's
disciple, God spoke to Moses' assistant, whose name was Joshua, and said to
him,
'Now that my disciple is dead, lead my people
across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.
'I say to you what I said to Moses:
'Wherever you go you will be part of the land
of Israel—all the way from the Nageb desert in the south to the Lebanon
mountains in the north, from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Euphrates
River in the east, including the land of the Hittites.'"
Because of their disobedience, God allowed the Jews to be
scattered to all corners of the globe following the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Unlike any other race in history, the Jews remarkably retained
their pure Jewish line. They therefore still remain distinct as God's chosen
people.
All of 'Palestine' was to be given to the Jews for a national
homeland by a 1917 ruling of the League of Nations. But steadily the Jews were
betrayed by Britain's administration of that mandate. The land was parceled out
to Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, etc.
The most significant event in our whole generation took place
on May 14, 1948.
The entire world was electrified when Israel declared its
independence and became a recognized nation.
Over 55 governments have acknowledged Israel as an autonomous
state, and today Israel stands as a full-fledged member in the United Nations.
Nevertheless, Israel is accused of 'occupying' land which has
been theirs for three centuries. And terrorists continue to prey on Israel and
the US for supporting Israel's statehood.
What are the differences between Jesus of the Bible and
Mohammed of the Qur'an?
1.The birth of Jesus as the Messiah was prophesied in
Scripture. Mohammed's birth as the so-called Seal of the Prophets was not.
2.Through many witnesses, the Bible outlines the lineage of
the Christ from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob to the tribe of Judah and out
of the house of David. (Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 21:12, 22:18, 26:4, 28:14, 49:10;
2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalms 18:50, 89:3-4, 89:20, 132:11; Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1,
11:10; Jeremiah 23:5-6, 33:14-15).
3. It was prophesied through Isaiah that the Messiah would
be conceived by a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). It was prophesied through Micah that he
would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). And it was prophesied through the
typology in the third and sixth chapters of Zechariah that his name would be
'Joshua' (of which 'Jesus' is the Hellenized form).
4. Who prophesied the birth of Mohammed as a true prophet of
God? No one. No one except Mohammed himself who wrote in Surah LXI (17), "Jesus
son of Mary said, 'Children of Israel, I am indeed the Messenger of God to you,
confirming the Torah that is before me, and giving good tidings of a Messenger
who shall come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed.'"
5. Throughout the Qur'an, Mohammed refutes that Jesus was
the Son of God.
a) "The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only the
Messenger of God, and His Word that He committed to Mary, and a spirit from
Him." Surah IV (18)
b "The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a
Messenger; Messengers before him passed away; his mother was a just woman;
they both ate food. Behold, how we make clear signs to them; then behold, how
perverted they are!" Surah V (19)
c) "The Creator of the heavens and the earth—how should
He have a Son, seeing that He has no consort, and He created all things, and He
has knowledge of everything?" Surah VI (20)
d) "The Jews say, 'Ezra is the Son of God;' the
Christians say, 'The Messiah is the Son of God.' That is the utterance of their
mouths, confirming with the unbelievers before them." Surah IX (21)
e) "They (the Christians) say, 'God has taken to
Him a son.' Glory be to Him! He is All-sufficient; to Him belongs all that is
in the heavens and in the earth; you have no authority for this. What, so you
say concerning God that you know not? Say: 'Those who forge against God
falsehood shall not prosper. Some enjoyment in this world; then unto Us they
shall return; then We shall let them taste the terrible chastisement, for that
they were unbelievers (in Mohammed and the Qur'an).'" Surah X (22)
f) "Praise belongs to God, who has not taken to
Him a son." Surah XVII (23)
g) "And they say, 'The All-merciful has taken
unto Himself a son. You have indeed advanced something hideous! The heavens are
well-nigh rent of it and the earth split asunder, and the mountains well-nigh
fall down crashing for they have attributed to the All-merciful a son; and it
behooves not the All-merciful to take a son.'" Surah XIX (24)
h) "God has not taken to Himself any son."
Surah XXIII (21)
i) "He has not taken to Him a son." Surah
XXIII (25)
j) It was Mohammed's self-proclaimed mission "...
to warn those who say, 'God has taken to Himself a son.'" Surah XXIII (29)
What bunk when weighed against amazing Godly biblical
pronouncements such as:
1. "I will be his father, and he shall be my
son." (2 Samuel 7:14)
2. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
given" (Isaiah 9:6). Through Gabriel to Mary: "He shall be great, and
shall be called the Son of the Highest" (Luke 1:32) and "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee:
Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the
Son of God" (Luke 1:35). John the Baptist bore record that Jesus was the
Son of God (John 1:32-34). God Himself testified twice of Jesus: "This is
my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17, 17:5; Mark
1:11, 9:7; and, Luke 3:22, 9:35). Saint Mark testified in his gospel:
"Jesus Christ, the Son of God..." (Mark 1:1)
3. Even the unclean spirits recognized that Jesus was
the Son of God: "And, behold, they cried out, saying, 'What have we to do
with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before
the time?'" Matthew 8:29 (30)
To casual observers and lifeless Christians, that Mohammed
claimed God had no Son in Jesus does not seem to be so very damaging; after
all, they think, he did acknowledge that Jesus was a prophet, "a Messenger
of God."
