AMANPOUR: When you look deeper into it and you say, okay, violence is a symptom of a certain thing, there are significant powerful segments of each religion who believe absolutely that it is the right thing to do to bring religion into the seat of power, and they’re committed to changing culture and society in whatever country they find themselves. Islam, I suppose, is the most prominent because of some of the world events, but also the rise of political Christianity if you like, the existence of political Judaism in Israel in terms of how certain aspects influence the political debate and shape the politics and culture.
RUSH: Right, right, right. But then Larry King said to Christiane Amanpour, ‘But how much does the Israeli-Palestinian situation affect the Muslim situation, affect the Christian opinion, when they all intermingle here?’
AMANPOUR: The war that exists in Israel and the occupied territories is a powerful recruiting tool for those disaffected in the Islamic world. There is absolutely no doubt about that. But also right now another powerful recruiting tool is the Bush administration and the war in Iraq.
RUSH: Oh, yeah, it had to be.
AMANPOUR: It’s equaled or surpassed, at the moment, the pool of recruits for those who would come into terrorism and who would do America harm. The challenge for America and for American leadership is to get that back, to reclaim its values, to reclaim its position in global society and to be able to once again be considered the exporter of great and valuable morals and values.
RUSH: There you go, Christiane Amanpour on CNN, it’s the Bush administration causing Muslim extremism. How predictable. Is it any wonder that this network is losing viewers? One more. Larry King says to Christiane Amanpour — (laughing) — ‘Christiane, is religion a failure?’
AMANPOUR: It depends what you mean by success or failure. I would say that it’s a struggle —
KING: The world is in chaos, they’ve been preaching this for hundreds of years.
AMANPOUR: The world is in a very, very serious and dangerous state.
RUSH: Always is.
AMANPOUR: The figures show that most of the civil wars right now are fought about religion, and that there is —
KING: God’s in every war, right?
AMANPOUR: Yeah, and increasingly so.
RUSH: God’s in every war, right? Yes, increasingly so. The world’s always been a dangerous place. So there you have it: religion is a failure; Bush created Muslim extremism. Thank you, courtesy CNN. I want to play for you our favorite Christiane Amanpour moment. This is March 29th of 2002 on the now-defunct program Inside Politics. She interviewed General Yasser Arafat on the phone. He was live from his compound bunker. Amanpour says, ‘Secretary of state Colin Powell has spoken to you, I understand. He’s also spoken publicly, called on you to rein in the violence. What do you make of that statement?’
ARAFAT: You’re a wonderful journalist. You have to respect your profession.
AMANPOUR: Mr. Arafat, I’m asking you simply a question.
ARAFAT: No, you have to be…
AMANPOUR: Are you able to rein in the violence?
ARAFAT: You have to be accurately when you are speaking with General Yasser Arafat. Be quiet! (gunshots)
AMANPOUR: Mr. Arafat, what did you make of Colin Powell’s statement?
ARAFAT: You are covering with such questions these terrorist activities of the Israeli occupation and the Israeli crimes. Be fair not to make these fatal mistakes.
AMANPOUR: Can I ask…
ARAFAT: Thank you. Bye-bye. click
RUSH: Had to hang up there because of the gunfire, folks. (Laughing.)