Notably, just a month ago, Olbermann accused "neocons" of engaging in a conspiracy to ignite a new Cold War with Russia, as he theorized that they "may think terrorism is dead, at least as far as its usefulness as a weapon to frighten Americans, and they've decided to foment the return of an oldie but a goodie, that threat from those godless commu-, I'm sorry, that threat from those czarist Russians."
Both on Monday's show, and on the August 19 show, Olbermann's smear of neoconservatives came during the program's regular "Bushed!" segment during which Olbermann claims to update viewers on Bush administration scandals. On Monday, Olbermann accused President Bush and Vice President Cheney of "founding" the "Grand Old Terrorism Party," which Olbermann suggested engages in "terrorism" against American voters in an attempt to get people to vote for Republicans. Notably, Olbermann has previously referred to the Republican Party as "the leading terrorist group in this country."
After accusing Republicans of "polluting" the country with "neocon pornography," Olbermann went on to mischaracterize the anti-terrorism film, also attacking conservative activist David Horowitz as a "hysteric and a faker," and tying in Fox News because the network once screened it. Olbermann: "The disk is of a lunatic fringe, right-wing film called 'Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West.' It was originally shown on, where else, 'Fixed News' in 2006. A year later, it was screened on college campuses by David Horowitz, the hysteric and faker. In it, scenes of Muslim children are intercut with Nazi rallies. The organization behind the hate DVD has endorsed Senator McCain."
But Olbermann did not inform viewers that the "scenes of Muslim children" featured children who had been indoctrinated into supporting radical Islam, showing them in uniform or carrying weapons, and also including chilling scenes of young children passionately shouting about becoming suicide bombers. These scenes can be viewed about four minutes into a clip of the film here. Featuring a former Hitler Youth member, the film made comparisons between the indoctrination of some Muslim children and the indoctrination of the Hitler Youth in Nazi Germany. The film also recounted the existence of antisemitism in the Muslim world during World War II, as Haj Amin al-Husseini, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, a former leader of the Palestinian national movement, was a willing ally to Adolf Hitler, and recruited Muslims to fight on the side of the Nazis in Europe.
While the bulk of "Obsession" is devoted to informing viewers about radical Islam, its existence all over the world, and the frightening indoctrination many Muslim children are exposed to, the film also takes time to stress that its intent is not to attack all Muslims, and characterizes a majority of Muslims as "peaceful" and opposed to terrorism. At the beginning of the film, the following on-screen disclaimer appears: "This is a film about Radical Islamic terror. A dangerous ideology, fueled by religious hatred. It's important to remember, most Muslims are peaceful and do not support terror. This is not a film about them. This is a film about a radical world view, and the threat it poses to us all, Muslim and non-Muslim alike."
Toward the end, as the film appeals to moderate Muslims to become more active in the battle against extremism, several noteworthy soundbites are shown that make a similar point about the contrast between moderate Muslims and extremists, and clips are shown of Muslims in Iran rallying to protest against terrorism after the September 11 attacks:
TONY BLAIR, DATED JULY 2005: We know that these people act in the name of Islam, but we also know that the vast and overwhelming majority of Muslims, here and abroad, are decent and law-abiding people who abhor this act of terrorism every bit as much as we do.
...
DANIEL PIPES, MIDDLE EAST FORUM: It would be a terrible disservice to those Muslims who are liberal, who are democratic, who are modern, who want to live a civilized life, to throw them in with the barbarians, because they are on the right side and, more than that, they have a great deal to offer in the war against militant Islam.
BRIGITTE GABRIEL, AMERICANCONGRESSFORTRUTH.COM: And the Western world need to stand up and support the voices of the moderate, the very few who are speaking out. The Western world need to support them, need to do everything we can to empower them.
Notably, in December 2006, during a segment about "Obsession," CNN's Kyra Phillips seemed impressed by her viewing of the film, as she observed that "you can definitely get an incredible education by watching this film," which she also called a "fascinating and chilling look at the parallels between Nazism and modern Islamic terrorism." Video of the segment can be seen here.
Ironically, in November 2005, Olbermann himself gave attention to the issue of Muslim children being exposed to propaganda through Muslim media that encourages them to support terrorism, even calling it "disturbing," as his Countdown show played clips of a cartoon that was broadcast in Iran that features children who become suicide bombers and attack Israelis. From the November 4, 2005, Countdown, Olbermann set up the piece: "After Iran's new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said Israel needed to be wiped off the map, the British, to name one country, said that comment was simply unacceptable. The Iranians backpedaled quickly. But in our number two story on the Countdown, what are the British, what are we to make of this? A cartoon allegedly carried on the Iranian TV channel IRIB last week, that is transparently aimed at encouraging children to support and, perhaps, to become suicide bombers, aimed at Israel and who knows at who else? Our correspondent is Julian Manion from our affiliated British network ITV."