They fail to see that for Mohammed to have stated that Jesus
was not a prophet would have kept many from his own teachings; it would have
precluded their even listening to his message.
Further, they fail to see that Mohammed had to include Jesus
within his teachings if he was to be more convincing concerning his own
authority.
It is easier to deceive if you pretend to build on an
already-established foundation. It is easier to destroy if you claim a heritage
in Truth, with stuff like:
"Surely We sent down the Torah, wherein is
guidance and light, thereby the Prophets who had surrendered themselves gave
judgment for those of Jewry, as did the masters and the rabbis, following such
portion of God's Book as they were given to keep and were witness to... And We
sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus son of Mary, confirming the Torah
before him; and We gave to him the Gospel, wherein is guidance and light, and
confirming the Torah before it, as a guidance and an admonition unto the
godfearing." Surah V (31)
Mohammed tries to persuade us that the Qur'an is just as
scriptural as the Torah and the Gospels.
He tries to make it seem as if the Torah and the Gospels and
the Qur'an are equal parts in a threefold plan of divine revelation to
humankind.
Why? The most effective way to win individuals over to your way
of thinking is to, first, tell them what they already believe is true (so you
don't alienate them) and, second, slowly persuade them that what they don't yet
know or understand can be provided for, or answered by, your doctrines: The
wolf-in-shepherd's-clothing approach, so to speak.
Both Moses and Jesus proved their words with works and signs
following. The miracles performed through them punctuated the truths they spoke
and the lives they lived. Christ Jesus said:
"...for the works which the Father hath
given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the
Father hath sent me." (John 5:36)
And:
"Say ye of him, whom the Father hath
sanctified, and sent into the world, 'Thou blasphemer;' because I said, 'I am
the Son of God'? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I
do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: That you may know, and believe,
that the Father is in me, and I in Him." (John 10:36-38)
Mohammed did not prove his words with works. Oh, he frequently
proclaims that the Surahs of the Qur'an are themselves "signs, clear
signs."
But there are no accounts of miracles wrought through him, save
those unreliable that are attributed to him through the imagination and fancy
of his followers. Mohammed tries to explain away the absence of such proofs
this way:
"It is He who has sent His Messenger (Mohammed)
with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may uplift it above every
religion. God suffices as a witness." Surah XLVIII (33)
Mohammed claimed that it was only for him to
deliver "the Message Manifest," the final word from God. Surah XLVIII
(34)
He tried to delude the people into thinking that he was the
Christ returned to earth. In doing so, the Devil sought to establish his
authority for overturning the principles of peace, love, and forgiveness taught
by the real Savior.
Jesus instructed us to love our enemies, to revile not when
reviled, to forgive those who despitefully use us, and to refrain from judgment
(the condemnation of our peers).
Hear what Mohammed had to say on those topics below.
(Underlining by NiteOwlDave.)
"O believers, prescribed for you is
retaliation, touching the slain; freeman for freeman, slave for slave, female
for female... In retaliation there is life for you, men possessed of
minds; happily you will be godfearing." Surah II (35)
"And fight in the way of God with those
who fight with you. ...And slay them wherever you come upon them, and
expel them from where they expelled you; (your own) persecution is more
grievous than slaying (others)." Surah II (36)
"Whoso commits aggression against you, do
you commit aggression against him like as he has committed against you..."
Surah II (37)
"Prescribed for you is fighting,
though it be hateful to you." Surah II (38)
"...Take not to yourselves friends of
them (the disbelievers) until they emigrate in the way of God; then, if they
turn their backs, take them, and slay them wherever you find them..."
Surah II (39)
"This is the recompense of those who
fight against God and His Messenger, and hasten about the earth, to do
corruption there: They shall be slaughtered, or crucified, or their
hands and feet shall alternately be struck off, or they shall be banished from
the land." Surah V (40)
"Fight them (the unbelievers),
till there is no persecution and the religion is God's entirely." Surah
VIII (41)
"It is not for any Prophet to have
prisoners until he make wide slaughter in the land." Surah III (42)
"Slay the idolaters wherever you
find them, and take them, and confine them, and lie in wait for them at every
place of ambush." Surah IX (43)
"Fight those who believe not in
God and the Last Day." Surah IX (44)
"And fight the unbelievers totally
even as they fight you totally; and know that God is with the godfearing."
