Keep that video handy. And whenever someone starts to tell you about wonderful Islam, and before you get to those mountains of corpses in Hindustan, some 60-70 million, and before you get to the horrible treatment meted out to non-Muslims that no doubt led to many, over time, converting to Islam only in order to escape their fate as dhimmis, begin with the video, begin with the guns to the head that made the Muslim offer that Centanni and Wiig could not refuse, and of course the video that begins with 2.256: "There is no compulsion in religion."

Posted by: Hugh at August 27, 2006 4:21 PM

The Muslims must have declared a jihad on irony meters.

Posted by: ZionistYoungster at August 27, 2006 4:23 PM

I got a different message from that video...I believe the Jihad is telling us we now only have two choices.....CONVERT OR DIE.

Posted by: storagemanager at August 27, 2006 4:34 PM

I have to thank my forbearers for accepting all types of unbearable degradation and threats for 1400 years, stubbornly refusing to convert to Islam. If it was not for them, I would have been one of the mindless drones of Allah. When I read the history of my people under Islam, all the atrocities, the outrages, the dehumanization, degradation, the rape, murder, enslavement, the unceasing defilement of God’s children and the brides of Christ, I cannot help to be overcome with gratitude to all the generations that walked in the Valley of the shadow of death so that I one day I would have the choice to abjure the bloody God of the Arabs and all his evil works...

Posted by: have_mercy at August 27, 2006 4:49 PM

Ah yes islam. "Convert peacefully OR WE WILL KILL YOU! ALALALALALALALALALALAL!"

Posted by: Bohemond_1069 at August 27, 2006 5:04 PM

Mr. Spencer, I believe you have now identified the opener for "Islam: Why the West is Losing" as a follow-on to Quixotic Media's recent production. You could then lead into the movie with some of 2006's shining moments of jihad, namely the Wallace interview with the vampire, the Mumbai bombings, and the Nasrallah ascendancy to statesmanship. The second half of the movie could highlight the finer points on the 'joys' of Islam by exploring the social and cultural 'benefits' of life in the red crescent of death. It's time to show the American people an unedited and unabridged film of the beheadings, female circumcisions, and limb amputations that define our enemy. Then, and only then, might they appreciate our enemy's determination. The producers could even have a soundtrack to the movie complete with all our favorite jihad artists: the Dixie-ho's, Barbra al-Streisand, and Kanye 'Dubya' West. I can already see Susan Sarandon opening the envelope in 2008 for best documentary of 2007.. "And the winner is...."

Posted by: MadrassasippiBurnin at August 27, 2006 5:09 PM

Centanni and the other journalists realize that if they are to stay in the region and keep reporting the terrorists still DO have a gun to their heads, since they could be abducted again or killed if they speak out against islam. Also since they were probably captured with their passports, driver's licenses, personal papers, etc., the terrorists now know where they live, their families addresses, etc., putting their lives in jeopardy also. "Religion of Peace" my hairy Red White and Blue arse!

Posted by: Bohemond_1069 at August 27, 2006 5:09 PM

Both knowing that forced conversion, practiced openly and widely in Islam, violates US constitution, is Dubya still going to parrot 'Izlum is the Religion of Peace'? Is this the 'benevolence (sic) in the heart of Islam', Condi was referring to? But then, what can we expect from a president/comander-in-chief, sold-out to Wahabi wealth and an ignorant secretaty of state?

Posted by: Alert at August 27, 2006 5:18 PM

I got a different message from that video...I believe the Jihad is telling us we now only have two choices.....CONVERT OR DIE.

Posted by: storagemanager at August 27, 2006 04:34 PM

However subtle, convert or die is EXACLY the message from the barbaric cult. One wonders of the billions of muslims, how many joined the cult under the barrel of the gun?

Posted by: Alert at August 27, 2006 5:22 PM

Well after watching that I will not eat again today...

I often wonder when some event will wake up the West totally to the fact that Islam is incompatable with core values of society?

I pray for those two idiots for their acceptance of that evil in their soul! Even if it was a forced conversion...

Oh well I guess I will go out and forcable convert someone to Catholocism... Maybe I will be a street preacher in Riyhad :)

Posted by: Weatherob at August 27, 2006 5:23 PM

Well after watching that I will not eat again today...

I often wonder when some event will wake up the West totally to the fact that Islam is incompatable with core values of society?

I pray for those two idiots for their acceptance of that evil in their soul! Even if it was a forced conversion...

Oh well I guess I will go out and forcablye convert someone to Catholocism... Maybe I will be a street preacher in Riyhad :)

Posted by: Weatherob at August 27, 2006 5:24 PM

This video and news report should be viewed as another piece of evidence about the ugly truth about islam, which contradicts itself so many times, it is nothing but a big, fat LIE.

Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at August 27, 2006 5:41 PM

The comments have been disabled on youtube for that video for some reason. I've never seen that happen .
Anyone explain?

Posted by: dhimmiwit at August 27, 2006 5:41 PM

Journalists, especially foreign correspondants, are pretty much all liberal, anti-American leftists in any case. So converting to islam probably aligns their sympathies more genuinely than if they had stayed Catholic or whatever their baptised faith was.

