Oliver North: "There is no such thing as an Islamic moderate"
Summary: Appearing on Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, Oliver North said, "There is no such thing as an Islamic moderate."
Fox News host Oliver North, in a discussion on the February 6 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, said, "There is no such thing as an Islamic moderate." Earlier in the discussion, North asserted that "the words 'Islamic moderates' are -- that's an oxymoron." North made his remarks during a discussion about street demonstrations and riots that have erupted in a number of countries after several European newspapers reprinted cartoons that caricatured the Islamic prophet Mohammed.
During the program, co-host Sean Hannity told North: "I've got to tell you something, my friend. I think it's acceptable for people to be angry. I have seen cartoons that have attacked my faith, Catholicism ... I understand people's anger, but it cannot erupt in violence." North replied: "Well, you know, these cartoons are offensive. There's no doubt about this, but the outburst of violence has been very instructive."
From the February 6 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:
HANNITY: Colonel, I actually -- I've got to tell you something, my friend: I think it's acceptable for people to be angry. I have seen cartoons that have attacked my faith, Catholicism. I'm a Christian. I've seen that happen often. I understand people's anger, but it cannot erupt in violence.
NORTH: Well, you know, these cartoons are offensive. There's no doubt about this, but the outburst of violence has been very instructive. Murder, beheadings, bombings, extremist violence, sacking of embassies are all acceptable in the name of what they want.
And it shows that the words 'Islamic moderates' are -- that's an oxymoron. There is no such thing as an 'Islamic moderate,' or they would be out ordering calm and talking about the consequences of government censorship, which, of course, is what you're going to have under the caliphate if the so-called extremists have their way.
—A.D.
