JUNE 07, 07:32 ET
CNN's Dobbs to Abandon Terror Phrase
NEW YORK (AP) — The war on terror may be ending — at least on one CNN program.
Lou Dobbs, host of the nightly CNN business show ``Moneyline,'' said on the air Wednesday that he is abandoning the phrase ``war on terror'' in favor of the more specific ``war on Islamists.''
He said the enemy is not terror, but radical Islamists who argue that non-believers should be killed.
``This is not a war against Muslims or Islam or Islamics,'' Dobbs said. ``It is a war against Islamists and all who support them, and if ever there were a time for clarity, it is now. We hope this new policy is a step in the right direction.''
It was unclear Thursday whether Dobbs was permanently abandoning ``war on terror'' as a phrase or if he was simply, as a spokeswoman suggested, starting a dialogue with viewers.
During the other 23 hours of CNN's news day, the network is sticking with the ``war on terror.''
Dobbs' commentary ``is perfectly appropriate,'' CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson said.
``His viewers expect his insight and commentary, and like all of his commentary, it doesn't necessarily represent the views of the network,'' Robinson said.
The opinionated anchor attracted attention earlier this spring with a vigorous defense of auditors Arthur Andersen during the Enron scandal. Dobbs criticized the Justice Department for indicting the auditors, while acknowledging past business relationships with Andersen. |
