You’ll forgive me for calling journalists infantile and moronic but it is hard to read the sort of preening and fawning praise of a murderer that they presented here.
He then explained he was more than willing to discuss anything we wished, ranging from a captive Israeli soldier to the peace process to U.S. foreign policy.
The still abducted Israeli soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, was a key part of the interview, and Meshaal was more than willing to talk about him.
“We did not blackmail Israel, and we gave free information to Gilad Shalit’s father and his family that Gilad Shalit is still alive. When he asked us to bring him a medical glasses for his sight, we did so as humanitarian duty. We treat Gilad Shalit in a humanitarian way that is in line with the Palestinians’ morals,” he said.
Why didn’t CNN ask him to clarify what he considers blackmail to be. Would it involve threatening to murder a captive if your demands are not met. This is so much claptrap and nonsense. But it is not as ridiculous as what follows.
Robertson began to ask about Hamas’ view of the United States and the Bush administration’s foreign policy. Suddenly, Meshaal hinted at a potential shift in Hamas’ policy toward Israel. The slightest chance of change, of course, depends on events, according to the Hamas leader.
“Hamas changed a lot and great efforts have been made to conform with the realistic positions of Palestinians and Arabs. When Hamas says with other Palestinians forces that we demand for a Palestinian country as the border was back in 1967. Isn’t this a development change?” he said.
You’d think that at this point CNN would be smart enough to ask if this means that Hamas has amended its charter. You know that little document that states:
“There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.”
Unfortunately it appears that they did not do so. All they did was nod and smile and provide a platform for a terrorist leader to spout off doctrine. Apparently they were too impressed to think.
Shortly after the interview began, the room filled up with his guards and those that work with Meshaal. They wanted to hear what he had to say as much as we did. In the middle of the interview, one of his guards handed him a cell phone. He had a brief conversation and apologized to us for the interruption.
“Who was that?” I asked one of my contacts.
The answer: “A very powerful Arab leader.”
That sounds like a version of an old sales trick. Gee Mrs. Jones I’d sure like to sell you this house, but as you just heard me say, there are at least three offers for this house. I call bullshit. Don’t tell me that it is a powerful Arab leader unless you can prove it. CNN made a mistake by not holding his feet to the fire about this.
And it just gets worse.
I must say it’s difficult to truly enjoy your coffee when you know you’re about to go to a place run by Hamas to meet a man who at any moment could be killed by Israel.
Did they not see what happened in Gaza. Did they not hear about the war between Hamas and Fatah. All they can do is worry that Israel might try to execute the murderer of innocents.
Watch him use the journalists to spread his propaganda.
The interview with Meshaal lasted around 90 minutes, but it seemed to fly by far faster.
He discussed the role of Saudi Arabia and how Hamas’ relationship plays into wider regional politics, as well as his wish to speak to the West, to have peace talks and be invited to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice next month. He spoke of mistakes he believes the Americans have made — especially not backing the Hamas government in Gaza, which was democratically elected — and much, much more.
They never bother to question. They just accept his propaganda and feed it to the world. Somewhere Meshaal is smiling like the cat who ate the canary.
This just disgusts me. They should be embarrassed to have been so easily duped. It is just shameful.
Saladin,
I don’t want editorializing. I want questions. I want hard questions- of all governments.
I understand your question about defining terrorism, but I find the comparison between the governments and terrorist groups you listed to be misguided.
Hamas, AQ, etc all intentionally attack civilians. The same is not true of the others.
All they did was report the things the guy said. They do this all the times when other goverments speak. When they regurgitate statements from the US govt, the British govt, the Israeli govt, they usually do so with a minmium of editorializing. How is doing the same thing for Hamas any different? Becuase you don’t like them? Because they’re “terrorists”? Can you even define terrorist? Is it someone who uses violence to achieve political ends? Then all of the governments above have a longer “terrorist” history and higher “terrorism” body count than al-Qaeda, Hamas, Fatah and Hezbollah put together.
I dont understand why you think the call would be bullshit, it’s not like Hamas have a lack of powerful friends.
Because they want us to view them as being all powerful and they are not. They have a certain amount of power and influence, but it is not infinite.
Give terrorists the idea that they are more important than they are and you create a problem for yourself.
Yohanan,
🙂
some of us do not consider cnn a valid news source – why would you expect anything other than b(ovine) e(xcrement) from them? i think the stupid thing is to legitimize an inane verbiage spewing spawn of imbiciles like most of the mass media – versus all of us mass ignoring them…
as for masheel, dafuk ohtam!
I dont understand why you think the call would be bullshit, it’s not like Hamas have a lack of powerful friends.
But the trend in the occidental media to legitimize Hamas is sickening… We have very short memories… actually forget memories one merely needs to open a newspaper to witness the havoc they are currently inflicting on the region.
“Habib is here and he wants to speak with you. ;)”
Tell Habib to suck on my UZI.
;o)>
Mark,
Habib is here and he wants to speak with you. 😉
Michael,
Quite true.
Anon,
That is one way to put it.
Hard to argue much with a man who has a small army willing to kill you at any moment.
If you are not going to conduct a real interview all you do is serve as a P.R. hub. Not very impressive or professional.
Debbie,
Sometimes I wonder.
Misanthrope,
That is a good idea.
I would send your post to CNN. I have found that editors do take such complaints seriously.
CNN’s motto: Promote anything anti-Israel and anti-American.
Hamas is an evil organization. I hope that Israel takes them out.
Hard to argue much with a man who has a small army willing to kill you at any moment. Plus, I’m sure there were some conditions made in order to obtain this interview. 3 years to get this interview isn’t a easy thing and I’m surprised he got it in the first place.
My first impression of the Hamas leader Masheel is that of walid min gahaba. Son of bitch dog and coward. Only cowards hide in safe houses.
CNN would have to have some actual shame in order to be embarrassed.
The answer: “A very powerful Arab leader.”
Okay, as soon as we sit down, Habib, you call me from the other room…
I call bullshit too.