Those journalists would kill their first born just to get a scoop. Imagine what they would do to save their lives? And if saving their lives means they have to denounce America, then for them that is two birds with one stone.

Congrats, Steve.

Wait a minute....was that Steve ... MARTIN??

Posted by: August22 at August 27, 2006 5:42 PM

Most likely because the comments part has been disabled because of concerns of possible cyberterror threats from any muslims. It would not surprise me if that was the case.

Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at August 27, 2006 5:44 PM

The foxNews video has one of the wives reading a well scripted diatribe to placate the terrorists , the poor diluted woman being forced to read an apology for Hamas and the Palestinians that allow Islamists to run their society.

There is no way this woman could have written that lengthy statement and typed it up for the media appearence where she had little emotional transference like valid family members that are relieved of the good news that the person kidnapped is Ok, this whole report stinks and we will hear from CAIR about the video being Un-Islamic and a perverted practise of the true Peaceful teaching in the Quran and by Muhammad.

Posted by: ala-sux at August 27, 2006 5:44 PM

Re: "Centanni, I can't help but notice, looks a bit like Johnny Carson reading a script from a bad Karnak the Magnificent routine....."

http://www.papineaufamily.com/paul/Holidays/Egypt/karnak.htm

http://www.randi.org/images/092702-CarsonTurban.jpg

Posted by: Frank at August 27, 2006 5:45 PM

Re: "Centanni, I can't help but notice, looks a bit like Johnny Carson reading a script from a bad Karnak the Magnificent routine....."

http://www.papineaufamily.com/paul/Holidays/Egypt/karnak.htm

http://www.randi.org/images/092702-CarsonTurban.jpg

Posted by: Frank at August 27, 2006 5:46 PM

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=BrotherAbdul

Posted by: Frank at August 27, 2006 6:07 PM

Whatever they had to say to get out of their situation is okay. I would never hold it against them. I would like to think I could stick to my faith in Jesus and "fight the good fight" until my last breath. But the truth is, you'd be scared and miss your family. It's one thing to have all the bravado from the comfort of your home and it's another to have a rifle pointed at your head and know that you may be killed any moment. I hope these two guys get plenty of support. We'll see what their story is and how they feel once they are back in the USA.

Posted by: SpongeMom at August 27, 2006 6:11 PM

Rasool alShaytan
"WE ARE THE RELIGION OF PEACE,AND WE WILL KILL YOU TO PROVE IT..."
This is so true of the Death Cult.Reckon the Leftie Journos might be asking themselves a few questions too-are the Palestinians really the victims they make themselves out to be especially to gullible Western Media-and yes,I'VE LEARNT TO BE AFRAID OF ISLAM ESPECIALLY WITH A GUN AT MY HEAD.
Had an E Mail from Rev Clifford yesterday. Says there are Muslims in Britain walking around with stickers which read: "You have your Queen-we have your Country." How's that for arrogance?

Posted by: Morgane at August 27, 2006 6:13 PM

Well,well.....when called upon to stand up for his faith, or face death, Centanni did the easy thing......he caved. It's no wonder the mujahadin like to pull this act....... no one seems to have enough faith, or courage, to stand up to them.

They will keep on unless we all "get it". This is a TEST, people.

Posted by: n.a. palm at August 27, 2006 6:16 PM

Bunglawallah has another piece in the Guardian 'comments are free' section.

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/inayat_bunglawala/2006/08/an_honest_debate.html

He is getting a real canning. Surprisingly for Guardian readers, they have caught onto Islam.

I have gone through about half the comments, and apart from a couple, the rest are openly hostile to Bunglawalla or to Islam itself.

A quote from one Guardian commentator

Are you getting the message yet, Inayat? You've blown it! We see through your implicit threats. We know they are part of your goal - shared with the violent jihadis - to islamise us. We admit it took a while for the penny to drop, but even here at the Guardian we now understand your agenda.

Take a look folks. Unbelievable stuff.

MrRobert Spencer

You will be surprised to hear that your new book on Mohammed is getting a plug in this section, ith a link to Amazon - a Guardian section of all places.

Posted by: DP111 at August 27, 2006 6:25 PM

Looks like Steve and Olaf came up with their own brand of taqqiya. I think most of us would probably have done the same thing. The point is, they are free now. Although I doubt it, interviews conducted by Centanni with so-called Moderate muslim leaders like CAIR and whoever else would be VERY interesting television. Perhaps Ibrahim Hooper would like to explain certain aspects of Centanni's abduction to Centanni himself. Maybe hooper would like to explain why coverting to islam may have won his release. If he doesn't do such a thing and maintains that islam is "interesting" and "beautiful" then I would agree that this IS stockholm syndrome.

Many great men have come from tragedy. Look at David Walsh, from America's Most Wanted. The decapitation of his son's head lead to one of the greatest institutions in America leading to the arrest and conviction of hundreds of criminals. If Centanni or Wiig do not come out and decry islam, then their release from the terrorists would be pointless.