Manion showed clips of the cartoon and described its depiction of a Palestinian boy whose parents are killed by Israeli troops, "who are portrayed as ruthless oppressors," and conveys the message that "Palestinians are justified in seeking revenge." The boy and his cousin then go on to become suicide bombers and attack an Israeli convoy. Manion related: "The cartoon portrays the attack as heroic and makes no mention of the many suicide bombings that have targeted Israeli civilians. In the end, the symbol of sacrifice and revenge is picked up by the next generation." Video of the cartoon can be seen here.
Below is a transcript of the relevant portions of the September 15, 2008, the August 19, 2008, and the November 4, 2005, Countdown show on MSNBC, followed by excerpts of relevant portions of "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West":
#From the September 15, 2008, Countdown:
The disk is of a lunatic fringe, right-wing film called "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West." It was originally shown on, where else, "Fixed News" in 2006. A year later, it was screened on college campuses by David Horowitz, the hysteric and faker. In it, scenes of Muslim children are intercut with Nazi rallies. The organization behind the hate DVD has endorsed Senator McCain.
#From the August 19, 2008, Countdown:
KEITH OLBERMANN: And number one, "Cold War Junior-Gate." Now, it begins to add up. First, Mr. Bush revived this cockamamie idea to build a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. Then, he and Mr. McCain incited Georgia to try to retake parts of the country that wanted to line up with Russia. Now, Putin and company are talking about responding to the missile defense garbage by pointing nukes towards Poland. End result, Poland, appropriately enough, is scared. A respected commentator on one of its networks is casting it thusly last night, "Slowly the Iron Curtain is being rebuilt."
That the Bush administration has a vested interest in rebuilding the Iron Curtain should be apparent. That Senator McCain has a vested interest in rebuilding it should be discernible from his recent self-congratulatory, flatulent statements about what a great job he did, responding to the crisis in Georgia, by talking about it.
The only good news in here is that it may suggest the neocons now think terrorism is dead, at least as far as its usefulness as a weapon to frighten Americans, and they've decided to foment the return of an oldie but a goodie, that threat from those godless commu-, I'm sorry, that threat from those czarist Russians.
#From the November 4, 2005, Countdown:
OLBERMANN, IN OPENING TEASER: A story you`ll doubt is real, a television cartoon aimed at kids in Iran, showing them how to become suicide bombers.
...
OLBERMANN, BEFORE COMMERCIAL BREAK: And a new tool in the war on terror, a tool for the other side, cartoons designed to attract kids to the roles of suicide bombers.
...
OLBERMANN, PLUGGING THE STORY: And the next generation of terrorists, cartoons, the latest tool to convince children to give up their lives as suicide bombers.
...
OLBERMANN, PLUGGING THE STORY: Also tonight, on the surface, it is a cartoon, but the message to kid in Iran is nothing short of disturbing and extraordinarily obvious. This is nothing less than a recruiting tool for teenage suicide bombers.
...
OLBERMANN: After Iran`s new president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said Israel needed to be wiped off the map, the British, to name one country, said that comment was simply unacceptable. The Iranians backpedaled quickly. But in our number two story on the Countdown, what are the British, what are we to make of this? A cartoon allegedly carried on the Iranian TV channel IRIB last week, that is transparently aimed at encouraging children to support and, perhaps, to become suicide bombers, aimed at Israel and who knows at who else? Our correspondent is Julian Manion from our affiliated British network ITV.
JULIAN MANION: The cartoon was apparently aimed at a young audience. But it's a story of bloodshed and hatred of Israel. It starts with the killing of a Palestinian farmer and his wife by Israeli troops, who are portrayed as ruthless oppressors. The farmer tries to resist, but is gunned down by laughing Israelis. Broadcast on the morning of last Friday`s anti-Israeli demonstration in Tehran, the message is that Palestinians are justified in seeking revenge. The boy, Abdul Rahman, who has lost his father and mother, joins up with his cousin and makes contact with a Palestinian militant group. The militants are planning to attack the Israeli army, and agree that the two boys can take part. The boys say that they are ready to die in order to strike black. They are blessed with the Holy Koran. At the ambush position, young Abdul Rahman uses his boot laces and grenades to make a suicide belt. As the Israeli troops drive up in convoy, the boy throws himself down on them and blows himself up. The cartoon portrays the attack as heroic and makes no mention of the many suicide bombings that have targeted Israeli civilians. In the end, the symbol of sacrifice and revenge is picked up by the next generation. Julian Manion, ITV News in Israel.