Surah IX (45)
"O believers, fight the unbelievers
who are near to you, and let them find in you a harshness; and know that God is
with the Godfearing." Surah IX (46)
"The recompense of evil is evil the like
of it..." Surah XLII (47)
"When you meet the unbelievers, smite
their necks, then, when you have made wide slaughter among them, tie
fast the bonds; then set them free, either by grace or ransom, till the war
lays down its loads." Surah XLVII (48)
"Mohammed is the Messenger of God, and
those who are with him are hard against the unbelievers, merciful one to
another." Surah XLVIII (49)
"Thou shalt not find any people who
believe in God and the Last Day who are loving to anyone who opposes God and
His Messenger." Surah LVIII (50)
"O Prophet, struggle with the unbelievers
and the hypocrites, and be thou harsh with them." Surah LXVI (51)
It should be clear that the literature of Mohammed is hateful,
encouraging people to live both in fear and by the sword in judgment of one
another.
Compare the preceding quotations with the following
instructions given by the Christ:
"But I say unto you which hear, love your
enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you.
"And unto him that smiteth thee on the one
cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to
take thy coat also.
"Give to every man that asketh of
thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would
that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
"For if ye love them which love you, what
thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to
them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do the same.
And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For
sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
"But love ye your enemies, and do
good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and
ye shall be the children of the Highest: For he is kind unto the unthankful and
to the evil.
"Be ye therefore merciful, as your
Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not,
and ye shall not be condemned: Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Give, and it
shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and
running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye
mete, withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:27-38)
Having compared the previous passage with those immediately
preceding it, which one of the two—Jesus or Mohammed—do you think is the true
witness of the loving Father?
Considering what is written in the Qur'an, there should be
little wonder why Bibles are not allowed into countries over which the banner
of Islam flies. The people of those nations might be able to read:
"Put up again thy sword into its place: For
all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." (Matthew 26:52)
"He that leadeth into captivity shall go
into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the
sword." (Revelation 13:10)
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves,
but rather give place unto wrath: For it is written, 'vengeance is mine; I
will repay', saith the Lord.
"Therefore, if thine enemy is hungry,
feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals
of fire on his head. Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with
good." (Romans 12:19-21)
In short, they would find out that the God of Abraham, the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—the one of whom Christ Jesus came to testify—
is a God of peace and love and not a God of war and hate.
Moreover, they would learn of the Levitical high priest and his
role as intercessor for the children of Israel, offering sacrifice once a year
for their sins, and how Christ Jesus was sent to sacrifice himself "once
for all" (Hebrews 10:10).
They would learn how the Old Testament events, rules, and
regulations were but a figure, or typology, of things to come.
They would learn to understand the role of the Lamb as
Intercessor for all nations under the sun.
And, finally, concerning their relationship to Christ Jesus,
they would learn that "there is no other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Throughout the Qur'an, Mohammed attempts to undercut
the role of Christ Jesus as Savior. He tries to negate that the Lamb bore "
the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah
53:12) and that "he ever liveth to make intercession for them"
(Hebrews 7:25):
"Intercessor there is none, save after
His leave." Surah X (52)
"...No intercessors shall they have
amongst their associates, and they shall disbelieve in their associates."
Surah XXX (53)
"Intercession will not avail with Him
save for him to whom He gives leave." Surah XXXIV (54)
"To God belongs intercession
altogether." Surah XXXI(55)
"...The evildoers (those who do not
believe in Mohammed and the Qur'an) have not one loyal friend, no intercessor
to be heeded." Surah XL (56)
"...No soul laden bears the load of
another." Surah LII (57)
"Come, now, and God's Messenger (meaning
Mohammed) will ask forgiveness for you." Surah LXIII (58)
It is plain that Mohammed tried to set himself up in Jesus'
stead. What of the crucifixion? In his own form of gnostic Docetism, Mohammed
accounts the crucifixion:
"...They did not slay him, neither
crucified him, only a likeness of that was shown to them." Surah IV (59)
Guilty of the ultimate crime against God are those who say
that Jesus is not the Christ and that He did not die for our sins. For that
reason alone, Mohammed condemns himself and his followers (so long as they
remain his followers).
The Lord Jesus said:
"For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth in him
is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath
not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)
"I am come in my Father's name, and ye
receive me not: If another shall come in his own name, him ye shall
receive."(John 5:43)
"If I had not come and spoken unto them,
they had not had sin; but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth
me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none
other man did, they had not had sin; but now have they both seen and hated both
me and my Father."(John 15:22-24)
Simply stated, without Christ Jesus we have no advocate with
the Father. If we reject the One that God sent, we reject the mercy He extends
to us through that one.