Posted by: Tomilio at August 27, 2006 6:31 PM

SpongeMom,
Whatever they had to say to get out of their situation is their own personal issue. Whether or not they stuck to their faith is again their own problem. However, the things that were said afterwards are very important. Will any misunderstanding Infidels believe his ROP/You will be treated well speech? I bet there will, and then some family will be missing someone. He knew what he was getting into and is paid well for it. As a reporter he has mislead his audience and that is a disgrace.

Posted by: tgusa at August 27, 2006 6:33 PM

Muslims blow themselves and others up for their faith in a false moon god.

We should pray that Christians in the West become strong enough in faith to die for Jesus if the day requires it...

Posted by: The Goobs at August 27, 2006 6:39 PM

Again, I wish to stress I view his conversion and any other statements under captivity as being OK in my book. The will to live isn't weak.

But, after being kidnapped, after having millions pray for your safety(millions over hear that is), after having being told by Jennifer Griffen et al how peacefull, loving the Palis are, after FOX crews risking their lives in Gaza--including, I might add, a Jewish Israeli who risked his life to 'negotiate, after being held at gunpoint for two weeks, after being mauled, threatened, made to convert at gunpoint, used and abused . . . .

After all this, you claim to have learned a lot about Islam, how great Islam is, how beautifull the Pali people are, how well they treated you, how much they deserve theIR story be told(let me stress that in the obscene-HOW MUCH THEY DESERVE THEIR STORY BE TOLD). REALLY, STEVE. All that upon entering Israel, safe from captivity, after your close up with the Hamas chief, who, no doubt, had nothing to do with Olaf and your's guestship. What a freaking joke.

A distinction needs to be made what is said under captivity and what is said after the guests leave! Or maybe I'm missing something. Honestly, Steve's most offensive comments occured well after his release. Maybe a flickering of where his heart is. After all, who would want to live in Gaza, telling all kinds of stories.

Just out of curiosity, the Palis are beautifull, Islam means peace, Beds and Breakfasts with wonderful, beautifull people. Are the Jews also lovely? I laughed as I asked my wife this today? And how about the Christians? Are they beautifull people too?

Posted by: biorabbi at August 27, 2006 6:40 PM

We should also pray that the Israeli's stand strong with so much evil surrounding them.

P.S. biorabbi...the Jews ARE beautiful people too! :o)

Posted by: The Goobs at August 27, 2006 6:44 PM

Pali Vacation Blitz!!!

Come to the wonderful Gaza Strip to dine with wonderful people!
Find out how many way Islam means peace!
Observe the thriving economy and bistros lining the sea!
Stay at the many 'guest houses' with a free Pali breakfast!
Play the endlessly fun 'kill the Jew.'
Get your own faux 'suicide belt video' complete with free DVD.
Watch those zany Palis 'blast through' the Egyptian crossing.
On a beautiful night, watch the fun: dismembering the collaborater.

Yes, for the new low, low price of $ 72 dollars per night, you too can vacation in Gaza; home of the most hospitable, beautifull people Pali people and, inshallah, you'll live to tell their story's to Western audiences.

Posted by: biorabbi at August 27, 2006 6:46 PM

"Take a look folks. Unbelievable stuff.

MrRobert Spencer

You will be surprised to hear that your new book on Mohammed is getting a plug in this section, ith a link to Amazon - a Guardian section of all places.
Posted by: DP111"

......I've gotta stop smoking that unbelievable stuff...........I'm hallucinating again.

Posted by: dhimmiwit at August 27, 2006 6:48 PM

OT except to RasoolShaytan

I just viewed your website, although I just briefly skimmed through it, I have to admit I liked it. I loved the way you played on the martyr theme with the rifle and the American flag. Nothing like changing their own propaganda and using it against them. Consider doing more of it, show the original picture next to an American version, it would do much to discredit their propaganda and you can always tell the muslims “hey I’m just returning the favor”. I would just use pictures that make it into our own press, visiting muslim websites might get you a visit from the feds, or your system hacked. Also always place the hatemailers email address with the letter (someone may write them back).

Posted by: Ronin at August 27, 2006 6:49 PM

Steve Centanni(AKA Cislammi) upon entering Israel--after his release from the guest house:

"I just hope this never scares a single journalist away from coming to Gaza to cover this story because the Palestinian people are very beautiful, kind-hearted, loving people who the world need to know more about and so do not be discouraged. Come and tell the story. It's a wonderful story."

He then refused questions and entered Israel. I'm told the chief Rabbi just picked him up and he's set to have his 'forced briss' followed by Krepalch soup and Matzah Ball soup. A video is soon to come out with Steve and Olaf in Hassidic garb rapping to the Hava Nagila. You have to admit, it's such a joke and funny actually in a sick sort of way.

What was that line in The Blues Brothers(sure to be repeated by Roger Ailles secretary): "There's two guys who look like Sephardic Jews standing out here."

Yes, tell the story; a wonderful story about a beautiful, kind-hearted, loving people who the world need to know more about!

Posted by: biorabbi at August 27, 2006 6:56 PM

"Muslims blow themselves and others up for their faith in a false moon god.

We should pray that Christians in the West become strong enough in faith to die for Jesus if the day requires it..."
Posted by: The Goobs

Where's Naseem when we need her?