#From the film "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West":
DISCLAIMER AT BEGINNING, AS ON-SCREEN TEXT: This is a film about Radical Islamic terror. A dangerous ideology, fueled by religious hatred. It's important to remember, most Muslims are peaceful and do not support terror. This is not a film about them. This is a film about a radical world view, and the threat is poses to us all, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
#From "Obsession":
WALID SHOEBAT, FORMER PLO TERRORIST: The same thing is happening now again. History is repeating itself.
ALFONS HECK, FORMER HITLER YOUTH OFFICER: I was a very intense believer in the Nazi ideology. And I know what a supreme dedication to an ideology can do.
From an early age, Alfons Heck was influenced by the Nazi world view. [CLIPS OF HITLER YOUTH] He joined the Hitler Youth at the age of 10, and, by the end of World War II, he was a high-ranking officer of the Hitler Youth.
HECK: It is absolutely correct to say, if you can't learn from the events of Nazi Germany-
[SHOWS CLIPS OF GERMANS SALUTING HITLER]
HECK: -you will not be able to grasp the true intent of the danger of the radical Muslim world today. You're simply hiding.
[SHOWS A PHOTOGRAPH OF PEOPLE WEARING MASKS AND SALUTING SIMILARLY TO NAZIS, WITH THE CAPTION "BEIT HANINA"]
[SHOWS A PHOTO OF MEN IN UNIFORM SALUTING SIMILARLY TO NAZIS, WITH THE CAPTION "LEBANON"]
SIR MARTIN GILBERT, AUTHOR AND HISTORIAN: History has an unfortunate habit of always repeating itself.
[SHOWS A PHOTO OF MEN IN BLACK CLOTHING AND GREEN HEADBANDS SALUTING SIMILAR TO NAZIS, WITH THE CAPTION "IRAN"]
[SHOWS A PHOTO OF MEN IN BLACK CLOTHING WITH WHITE SCARVES COVERING THEIR FACES AND SALUTING SIMILAR TO NAZIS, WITH THE CAPTION "HEBRON"]
HECK: The idea that radical Muslims have, and that Nazis had, is they demonize the Jews, you know, they just turn them into demons. And, I mean, this is exactly what happened in Germany. Now, can you imagine, we were enlightened people and we fell for this, why wouldn't Muslims fall for this?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN, FROM PALESTINIAN MEDIA WATCH, WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION: The Jews are Jews. They are the ones who must be butchered and killed.
[SHOWS CLIPS OF THE AFTERMATH OF TERRORIST BOMBINGS]
NONIE DARWISH, DAUGHTER OF A MARTYR: They are killing the infidels, just like the preacher in the mosque told them to do. It's their duty to kill them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER, WITH CAPTION "IRANIAN TV 2004," WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION: Until Israel is wiped off the face of the Earth, these cries will continue.
CLIP OF PROTESTERS BURNING THE ISRAELI FLAG, WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION: Death to Israel!
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL, APPEARING TO BE ABOUT EIGHT YEARS OLD, WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION: Death to Israel!
SHOEBAT: I watched antisemitism since I was a young kid, and now the world is weeping. These eggs are hatching. And what's coming out is literally something that comes out of Nazi Germany.
[SHOWS SEVERAL CLIPS OF CHILDREN, SOME IN UNIFORM, SOME WITH GUNS. ONE PHOTO SHOWS A LARGE CROWD OF WHAT APPEAR TO BE TEENAGERS STANDING AT ATTENTION SALUTING SIMILARLY TO NAZIS, WITH THE CAPTION OF "LEBANON" AND "DEC 2001"]
SHOEBAT, AS CLIPS OF THE HITLER YOUTH ARE SHOWN: The same as in Nazi Germany. The boy scouts in Nazi Germany, we had the Youth. The youth was being robbed from being youth.
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL WHO APPEARS ABOUT EIGHT YEARS OLD WITH THE CAPTION "PALESTINIAN TV," SHOUTING, WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION ON SCREEN: -and we swore to take vengeful blood from our enemies for our killed and wounded.
JOHN LOFTIS, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: I think the worst form of child abuse is teaching a child to hate. What we have on Palestinian TV and on Saudi TV, over and over again, are little kids being taught "I want to be a suicide bomber."
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL WHO APPEARS ABOUT EIGHT YEARS OLD ACTING IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF CHILDREN, WITH THE CAPTION "PALESTINIAN TV," SHOUTING, WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION: When I wander into the entrance of Jerusalem, I'll turn into a suicide warrior, I'll turn into a suicide warrior, in battledress, in battledress, in battledress! Thank you.
AS CROWD APPLAUDS, AN ADULT WOMAN SITING ON STAGE STANDS AND SAYS, "Bravo, bravo, bravo, bravo."
