AL-ZAWAHRI CONDEMS ROBERTSON

TV Evangelist Ayman al-Zawahri

Pakistan/Afghan Border, (WPI) - Ayman al-Zawahri, Osama Bin Laden’s currently recognized “Number 2 Man," condemned the call for the US to assassinate Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson.

Appearing on the intermittently broadcast “2 Billion Club" Ayman al-Zawahri denounced Robertson’s comments as, “bizarre and provocative.”

“This is exactly the kind of religious zeal that is threatening the world today!” Al-Zawahri stated. “Religious fundamentalism in the western world has taken a dangerous turn. It is threatening to peace and stability globally.”

On Monday, Robertson told his Christian Broadcast Network's ''The 700 Club'' audience: “You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he (President Chavez) thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it,'' Robertson said. ''It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don't think any oil shipments will stop.''


Robertson’s comments came during a segment of the show called, “Building Christ's Peace on Earth.” The segment generally covers international news and incorporates Robertson’s religious counseling. The “Building Peace” segment comes after “Christian Actions in Today’s World” section and before “How to Activate Jesus’s Love in Your Life” segments.

Robertson added, “We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator,'' he continued. ''It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with.''

During his program Al-Zawahri reminded his roughly 1.5 million viewers that this is not the first time Robertson has called for assassination. Last spring, on news of Supreme Court Judge Sandra Day O’Conner’s resignation, Robertson publicly prayed for “more openings on the Supreme Court.” Appointment to the United States Supreme Court is for life. Commenting later Judge O’Conner said, “I’d heard the rumors circulating in fundamentalist Christian networks. I admit it played a part in my decision.”

Al-Zawahri, an Islamic cleric spoke during the “Allah Loves All Who Love Peace” segment of his broadcast. He identified Robertson as an important religious and political figure.

“This man commands an army of thousands of Christian fanatics. He owns a private television network. He owns churches and schools and universities. He has run and nearly been elected President of this fanatical nation. He is the leading breeder of Christian fundamentalist terrorists in the world!”

The US State Department took quick action to vehemently distance themselves from Robertson’s remarks and deny there was any plot to assassinate the democratically elected President of a free country in the Western Hemisphere

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, appearing at a Pentagon news conference, grinning his familiar death’s-head smile, said: ''Our department doesn't do that kind of thing. It's against the law. That’s NSC or CIA stuff, not Defense.”

Rumsfeld would not comment whether he thought that a public call for the assassination of the president of a democratic nation by a powerful political and religious leader might be characterized as a terrorist act. Appearing to dismiss the episode he said, “Pat’s a private citizen. Private citizens say all kinds of crazy things all the time.''

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack called Robertson's remarks ''inappropriate.'' He would not respond to a question asking whether the White House thought Robertson was actually just kicking off his next run for the presidency in 2008.