Posted by: dhimmiwit at August 27, 2006 6:57 PM

I've just coined a new term for journalists interested in telling a wonderful story about a beautiful, kind-hearted, loving people:

Islamojournalists. LOL. Hey, it's ok to laugh--nobody got there head chopped off(this time).

Posted by: biorabbi at August 27, 2006 6:57 PM

I imagine Naseem is racking her brains trying to figure her way around the "no compulsion" problem.

Posted by: freewoman at August 27, 2006 7:01 PM

Twenty years ago I asked myself, could the media do anything to make itself more craven. The answer was no, they'd hit rock-bottom and were bottom feeders.

The lack of embarrassment and apology from Steve and Olag only reaffirms what I knew so long ago.

The Palestinian people are very beautiful kind-hearted people... their story needs to be told.

Steve, you're a dumbass. Shut up and retire, please.

Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at August 27, 2006 7:02 PM

Why can't the Arabs just go back to worshipping the Sun-God, Ra? Now that they worship the moon-God, they no longer build pyramids, or anything really...

Not the same people. The arabs that live thewre now are invaders.

I know I would not have converted to islam. It says in the Word of God not to fear those who can kill your body, fear Him who can destroy your soul. To accept allah is spiritual death. The Mark.

Posted by: Carolyn2 at August 27, 2006 7:17 PM

The things they lay claim to building tend to be lies. They have never discovered, built or preserved anything....apart from their beloved black meteorite on the corner of the kaab in mecca.

Posted by: dhimmiwit at August 27, 2006 7:18 PM

I'm glad Centanni is OK. I hope he remembers that he used Western political capital to save his neck.

I think he owes us a prime time special where he renounces Islam and shines a light on its true teachings. He has the world stage.

Posted by: limes at August 27, 2006 7:25 PM

OK, they converted, No sweat, now they dis-convert upon arrival to CONUS.

Not so fast. Since now they are now islamonuts, they are under a death sentance if they revert to a non psycho religion.

If they travel or try to work in an islamonut area, they are open to attack by any islamonut.

Not so simple, now is it. These savages have a method to their madness....

Posted by: infidel! at August 27, 2006 7:43 PM

It is on the Fox site.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,210645,00.html
"We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint," Centanni told FOX News. "Don't get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it, but it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns, and we didn't know what the hell was going on."

He apparently didn't hear about true islam.

Posted by: Carolyn2 at August 27, 2006 7:46 PM

"I want to thank everybody. I am happy to be here. I hope that this never scares a single journalist away from coming to Gaza to cover the story because the Palestinian people are very beautiful and kind hearted," Centanni told reporters. "The world needs to know more about them. Don't be discouraged."

Except when they hold guns to your head, and threaten to cut your head off↑

Posted by: Carolyn2 at August 27, 2006 7:50 PM

"This video and news report should be viewed as another piece of evidence about the ugly truth about islam"

But it's not about the ugly truth of Islam; it's about the ugly truth of a "tiny minority of extremists" who have "hijacked" that "great and noble religion of peace".

The PC Multiculturalist template will not change, no matter how much data like this comes out. Can't you guys see this?

Posted by: remote_control at August 27, 2006 7:57 PM

Ok, I’m confused here, who is Halec / Yaco? And how do we address them, Halec al Centanni or perhaps Yaco Olaf(is this some kind of joke?).

Posted by: tgusa at August 27, 2006 8:03 PM

Abu Centanni-
How long will it take until you realize that the terror never stops? Unless, of course, you have gone to the dark side, in which case, how long will it be until you engage in a little terror theatrics yourself?

Posted by: crusader rabbit at August 27, 2006 8:17 PM

Have a look at the comments thread in the Guardian. It wouldnt surprise me in the least if the Guardian removed it from its pages altogether once they wake up to it.

Posted by: DP111 at August 27, 2006 8:22 PM

The conversion is nonsense. I'm sure Centanni would have dedicated his life to the Flying Spagetti Monster to be released. Notice how his only concern was reminding people that the "palestinian people" still needed foreign journos to tell the story?

I'm just glad the two guys got out of that situation. Now, what about the Israeli soldiers who were kidnapped? Do they get to do a fake conversion so they can go home?

Posted by: rafael699 at August 27, 2006 8:40 PM

slam is the Arabic version of the mob. Mohammed was like Tony Soprano, except with a beard, turban and schimitar.

More correct than you realize.

Siciliy: Home of the Mafia.

Sicily: Invaded and conquered by Muslims, who were allowed to stay on after being conquered by the Normans.

mafia n. A word that means union etymology Arabic maehfil also meaning union.

Jizyah: (not a poll tax but) Protection money paid to continue to live.

Posted by: Nariz at August 27, 2006 8:51 PM

Storemanager: No, we have three choices: convert, die, or beat them. I hope the third is won when they convert voluntarily after seeing what a Satanic lie their religion is; but it may just be that the only possible solution to a Jihadist state is giving it the Chinghiz Khan or Timur-e-lang treatment--when you take one of their cities, lock the minorities in their ghettoes until after you've killed everything in the majority quarters taller than the wheel of a jeep.