SHOEBAT: -and the youth who are listening to this day and night, what do you expect to happen?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER IN NEWS CLIP: A Palestinian teenager showed up at a crowded West Bank checkpoint wearing a suicide bomb vest. Soldiers sent a yellow robot to hand scissors to the boy so he could cut off the vest. Once the boy was out of harm's way, the bomb vest was detonated.
HECK: And I think this a crime the Muslim world commits against its children. Hitler committed a crime against young Germans. It took me a long time to see that. But what the Muslims do to their own children is even worse.
[SHOWS CLIPS OF CHILDREN ABOUT EIGHT YEARS OLD IN UNIFORM WITH GUNS]
DARWISH: They tell Arab children that Jews bake cookies with their blood.
MAN #1, PORTRAYING A JEWISH CHARACTER, FROM AN TELEVISION SHOW, WITH CAPTION "AL MANAR TV 2003," WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION: Well, we have a mission from the leadership, and we must carry it out quickly.
NARRATOR: This is a scene from the television series Al Shatat. It was broadcast on satellite TV stations that reach hundreds of millions of viewers.
MAN #1: Listen. We want the blood of a Christian child before Passover, for the matzos.
[THE SCENE CONTINUES WITH A BOY TRICKED INTO COMING INTO THE ROOM]
ITAMAR MARCUS, PALESTINIAN MEDIA WATCH: Throughout the Middle Ages, there was this libel that the Jews needed blood of a Christian child to make matzah. Of course, today, the world knows this is a totally, totally libelous accusation, no connection to truth at all. Yet, the Al Shatat film was able to include a video depiction of this ancient blood libel as if this is real Jewish ideology.
[THE SCENE CONTINUES WITH THE JEWISH MEN HOLDING DOWN THE BOY AND CUTTING HIS THROAT]
DARWISH: There is no shame in Arab media in the degree they are ready to cover hate speech and lies, outright lies against the West and Israel.
SHEIKH HAMZA MANSOUR, ISLAMIC ACTION FRONT PARTY, WITH CAPTION "AL-MAJD TV" MARCH 2003, WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION: This is the nature that makes matzah out of innocent children's blood.
PROFESSOR ROBERT WISTRICH, SASSOON CENTER FOR ANTISEMITISM: This is a war of propaganda in which the same techniques of subversion that we saw earlier in the challenge posed by fascism and Naziism are repeating themselves.
DARWISH: The propaganda of Islam is very similar to the propaganda of Naziism. It's the same hate speech, paranoia and "us against them."
The film then recounts the story of how Adolf Hitler found a willing ally in Haj Amin al-Husseini, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, a former leader of the Palestinian national movement, as the Mufti recruited many Muslims to fight on the side of Nazi Germany in World War II as he was promised by Hitler that his main goal was extermination of the Jews.
#Near the end of "Obsession":
TONY BLAIR, DATED JULY 2005: We know that these people act in the name of Islam, but we also know that the vast and overwhelming majority of Muslims, here and abroad, are decent and law-abiding people who abhor this act of terrorism every bit as much as we do.
DARWISH: So if they truly want to bring out the compassion and peace element in Islam, they really have to behave like it. They have to teach it in their schools.
ABD AL-HAMID AL-ANSARI, FORMER DEAN OF ISLAMIC LAW, QATAR UNIVERSITY, WITH THE CAPTION "UAE TV 2005," WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION: We have not succeeded in making our children love life. We have taught them how to die for the sake of Allah, but we haven't taught them how to live for the sake of Allah.
BRIGITTE GABRIEL, AMERICANCONGRESSFORTRUTH.COM: It is the duty of all Muslims to stand up and speak against the hate, to speak against the jihad.
SHEIK MUBARAK LAMHIRI, SPEAKING IN A MOSQUE, WITH THE CAPTION "UAE TV 2005," WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION: Dear brothers, [the terrorists] belong to the enemies of Islam. People who distort the image of Islam belong to the enemies.
GABRIEL: If they don't agree with it, then let us hear your voices.
CLIP OF RALLY IN IRAN DATED SEPTEMBER 2001, WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION: Death to terrorists! Death to terrorists!
GABRIEL: We want to hear the voices.
CLIP OF RALLY IN IRAN DATED SEPTEMBER 2001, WITH WRITTEN TRANSLATION: Death to terrorists! Death to terrorists!
GABRIEL: And the Western world need to stand up and support the voices of the moderate, the very few who are speaking out. The Western world need to support them, need to do everything we can to empower them.
DANIEL PIPES, MIDDLE EAST FORUM: It would be a terrible disservice to those Muslims who are liberal, who are democratic, who are modern, who want to live a civilized life, to throw them in with the barbarians, because they are on the right side and, more than that, they have a great deal to offer in the war against militant Islam.
GABRIEL: It is through hope and education that we will be able to win this war and accomplish peace.
