Three questions for Christiane Amanpour

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The London-based correspondent will host “God’s Warriors,” a six-hour CNN documentary on religious fundamentalism as an increasingly powerful political force around the world. It will air over three nights, Aug. 21-23. It is the first substantial reporting Amanpour has done in the U.S.

Did the Christian fundamentalists surprise you?

For a foreigner to come here and turn on cable television and see the amount of Christian evangelical broadcasting, you have to pinch yourself and ask where you are. It never gets publicized or talked about. All we know is they claim responsibility for electing Reagan and the 2004 election. To see the nuts and bolts of how it works is new for me, and interesting and important. And to see your children being groomed in this manner. We went to San Francisco and saw Ron Luce raising an army to combat “virtue terrorists.” I saw young children way too young to know about sex being taught about keeping themselves pure, and abstinence. I found that interesting.

What did the Christian, Jewish and Muslim fundamentalists have in common?

Across the board, they feel they are an endangered species. There’s a sense of victimhood, that society at large doesn’t respect their beliefs.

You have an American husband and a 7-year-old boy. How has that changed your war reporting?

It is my personal dilemma; I live it every day. I’ve been doing this a long time, and I’m very lucky that I’ve survived. Many of my friends haven’t. It’s very dangerous and getting more dangerous.

Before, I never had any fear. Someone you love more than anything in the world changes your perspective.

I do think as a mother, you do have a responsibility to try and stay alive. It’s really hard for me, every time I get on a plane. I’m so committed, especially with serious news being in the crisis it is. I don’t see the number of people coming up through the ranks wanting to do this as before. It’s not as valued on the air. Most people want to be anchors or White House correspondents.

I’ve pulled back in terms of the amount of time I spend on the ground. Before I was months away from home. Now, I’m not staying out as long, and calling home seven times a day. At least.

-- Lynn Smith