ANTI-ZIONIST CONFERENCE GIVES AMMO TO ADL
By Rev. Ted Pike
25 Aug 08
The Anti-Defamation League is very worried about the explosion
of legitimate criticism of liberal Jewish activism and Israel. Such
criticism is spreading through the world, largely from the US. Across
the internet, alternative talk radio, and by word of mouth, people
are waking to reality: an elite cabal of liberal Jewish activists
exert disproportionate power and influence over the U.S. media, government,
Congress, finance, education, and U.S. Mideast foreign policy.
ADL can't stop this growing awareness. They can't banish it from
the web. They have not shut down alternative talk radio. They have
failed to criminalize such "hate speech" through a federal
hate crimes bill in America. But the movement might sabotage itself!
If I were ADL's Abe Foxman, this would be my dream solution. Leaders
of the anti-Zionist right would sabotage their own movement by publicly
joining forces with Islamic organizations and ideology.
In the west, most people are taught to equate Islam with suicide
bombings, rocket attacks on Israel, Sharia law, and repression
of women. Anti-Zionist Americans might think there's advantage in
allying with 56 Islamic nations and 1.3 billion Moslems. But uniting
with a system of such negative and even terrorist connotations would
powerfully assist ADL. It could convince the public that critics
of Israel are, at heart, one with Muslim terrorists. America ’s
burgeoning pro-freedom movement could be destroyed through guilt
by association.
ADL's Dream Come True?
Well, Foxman's dream is in danger of being realized. On August
16, prominent leaders of the anti-Zionist right spoke at the American
Islamic Conference in Baltimore. They included Dr. Hesham Tulawi,
Moslem moderator of "Current Issues", a weekly TV/radio
talk show; Mark Glenn, talk show host and writer for the American
Free Press; C.E. "Chuck" Carlson, head of Arizona-based "We
Hold These Truths"; and Mark Weber, head of the holocaust revisionist
Institute for Historical Review. Also attending was former U.S. Attorney
General Ramsey Clark, leader of the anti-Zionist, left-leaning International
Action Center.
I recently spoke with Mark Glenn, a primary coordinator of the
event. He confirmed that, for himself at least, the purpose
was to promote solidarity and cooperation between Islam and the anti-Zionist
right. He said we must unite with Islam in one great offensive against
Zionism.
I replied that we are doing very well already (considering Jewish
supremacism's staggeringly greater power) to broadcast the whole
truth to millions worldwide. The main goal, I insisted, is to deny
ADL any ideological ammunition powerful enough to blacken our reputation.
This conference gave such ammunition!
Glenn told me that American anti-Zionist speakers did not know
the full roster of Muslims who would speak. But they must surely
have known the ADL would be there to take in every word and do what
the Anti-Defamation League does best: defame.
ADL Hits Back
That's exactly what happened. On August 21, ADL
launched a masterly attack by press release and on its website called, "Far
Right and Muslim Extremists Gather in Baltimore." It said this
conference "demonstrates how promoters of anti-Semitic ideologies
from different backgrounds find common cause in their hatred of Jews
and Israel" and "signals a burgeoning relationship between
far-right and Muslim extremists who are increasingly working together."
ADL said the Muslim conference leader, Dr. Kaukah Siddique, "has
described the U.S. as a 'satanic' system arguing the 'American' power
structure does not accept the SOVEREIGNTY of Allah." It describes
one of the speakers:
Maulana Ehsanullah, is a Muslim cleric in Pakistan who has expressed
support for terrorists, including Al Qaeda. In September 2001,
after the September 11 terrorist attacks, he reportedly gave a speech
at a mosque in Pakistan in which he hailed Osama bin Laden as 'Allah's
gift to Muslims'. He further predicted: 'The day is coming
when America will cower at the feet of Muslims... What happened
at the World Trade Center was step one. Stick around, step two
is just around the corner.'
ADL could not have asked for a greater advantage. Prominent representatives
of the anti-Zionist right sat at the feet of Muslim leaders - leaders
ADL portrays as hating America and applauding terrorism against her.
In giving ADL this golden opportunity, these leaders helped write
the storyline for a new ADL myth: the American anti-Zionist right
is one with Muslim fanatics who hate and want to destroy Jews. I'm
sure ADL will anxiously await further declarations of American/Islamic
solidarity. They can powerfully equate the anti-Zionist right with "Islamofascism" and
a credulous public will conclude both groups are the same.
I could write ADL's script for them right now.
Islam: Religion of Extremes
Countless Muslims are high-minded, generous toward Christians and
repudiate terrorism. They may be the majority. Over the last
24 years, many have appreciated that I, among evangelicals, have
largely stood alone to protest Israel ’s mistreatment of their
Palestinian brethren.
Yet Islam contains many anti-Christian and violent factions. Especially
in Iraq today, the atrocities of Muslim against Muslim are unspeakable.
Fanatics among the Sunnis and Shiites (no small sects of Islam) have
been at each others' throats for more than a millennium. Strong elements
in Islam have a record of unpredictability and violence, not just
toward "infidels," but against their own offending members.
Islam also does not share Christ's emphasis to bless those who
afflict you. Ghandi, a Hindu, attempted to embody such a response
to the British masters of India. By not returning evil for evil
his example of passive resistance brought the British empire to its
knees. Tragically, large segments of the Muslim world have adopted
terrorist tactics similar to Zionists.
Learn from Our Mistakes
I do not believe uniting American anti-Zionism with Islam could
ever be a strong movement. But a few leaders could persist in cooperation
with Islamic conferences, and thus provide ADL with propaganda grist.
An unnecessary and damaging attack on our movement came from the
recent conference to unite anti-Zionism in America with Islam. This
attack tarnished in the public eye all opponents of Jewish supremacism.
It should never happen again.
A formidable warship has been created from our new, truthtelling
movement. It is encountering fire and is headed for fierce battle
to defend civilization and freedom. It must sail through many storms.
The last thing it needs is an explosive, Islamic cannon rolling around
its decks.
Rev. Ted Pike is director of the National Prayer Network, a Christian/conservative
watchdog organization.
Let the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith teach you how they
have saddled 45 states with hate laws capable of persecuting Christians: http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/intro.asp.
Learn how ADL took away free speech in Canada and wants to steal
it now in the U.S. Congress. Watch Rev. Ted Pike's Hate
Laws: Making Criminals of Christians at video.google.com. Purchase
this gripping documentary to show at church. Order online at www.truthtellers.org for
$24.90, DVD or VHS, by calling 503-853-3688, or at the address below.
TALK SHOW HOSTS: Interview Rev. Ted Pike on this
topic. Call (503) 631-3808.
National Prayer Network, P.O. Box 828, Clackamas,
OR 97015