Muslim terrorist Osama bin Laden states that killing innocent
people "is permissible under Islamic law."
The following is from the Associate Press in early 2002:
NEW YORK — Osama bin Laden, in a previously unbroadcast
interview done in late October, said the United States war on terrorism was
leading the American people "into an unbearable hell and a choking
life."
CNN broadcast edited portions of the taped exchange Thursday
night and said it obtained the interview, done by the Arabic language
Al-Jazeera television network, "from a non-governmental source."
If the interview occurred in late October, that would have been
about two weeks before Kabul, the capital, fell to U.S.-backed Afghan alliance
fighters and more than a month before the Taliban headquarters city of Kandahar
was abandoned.
Bin Laden wore camouflage fatigues and spoke without emotion
as he told his Al-Jazeera interviewer that killing innocent civilians "is
permissible in Islamic law."
And he painted a grim future for Americans.
"I tell you, freedom and human rights in America are
doomed. The U.S. government will lead the American people and the West in
general into an unbearable hell and a choking life."
CNN, which had close ties to the Qatar-based satellite network,
reported Al-Jazeera decided not to air the interview at the time it was done
because "it wasn't newsworthy."
The Al-Jazeera interviewer pressed bin Laden on his
responsibility for the September 11 terror attacks on New York and the Pentagon
but got ambiguous answers.
"America has made many accusations against us and many
other Muslims around the world. Its charge that we are carrying out acts of
terrorism is unwarranted," bin Laden said in his first answer.
But moments later, CNN said, bin Laden took up the subject once
more and said, "If inciting people to do that is terrorism, and if killing
those who kill our sons is terrorism, then let history be witness that we are
terrorists."
The existence of the interview apparently was known in
government and intelligence circles quickly after it was done. CNN said the
United States government got a copy.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair quoted the interview in a
speech to Parliament last November.
"On October 20, bin Laden said in an unbroadcast video
tape: 'If avenging the killing of our people is terrorism, let history be a
witness that we are terrorists,'" CNN quoted Blair as saying.
The interview, which CNN said was 60 minutes long, was believed
to have been the first done after the September 11 attacks and showed bin Laden
justifying the killing of innocent Americans.
"We kill the kings of the infidels, kings of the
crusaders, and civilian infidels in exchange for those of our children they
kill. This is permissible in Islamic law and logically."
The Al-Jazeera interviewer interrupts to ask if bin Laden means
to say it was appropriate to kill innocent people in retribution against those
who "kill our innocents."
The Al Qaeda leader responds:
"So we kill their innocents, and I say it is permissible
in Islamic law and logic."
The interview, done about a month before the Taliban and Al
Qaeda fled their headquarters at the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, shows a
confident bin Laden, certain his forces would defeat United States.
"We believe that the defeat of America is possible, with
the help of God, and is even easier for us—God permitting—than the defeat of
the Soviet Union was before."
CNN said Al-Jazeera refused to appear to explain the
circumstances of the interview and accused the U.S. network of obtaining the
video tape illegally. CNN further said the Arab language network announced it
was breaking relations with CNN.
"Al-Jazeera will sever its relationship with CNN and will
take the necessary action to punish the organizations and individuals who stole
this video and distributed it illegally," CNN quoted Al-Jazeera as
responding.
CNN said it did nothing illegal in obtaining the video tape of
the interview.
"Our affiliate agreement with Al-Jazeera gives us the
express right to use any and all footage owned or controlled by Jazeera without
limitation," CNN's statement said.
Eason Jordan, CNN chief news executive, said the existence of
the unbroadcast interview leaves Al-Jazeera with tough questions to answer.
"Among them, why was the interview not ever televised, why
did Al-Jazeera initially deny the existence of the tape, and what other tape
does Al-Jazeera have, or did it have, that had never been acknowledged or
televised," Jordan asked.
Conclusion
If our faith is firmly planted on the rock, Jesus Christ, we
needn't really break a sweat. Christ is coming back for His own soon, and
eternal Heaven with Him is our blood-bought, secured future.
This comment from a missionary to the Muslims in North Africa
is worth sharing:
"As one who has been involved in bringing holy
scriptures into Muslim countries by "creative means" for the last 12
years, I believe that getting the Word of God (most especially the New
Testament) and encouraging them to read or listen to it is the best way to help
most Muslims along toward salvation.
"This is because Muslims are taught all kinds of
weird things about our Scripture. For them to see and understand its message is
often an awakening which leads to openness to the Lord Jesus Christ.
"I have seen not only individual Muslims become
Christians as a result of reading the NT, but have also seen a demographic
attitude shift in a people group as a result of a long term, mass distribution
of the New Testament and the Jesus film."
Right on!
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