Posted by: Kepha at August 27, 2006 9:07 PM

How will Steve Centanni's objectivity in reporting be affected by his ordeal, now that he has gained "the highest respect for Islam" at the point of a gun? I noticed that he pretty much disrespected it by running as fast as he could to Israel. He is free by the grace of God, and now has an obligation to report the truth about the submission cult and its detrimental effects on human civilization. His purpose on earth has been revealed. Do the right thing, Steve. Welcome back to the good side of the world.

Posted by: Kreuzueber Halbmond at August 27, 2006 9:12 PM

Yes, of course we're all glad these men lived. But they have no honor. Compare these men to the Sunday school teachers in Indonesia, jailed and faced with death for teaching neighbor children. Compare these strong men to the school girls beheaded for their faith, again in Indonesia. Many are the Christians who die for their faith. Obviously these men were faithless. Strong, famous, and totally without faith.

Posted by: ljm at August 27, 2006 9:12 PM

I repost my posting from Jihad Summer Camp.

It may not have the elequence and grammatical construction of many of our more informed poster.

But tis my heartfelt opinion,

Yeah that old bastion of morality and civilty espoused by the Perfect Man ....the religion of Peace called ISLAM !!
Still it continues to dazzle and amaze the world with its contributions to humankind....

Take any European Town and watch how it decays when they obtain a majority.......they remind me of a flock of vultures forever scavenging and moving on.
They scavenge off our fears, freedoms , our social security ,our health service and still whinge and whine.

They are intolerant of all other cultures around them and systematically drive all who are different away.

When they cannot scavenge off of us they bicker and prey among one and other.

I ask myself why do we allow this continued abasement of our Countries , Cities , Culture and Populace.....I really dont get it !!

They wont be satisfied with destroying Israel ...
nor with clearing the Middle East of all dhimmis
or with equality in the countries of their immigration..they want to pick our bones clean
till we are all converted , cowed or dead.

This crisis around the world is very simple in my
non machiavellian mind.....

It is simply a fight for the survival of what it intrinsically Good or Evil , right or wrong

If we believe our way of life is tolerant , altruistic and benevolent to all who try and obey the simple premise of the rule of law and civil liberties. We must at times be prepared to defend these at all costs.

We do not wish to trash their way of life but we should defend ours AT ANY COST otherwise what have we become ....I for one refuse to be carrion what about You ??

Posted by: Kelticman at August 27, 2006 9:26 PM

Obviously these men were faithless. Strong, famous, and totally without faith.

Posted by: ljm at August 27, 2006 09:12 PM

Good observation, I mean.. how can one trust Khalid any more? Besides, these men can track back saying they were 'forced' to say such and such a thing. They can flip and flop whichever way the wind blows. Like you say, without faith.

Posted by: Alert at August 27, 2006 9:27 PM

I've tried to find an eloquent way of expressing myself about islam. All I can come up with is fuck mohammed and the camel he rode in on.

Posted by: uradumone at August 27, 2006 9:45 PM

Did anyone read Jill Carroll's harrowing account of her kidnapping and captivity? It is available at www.sfgate.com (The SF Chronicle site) or at www.csmonitor.com (the Christian Science Monitor site).

Incidently, many took her wearing the hijab upon her release as a sign of stockholm syndrome. In reality, it was simple fear. She was told that she was being watched, and that one wrong step and they would kill her. She did realize that this claim was unlikely, but after being in fear of her life for weeks, she was terrified even after her release until she could leave Iraq.

She was also under intense pressure to convert. Even the very gentle and earnest Carroll gets a bit sarcastic here:

(from the article) "He kept saying there was no pressure, no pressure in Islam, that they were forbidden from forcing people to convert. True acceptance must come from a free will.

They'd kidnapped me, and they all had guns ready to kill me, but, oh no, no pressure there."

I disagree vehemently with mostt of what Centanni and Wiig have said about the situation in the Middle East, but I *do not* blame them for "converting" under threat of death.

I'm just glad to see them safe. Look at the people who have been abducted or killed recently by Jihadis--sympathetic journalists, Olympic committee members, high tech workers, day laborers, bakers--in other words, almost anyone who is actually trying to make these dysfunctional societies work, in whatever small way.

Posted by: gravenimage at August 27, 2006 9:47 PM

It reminded me a little of the Jill Carrol story too. Carrol said that when she was released, even though her body was free, it still felt like her mind was a prisoner.

ljm,
It's hard to put yourself in the same situation. What if you saw Nick Berg getting his head sawed off and they said you were next? Many on this board would indeed die before uttering an oath to Allah. And that's a good thing, because we've got to stick to our guns. But I don't fault anyone who cracks under the pressure. As the POWs used to say, everyone has different thresholds of pain. And what if they weren't going to shoot you, but instead were going to kill one of your children or spouse right before your eyes?

Posted by: SpongeMom at August 27, 2006 10:20 PM

The comments by Centanni and Wiig after they were freed were deplorable. They were full of misplaced gratitude to assorted local Arabs (i.e. "Palestinians), and Haniya and other bigshots were around to greet them, to embrace them, to make sure that under no conditions would anyone think such a thing as this kidnapping and the forced conversion -- my god, those "Palestinians" are thinking, this could be very bad for us, what if Westerners start thinking of us as....as Muslim Arabs, disguising the Jihad against Israel as a "struggle for the legitimate rights of the 'Palestinian' people." That would be terrible. We must do everything we can, as quickly as we can, to stop that idea.

