More from MEMRI-TV

Wow.

I went back to read the rest of that interview with the terrorist and looked at some of the other resources on MEMRI TV. The site has video for streaming or download and transcripts of news events from all over the middle east and a few other places (including the US-based Al-Hurra TV).

I did a sample search of all stations on the pre-selected subject of "Suicide (Martyrdom) Operations". Here's a few samples:

Iranian President-Elect Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, July 25, 2005, Iranian Channel 1

Art reaches perfection when it portrays the best life and best death. After all, art tells you how to live. That is the essence of art. Is there art that is more beautiful, more divine, and more eternal than the art of martyrdom? A nation with martyrdom knows no captivity. Those who wish to undermine this principle undermine the foundations of our independence and national security. They undermine the foundation of our eternity.

Yes, that's the man who will be in charge of Iran, along with those nuclear facilities that have been reactivated for "peaceful" purposes. Just imagine how "artistic" he could be with a few hundred pounds of plutonium?

Excerpts from a discussion between a Sunni Mufti and a Shi'ite Mufti, July 24, 2005, ANB TV

Al-Amin: How can you be a martyrdom-seeker, while targeting peaceful and innocent civilians?

Al-Jozo: Some of the martyrdom operations in Palestine have targeted civilians - soldiers as well as civilians. A Palestinian who lives on his land and is punished undeservingly does not distinguish between civilians... He views them all as Zionists.

Al-Amin: He may not distinguish, but Allah does.

Al-Jozo: All the Zionists... They are all occupiers.

Host: This argument proves that there is no agreement among Muslims about who is a mujahid and who is not.

This is just the essense of the discussion. I'd recommend reading the whole thing.

The founder of "The Creative Thinking" center in the UAE, Dr. 'Ali Al-Hamadi, July 21, 2005, Iqra TV

Al-Hamadi: Haven't we heard about the blessed mothers in Palestine who go to their sons and prepare them for martyrdom for the sake of Allah? The son sets out and on his way, he calls his mother from his cellphone, and tells her: "I've arrived at the place, I am going in." Then he says, "I'm ready," and the mother guides him and encourages him until she hears the bombs go off over the cellphone. Then she bows, thanking Allah for granting her son martyrdom for His sake. Then she utters cries of joy and refuses to accept condolences. She does not open a grieving tent, but rather a congratulation tent, because Allah granted her son martyrdom. Such Hansaa-like women have appeared again in our times. Some of these women commit martyrdom themselves. They may be married women or students, but even so, they are not tempted by this life, and they carry out martyrdom operations for the sake of Allah.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Abdallah Shalah, July 17, 2005, Al-Arabiya TV

Shalah: Did I send him? Did I force him? They made the decision themselves. He wants to fight. He wants to become a martyr, because the alternative is such a life... You know what is happening in Palestine. Therefore, he believes, and I too believe, that this path of martyrdom is the solution...

Host: ... Will lead him to Paradise.

Shalah: It will lead him to Paradise and replace the hell he's in. We are victims.

Host: But these were civilians.

Shalah: What "civilians"?

Host: When you carry out an operation against the Israeli army, you are not required to...

Shalah: The most important Arab journalist...

Host: But against 16-year-old girls who went shopping?

Shalah: Look, some time ago I heard (Muhammad Hassanein) Heikel, who is the most prominent Arab journalist, one of the most important Arab journalists these days, and he said that the distinction between civilians and soldiers in a modern state - a Nation State - is a lie. This civilian uses ballot boxes to bring Sharon to power, and she supports his policy.

Host: They will support Sharon even more now.

Shalah: I don't care. I condemn the killing of civilians in London and New York, by the way, but I do not condemn the killing of civilians in Netanya, because the people in Netanya live on my land, and they are killing me in Tulkarm, Jibalya, and Gaza.

He says I don't care and I believe him.

These interviews and reports aren't on some secret terrorists-only broadcast, but the equivalent of the evening news. I can't help but notice the similarities to our own mainstream media: a message is repeated over and over without being challenged until people believe it. Many of these stations are state-controlled, showing only a government- or even religion-approved message. In our country, we don't get the "luxury" of a consistent message from media and our government, though freedom of speech and the right to listen to whom we choose are obviously important liberties. Thank goodness for talk radio, Fox News Channel, and the other sources who are, if not supported, at least tolerated as they tell a different story.