Sean Penn |
Muslim terror leaders are hailing statements by actor Sean Penn regarding Iran, the war in Iraq and the global war on terror, stating militants have "deep respect" for Penn and urging Americans to listen to the outspoken Hollywood activist immediately.
One senior jihadist leader even asked Penn to officially represent his terror organization's cause to the world media.
"I tell Penn that we don't have the money that the Zionists have, therefore we don't own and we don't have access to your media, and we hope you would ... represent our pain and our cause," stated Abu Hamed, northern Gaza Strip commander of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades Palestinian terrorist organization.
Hamed and other terror leaders were quoted on the record sounding off about Penn in the new book "Schmoozing with Terrorists: From Hollywood to the Holy Land Jihadists Reveal their Global Plans – to a Jew!," by author and WND Jerusalem bureau chief Aaron Klein.
For one chapter, Klein assembled a panoply of senior terrorist leaders and asked them to comment on the views of high-profile liberals and conservatives.
Some of the terrorists interviewed stated they had never heard of Penn, while some said they were familiar with the actor and his activism, including recent "fact-finding" trips to Iraq and Iran and a meeting this year with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.
Several terrorists said they became familiar with Penn because of his 1980's marriage to pop icon Madonna, who is well-known in the Mideast, Klein states.
In "Schmoozing," Klein read to the terrorists a series of Penn's political statements – which they applauded – such as a recent open letter Penn sent to President Bush condemning the Iraq War, calling for Bush's impeachement and labeling Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "villainously and criminally obscene people." That letter was read aloud to the media earlier this year by Chavez.
Klein also had a 2007 speech Penn delivered in solidarity with Iran translated into Arabic and read for the terror leaders.
"You want to rattle sabers toward Iran now?" asked Penn in his speech delivered at U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee's March 24 "Town Hall Meeting" on the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
"Let me tell you something about Iran, because I've been there and you haven't. Iran is a great country. A great country. Does it have its haters? You bet. Just like the United States has its haters. Just like the United States has a corrupt regime. Does it want a nuclear weapon? Maybe. Do we have one? You bet," stated Penn.
Penn goes on to refer to the war in Iraq as an "occupational war ... . In that country of 25 million, these children have now suffered a rainstorm of civilian death around and among them totaling the equivalent of 200 September 11ths in just four years of war. Two hundred 9/11s. Two hundred 9/11s."
Responding, Ala Senakreh, West Bank chief of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror group stated he feels "deep respect for Penn and people like him that prove that America is not only the country that sponsors the Israeli terrorists and all evil forces in the world, but also a country of brave people who want a different policy based on justice and peace."
The Brigades, together with the Islamic Jihad terrorist group, took responsibility for every suicide bombing in Israel the past three years. The Brigades also has carried out hundreds of recent shootings and rocket attacks.
Ramadan Adassi, chief of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the northern West Bank Anskar refugee camp, said Penn's words "express dignity, express a deep humanitarian sense and this doesn't surprise me when it comes from an actor who has had to develop the sense of feeling.
"We hope Penn is somebody who can design a different public opinion. Penn must continue in his battle, which is very important because it is rare to see important people who criticize Bush, who is planning now to throw the American soldiers in the Iranian hell," stated Adassi.
The terrorist compelled all Americans to listen to Penn [immediately]. Bush is leading you toward a bigger, much bigger disaster."
The Brigades Abu Hamed agreed:
"The Zionists and their allies in the U.S. did not hesitate to kill thousands of American civilians in the September 11 attacks just to justify their occupation in Afghanistan and in Iraq and their support to the Israelis. They rob these countries' economic resources and they are robbing our right for freedom.
"You Americans will pay the price and we hope [Penn's message] will be understood by the American public."
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