And of course we will thoroughly condemn, with as great a mock outrage as we can muster, that forced even if ephemeral conversion. In Muslim states, without the cameras of the world press whirring, forced conversions occur all the time. Ask the Christian and animist blacks in the southern Sudan, or the Hindus of Bangladesh and Pakistan, or any number of helpless non-Muslims trapped, and with no one to pay attention, deep within Muslim countries.

Wiig's wife began her little presentation with an "inshallah" -- my, how native we all go with such alacrity, and how quickly the two of them seemed to forget, or at least Centanni did, what had actually happened, expressing his firm believe that it would be a pity if other journalists were to be frightened off from covering the story -- their side of the story, in Gaza.

Disgust. One hopes they will be never again be allowed to cover any Muslim-related subject, and that the display they put on, after being freed, so unnatural, so full of stockholm-syndrome syndrome (diplography sometimes comes in handy), and that along with the scandal of how so many journalists and press agencies covered the Hezbollah War, not forgetting the fauxtographic record, that Western audiences will treat with skepticism, and scorn, all those who report knowing full well what would happen to them if they failed, in the slightest, to play ball and please to the utmost the Arab Muslim side -- the side that kidnaps, and then sometimes frees, but also has been known, on many occasions, to kidnap, torture, and then end with a decapitatory flourish.

Nothing reported from an Arab or Muslim area of conflict can, given such a record, be simply received as offered -- it must be analyzed and the contents weighed against other evidence that we possess.

Posted by: Hugh at August 27, 2006 10:28 PM

GRAVENIMAGE: "I disagree vehemently with mostt of what Centanni and Wiig have said about the situation in the Middle East, but I *do not* blame them for "converting" under threat of death."

I don't think anyone is blaming them for the forced conversion. It is a non-issue. But their comments after release were unconscienable.

Among other things, if in the months ahead, a Western reporter is kidnapped in Gaza and either suffers a long ordeal or is killed - a distinct possibility, both Centani and Wiig will have some soul-searching to do.

Posted by: Cornelius at August 27, 2006 10:50 PM

In an otherwise excellent article about Protestant and evangelical Christians in the U.S., Walter Russell Mead (in the Sept/Oct., 2006 Foreign Affairs) says:

Both Islam and evangelicalism are democratic religions without a priesthood or hierarchy.

That's a bit of a leap: no priesthood, therefore "democratic."

If Islam is democratic, why do all the main schools of Islamic law make the punishment for dropping Islam death, following the words of Muhammad (see for example Bukhari 9:64, 9:17, 9:58)? If Islam is democratic, why did Muhammad say there could only be one religion on the Arabian peninsula? If Islam is democratic, why does it unite religion and state, following the example set by Muhammad?

Why did Islam in Islamic Spain forbid the building or repair of churches and synagogues, why did Islam require Spanish non-Muslims to wear special identifying clothing and to move to the side of the road if a Muslim approached? Why did Spanish non-Muslims in Andalusia have to give up their seats to Muslims, and receive a blow to the face on paying the non-Muslim religious tax? Why were non-Muslims in Islamic Spain legal inferiors in courts of law, their testimony not legally equal to that of Muslims? Why were non-Muslims subject to so many forms of discrimination if Islam is "democratic?" I take Islamic Spain as example because it is often mythologized as some kind of multicultural paradise. But if you look at the details of the scholarship, you find out it was like Jim Crow for non-Muslims, with this difference: the anti-black apartheid society called Jim Crow was temporary, but Islamic supremicism is considered by the great majority of Muslim clerics to be eternally valid because the Quran is considered the verbatim words of the eternal "Allah."

If Islam is democratic, why does "Allah" in chapter 9 of the Quran repeatedly advocate violence against and subordination of non-Muslims (see for example Quran 9:5, 9:29, and 9:123)? If Islam is "democratic," why has democracy fared less well in the Islamic world than in any other region, according to the stats at Freedom House?

If Islam is democratic, why does the Quran contain verses promoting totalitarian world domination by Islam (for example, 2:193 and 9:033)? And why does the Quran tell Muslims not to take non-Muslims as friends, except for deceptive purposes, in order to strengthen the Muslim strategic position? Why is Islam the only major religion with a doctrine like jihad, which entails war against non-Muslims globally?

If Islam is democratic, why does the Quran say that the purpose of human beings is only to serve "Allah" (not to imitate divine creativity and freedom). If Islam is democratic, why is the chief value of Islam "submission" to God (the word "Islam" is only indirectly related to the word "peace," and in fact means "submission," not "peace.")

Conversely, why does "love" play such a puny role in the Quran? I've read every Quran verse that uses the word "love" and I checked three different Quran translations.

Love is central to the quest for freedom and democracy, because strictly speaking, love cannot be commanded from without, it can only come freely from within. (As Bonnie Raitt put it, "I can't make you love me...")

