Expert on Islamic Extremism Discusses Terrorist Attacks
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: I want to quickly bring back with apologies our guest, professor David Forte, who was -- is an expert on Islamic extremism. Professor, just one last question, and that is, you're saying that these Islamic extremists who carried out this terrible act on September the 11th, they don't like other forms of the practice of Islam. But what is it that makes them hate the United States so much?</s>PROFESSOR DAVID FORTE, CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY: Well, President Bush said it simply and directly, and I think accurately. Whenever you have an ideology, whether the ideology has come to power because of a philosophy such as Marxism or race or religion, or pretended religion, that ideology then which is to implode itself -- impose itself upon a people, any system that stands for freedom, for choice of religion, for the ability to devote oneself to God as one sees fit stands in opposition to that regime. And so, in the same way that bin Laden apparently has funded and supported the Taliban -- the Taliban is the future of Islam in bin Laden's eyes. And most Muslims say that is not us. There are very great varieties within Islam. There are very great disputes within Islam. But all through the world and all through our country, we saw for example Saudi Arabia, which is not a particularly liberal Islamic state, say that bin Laden's actions defame Islam, all through the world they -- Muslims said that is not us. And that is what President Bush saw and stated right from the beginning. And I think that message is isolating these evil people and is actually opening a door that will take years to come, for a long term rapprochement between our country and many of the Muslim peoples around the world.</s>WOODRUFF: These are important points for us to hear, particularly as today with the release of this letter that cites -- in possession of the hijackers -- citing the Koran, urging these hijackers to pray and so forth, it is important to hear some of these distinctions. Professor David Forte, we thank you very much for joining us, and again we apologize for cutting you short when we went over to the State Department.</s>FORTE: Thank you.</s>WOODRUFF: Thank you very much. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com