Evangelist Graham Highlights Saudi Link to Terrorism

AgapePress
By Fred Jackson and Jody Brown

August 7, 2002

Well-known evangelist Franklin Graham is weighing in on America's war on terrorism, saying there is still a reluctance to recognize the full scope of the Islamic threat.

Graham made headlines shortly after the September 11 attacks in being one of the few religious leaders in the U.S. to describe the Islamic region as one that supports terrorist attacks. In his new book, The Name, he says even Muslim terrorists will one day submit to the name of Jesus Christ because the Bible makes it clear that "every knee shall bow" at the name of Jesus. He also points out that Allah is not same God worshipped by Christians.

Now, in the wake of this week's Pentagon advisory report which declares Saudi Arabia as a major supporter of Islamic terrorists, Graham says America cannot continue to ignore that reality.

"The Rand report came out this week concerning Saudi Arabia," Graham told Associated Press. "They listed Saudi Arabia as a financier of terrorism, a cheerleader of terrorism, a backer of terrorism, a participator in terrorism -- and I think we need to deal with it."

The Rand Corp report went as far as to describe Saudi Arabia as "the kernel of evil, the prime mover, and the most dangerous opponent" in the Middle East. Fifteen of the nineteen September 11 terrorists held Saudi passports. Still, Bush Administration officials have moved quickly to denounce the report, giving every indication that the White House will be doing nothing in the way of acting on its findings. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said it was "unfortunate" that details of the report were leaked to the media because it creates the impression that it expresses the view of the government on Saudi Arabia.