Read the "love" verses in the Quran. There is only a single one that even hints at any of the spiritual profundity or inwardness of love and its meaning. All the other "love" verses are really about how to avoid displeasing the potentate "Allah," about what services and actions he "loves" or "does not love." Often, one could substitute the word "like." Allah likes this, Allah doesn't like that. Be afraid, be very afraid of displeasing Allah.

What you will find in the Quran is that, on average, about every twelve verses the torments and horrors of hell are referred to, sometimes in remarkably sadistic detail, including burning iron prods. The frequent repetition of terrors -- and no other major religion comes even close to Islam and the Quran in terms of the repetition of the threats and horrors of hell -- such repetition does not conduce to freedom and democracy, but to fear and terror of religious authoritarians. And in that respect, Islam far and away takes the cake among all the "great" religions.

"Democratic" my eye. Mead must be missing one.

Posted by: traeh at August 27, 2006 11:21 PM

Translation: "Believe in allah the merciful and this wonderful religion of peace, and in mohammed the preverted murdering terrorist or I will kill you."

What an appeal islam has...believe or die. Now that is enticing, isn't it? Makes you want to run over to the nearest mosque and beg some of these upstanding citizens and human beings to tell you how to become a muslim.

mohammed kills...Jesus saves...who's your daddy?

Posted by: angryeagle at August 27, 2006 11:41 PM

I wonder whether these new Fox Muslims grasp that if they now "unconvert," millions of Muslims will consider them fair targets for the apostasy penalty: death.

Posted by: traeh at August 27, 2006 11:46 PM

ala-sux, take a minute to go and read the comments on this thread, please?

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/012883.php

Posted by: libbysmom at August 27, 2006 11:59 PM

This is not the first time NZ has recently featured in this way.

A speech by Harmeet Sooden is reported today from the University of Auckland News:

PEACE BE WITH YOU

Around 60 people attended the Interfaith Prayer for Peace held at the MacLaurin Chapel this month, including Harmeet Sooden, who was taking hostage for four months in Iraq while working there with the Christian Peacemakers Team.

http://www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/about/news/publications/universitynews/issues/2006/15/news/peace.cfm

28 August 2006

Five students of different religious denominations - Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Islamic, Jewish and Christian - each lit a candle and spoke about what peace means to them. This was followed by a talk from Harmeet, currently enrolled in a masters degree in English at the University, who began his speech by expressing his discomfort at being described as a peacemaker. "Makers usually have an intimate relationship with their craft," he said. "The successful novelist, for example, generally understands the complexities of the novel form. How do I even begin to talk about the abstract notion of peace? We were four men sitting in a room."

Peace, he suggested, is a slippery concept. George W. Bush described the USA as a peaceful nation, shortly before its bombing campaign of Afghanistation in 2001. Henry Kissinger, who initiated a bombing campaign in Cambodia, was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. The atomic bomb was described as a "weapon of peace". He had to take such definitions as seriously as the Martin Luther King’s definition: "True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice."

"I do not really know what peace is," said Harmeet. "What I do know is my experience: my direct experience in that room in Baghdad." He then paid tribute to Jim Loney, who spent much time with one of their more volatile captors, persuading him against becoming a suicide bomber.

And Tom Fox, who regularly reminded them that their current deprivations were equal to those of many people in Iraq. He also drew attention to the Iraqi human rights activists who protested for their release, and the "Hizbollah members, Lebanese Christian leaders, Palestinians and Jewish groups, and indeed people worldwide, [who] all took active responsibility for our abduction."

In the end he suggested that peace is a "many-windowed house" and peacemaking comes from a willingness to engage with the human scene in all its complexities. "This open, accessible and overarching perspective of peace crafts out of each of us the will to seek the means to act."

Posted by: MBR at August 28, 2006 2:25 AM

This second quote from the video was absolutely priceless

This decleration (sic) was aproved (sic) by them, and they accept the faith without any pressure

I partly second Hugh's opinions above, but with a caveat. They are still in Gaza, so their expressed concern about this incident scaring away other journalists should be taken with a pinch of salt. However, if they persist in their statements about the Palestinian people being wonderful, and refuse to apostate from Islam after they return, then they shouldn't cover any stories where any of the subjects is Islam. And until then, to others, please, desist from calling him Khaled.

Assuming that they apostatise once they are back, the items that Steve Centanni read out, such as

Islam is not meant for just some people, but it's the true religion for all people and for all times. Westerners are following the wrong path, and I hope they realize that and change their ways, and I hope I can help them to do that, inshallah.

If Steve reverts out of Islam, this could be a great learning experience, and all those media morons who keep insisting that the reason for this entire conflict is something other than Islam, could learn something from the above statements that he was forced to give.

Not that this is any news to us, but the fact about Islam not being a live and let live religion that can co-exist with other faiths has been proved above. Apparantly, the abductors lacked any taqiyya skills, and let the cat out of the bag, letting the media know more about their intentions than anything 100 appearances by Robert on various shows could achieve.

And even if Steve and Olaf stay Muslim, others at FNC and other places should learn from their experience, even if they don't, and stop entertaining any Muslim apologists. After all, FNC wouldn't run an Osama interview, so why entertain anything from the CAIR crowd either?

And if Olaf stays Muslim, hopefully Haidon can introduce him to his sect once the former returns.

