Robertson stands behind remarks on Islam

Pat Robertson

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(CNN) -- Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson has been criticized for commenting last week on his "700 Club" TV program that Islam is not a peaceful religion. "They want to coexist," he said, "until they can control, dominate and then, if need be, destroy."

CNN's Paula Zahn discussed the controversial remarks Monday with Robertson, who was in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

CNN: At a time when the president is saying, he's clearly made the delineation that this is not a war against Islam, this is not a war against Muslims, this is a war on terrorism, you've come out and, a lot of people are saying, muddied his message. Do you understand how your incendiary comments might compromise the president?

ROBERTSON: You know, it's funny it's called incendiary. You remember [philosopher George] Santayana said that those who won't learn the lesson of history are doomed to live it again.

I'm a history major in college, and we studied about jihad, and it started right after the death of Muhammad, about 635, when the Muslims overran all of the Middle East, took Spain and were invading France.

They sacked Bordeaux in the Battle of Tours in 732, repulsed them. But this was not a peaceful religion. They were declaring a jihad, which was war against the West, and I'm afraid they're doing it again.

CNN: All right, so let's fast forward to today.

ROBERTSON: All right.

CNN: Because you made it clear you love Muslims, right? You said that you're not against the Muslim people.

ROBERTSON: Of course, I do. Of course, I've got many, many friends in the Arab world.

CNN: So let me ask you this, I mean aren't you asking these people to remove the prophet who they fundamentally believe in from their religious belief? ... Muslims are OK, but Muhammad's bad. Isn't that what you're saying?

ROBERTSON: The prime tenet of Islam is that Allah is the one true God and Muhammad is his prophet, and then Muhammad said these things. He said the second duty or the second good work a man can do is to lead a jihad against the infidels. ...

I looked it up in the Encyclopedia Britannica, and it says, "Believers are under obligation to wage war against all unbelievers." That's the Encyclopedia Britannica. I don't understand why this has suddenly become so incendiary.

CNN: All right, but if you believe what you believe so wholeheartedly about Muhammad, how is it then that you say that you like Muslims? I mean, if people are following Muhammad, they believe in what Muhammad is saying.

ROBERTSON: Well, you know I'm a Protestant. How many Protestants really follow all the teachings of the Bible? How many Roman Catholics follow all the teachings of the church? You know, there are many religionists who don't really buy into it. ... There's probably 150 million Muslims who really do. I mean, what we've seen in Iran is a perfect example of carrying the teachings of Muhammad to its ultimate conclusion.

And I think Osama bin Laden is probably a very dedicated follower of Muhammad. He's done exactly what Muhammad said to do, and we disagree with him obviously, and I'm sure many moderate Muslims do as well, but you can't say the religion is a religion of peace. It's not.

CNN: But let me ask you this: I mean, couldn't you carry this to an extreme? ... Couldn't a Muslim say the same thing about Christianity -- I believe in your fundamentals and principles just as long as you don't follow Jesus? Isn't it essentially what you're saying about Muhammad?

ROBERTSON: I'm not telling any Muslim not to follow Muhammad, but all I'm telling America is that we're at war. I mean, the president has declared an "axis of evil," and two of them are Muslim states. One of them is Iran, which is a Muslim theocracy. The other one is a dictatorship under Saddam Hussein.

But look at the terrorist states. Syria has been listed as a terrorist state by the State Department. Sudan is persecuting Christians. ... Somalia is primarily Muslim, and it's in chaos. I dare say Pakistan might be ready for a revolution.

The masses, Paula, the thing about in the Arab world, about 70 percent of the population is under 30, and they're poor. And they haven't been well-educated, and they're under the control of some of these radicals. ... Osama bin Laden is a hero for them.

CNN: All right, but in closing, how is the average American supposed to react to Muslims?

ROBERTSON: I think we should love Muslims as people. We should accord them the privileges of this great nation. ...

We have Arabic-speaking people on our staff and you know, our station in the Middle East was overrun by Hezbollah. Our people had to flee for their lives -- they were shooting at them, and they sacked the station. We've had our studio blown up twice. Our transmitter was Katyusha-bombed once, and our microwave link had a mortar attack. So, I mean, I'm familiar with the warfare over there.

And I think we need to understand that this nation is at war, and these people, large millions of them, dislike Israel with a passion, and they hate America as a defender of Israel. And we might as well recognize it's not just a few. It's a large number who want to hurt us.