Posted by: Infidel Pride at August 28, 2006 2:51 AM

I would have done exactly the same especially if I had a wife, kids and grandchildren. I think what for me, would be the most frustrating of the ordeal, is the fact that when I got I home, I would feel morally obliged not to give them and there cohorts the verbal middle finger, in case I brought more reporters into danger, not that it will make any diffence, as they will see that this is a great propaganda coup for there cause, and try and repeat it. The most obnoxious part of this episode is that these muslim gentlemen of indefinable parentage, will make millions for there cause. In a few days this will be on sale in the bazaars and mosques in the millions, and will be at the top of there sales charts above all of those disgusting snuff videos.

Posted by: Holger Dansker at August 28, 2006 3:38 AM

americaningermany: exactly my thought. Spiritually raped. What a primitive state much of Islam is in, that it has so little sensitivity to the difference between rape and spirituality. So strange the way violence and depradation are so integral to its message. "If he stops being a Muslim," says Muhammad, "then kill him." It really seems, among its most fervent adherents, to turn sane ethics completely upside down, sort of like the upside down ethical imperatives of a pathological criminal. How truly wierd. And how often it seems like an "evil religion" right out of central casting. Yet people insist on closing their eyes to it. It's too frightening to conceive. Muhammad created a culture with powerfully toxic or demonic currents in it.

Posted by: traeh at August 28, 2006 6:08 AM

I was wondering if ANY news media carried the actual audio?

I was watching Fox this AM when they were released, and before when the video was first released. Fox did not ever run the audio that I know of. (May say alot for them).

CNN, MSNBC,- 3 majors - AM talk-shows- anyone?

I certainly hope not. I just wonder if any will feel presured by some CAIR group to air to make a point of the propagada.

(I have not and will not hear it. Still on dial-up and hardly worth it to me.

Posted by: Grateful1 at August 28, 2006 6:53 AM

"No compulsion in religion" is just another 'nothing' statement in the Koran, like "Allah is merciful" (but he'll torment you and possibly kill you in this world and burn you in the Hereafter if you doubt even a part of the Koran) and "Mohammad is on an exhalted status of character" (68:4) (even though Mohammad raped war captives, and had sex with a child, terrorized, plundered, extorted, massacred, owned slaves, etc.).

Whenever you hear some Muslim apologist non-sense like "no compulsion in religion", ask yourself, what is the accepted Islamic definition of those words. Muslims take "no compulsion in religion" as either (a) perfectly consistent with "kill (or punish severely) those who mock or criticize Mohammad" and with verses 9:5 (convert to Islam or be killed) and 9:29 (convert to Islam or else accept dhimmitude or slavery or be killed), or (b) abrogated. That's the Islamic conception of "no compulsion in religion."

Posted by: Archimedes at August 28, 2006 8:13 AM

The comments have been disabled on youtube for that video for some reason. I've never seen that happen .
Anyone explain?
Posted by: dhimmiwit

The posters of videos seem to have the right to disable the comments to the videos they post. I've seen it happen alot, especially when someone posts video of themselves doing something dumb, and the comments call them out on their stupidity.

In this case, it is seems clear that the poster of the video was a muslim who actually, truly beleived that the videotaped "conversion" of the journos was sincere. The first four commenters called the poster out for his assinine beleif and pointed out how this is another example in an endless series of examples of Islamic stupidity, which the poster did not appreciate, so the coward disabled the comments.

Personally, I think more people need to be exposed to this video and especially given the story about the coersion, need to be able to freely air their comments to it. But I do not know how to post videos at youtube.

Now, RasoolalShaytan, you YouTube genious, if you think that this video should be posted with the freedom of comments, do you think you could post the video and give a little background in the description? And give us here the URL so we can also post in the comments?

Posted by: ryoga at August 28, 2006 8:33 AM

RasoolalShaytan, is a poster here. He is no muslim.

Posted by: Carolyn2 at August 28, 2006 11:11 AM

If you compare the video from the blog entry above:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2Sx9YCZW_g&mode=related&search=

to this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLQRAPHrHvI&NR

can see any real difference?

Posted by: A_Plague_on_Both_Houses at August 28, 2006 11:12 AM

If the Maricopa County Stasi can get a low-IQ individual to confess to a triple murder he did not commit, simply because he wanted to get out of the oppressive room and the relentless mind whipping by their detectives, can you imagine what the journalists would say with automatic weapons pointed at them for days in a dungeon?

I would agree to a belief that when I die my soul goes to a garage in Buffalo if it would gain my freedom.

Posted by: amana39 at August 28, 2006 12:30 PM

Listening to Rush this morning, he brought up this issue of their conversion, and how this is the real goal of these thugs. Now, if Rush would read up on all this, and refocus himself towards this campaign, instead of his usual crusades against Liberalism, that would be a lot helpful. Besides, given how most (although not all) of the Left sees Islam as an ally, he wouldn't have to suddenly adapt a pro-Liberal stance on issues.

Posted by: Infidel Pride at August 28, 2006 2:05 PM

Centanni and Wiig did nothing but made fools of themselves. It seems they are neither Christian or Muslim.

Posted by: Job at August 28, 2006 4:32 PM