Malaysia's Response to US Senate's US$ 1.2 Million Military Aid for Malaysia

The US Senate on Monday unanimously agreed to place new conditions on a proposed US$1.2 million grant to Malaysia under the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program to show its displeasure over Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's recent criticism of the powerful Jewish lobby in the United States.

The Senate Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, said on Tuesday, "What could be more outrageous in 2003 for the prime minister of any country to make such unbelievably erroneous statements?

The money will now be disbursed only after a determination by US Secretary of State Colin Powell that Malaysia supports and promotes religious freedom, including for Jews.

Malaysia's Response ?

Excerpt from article by Thalif Dean in Asia Online

According to one South East Asian diplomat:

"The United States is probably threatening the WRONG country.

Malaysia is NOT a banana republic that depends on US economic or military grants for its survival.

No degree of arm-twisting or economic threats will intimidate either Mahathir or Malaysia. In fact, they both need each other because they have strong economic and military ties."

Although Mahathir was equally critical of Islamic ideologues and fundamentalists, the mainstream media in the United States highlighted only his criticism of Jews and Israel.

The Bullying by US of Other Countries

In July 2003, the administration of President George W Bush cut off military aid to 35 "friendly countries" for their refusal to exempt US soldiers from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). They were mostly poorer nations in Latin America, the Caribbean, East and Central Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

Over the war on Iraq, the Bush administration lobbied hard to prevent an emergency session of the UN General Assembly to discuss the US-led invasion.

Diplomatic pressure in world capitals was said to be so intense that no nation proposed the sitting.

Mahathir's Supporters in the Arab World

Meanwhile, Arab and Muslim leaders also continued to express support for Mahathir , who told an Islamic world conference last week that Jews run the world by proxy and that 1.3 billion Muslims will not be defeated by a few million Jews.

Abed al-Wahed al-Hamid wrote in the Saudi newspaper Ar-Riyadh.

“Mahathir only spoke the truth when he spoke of the power of the Jewish influence over the world.

Moreover, he was braver than the others, since what he said publicly is what others in the West are saying secretly and do not dare to say ...”

“It was a brilliant speech! Very logical,” said President Mohammad Khatami of Iran.

Read HERE Ghulam Mohammed's article "Mahathir Mohammad's Finest Hour".

No Backing Off by Mahathir

Mahathir continued his anti-Jewish campaign this week, saying the Islamic world has a right to condemn Israel and its supporters for killing Palestinians and for “taking Muslim land to give it to the Jews.”

“Are we not allowed to say that we are angry with the Jews? Are the Jews some kind of creature who cannot be condemned in any way?

I am not anti-Semitic ... I am against these Jews who kill Muslims and the Jews who support the killers of Muslims.

I condemned the Europeans as much as I condemned the Jews. You say you are not under the influence of the Jews, and yet when I criticize the Jews, the whole of the European Union wants to condemn me.

But when somebody condemns the Muslims, calls my prophet ‘terrorist,’ did the European Union say anything? Which shows that they are under the thumb of the Jews.”

The Jewish Anti Defamation League's Anti-Mahathir Campaign Went Overdrive

Anti Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman, declaring that Jewish leaders cannot afford to let Mahathir declare a holy war against the Jewish people, increased pressure on world leaders to clearly condemn Mahathir’s statements.

In letters sent to 109 world leaders, Foxman urged them “to stand up, to say that you can no longer excuse or rationalize this kind of incendiary rhetoric, this kind of hatred and scapegoating, this blaming of Jews for the ills of the Muslim world.”

The letter, co-signed by ADL national chairman Glen Tobias, was sent to countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America.

ADL already has communicated with 12 countries and recognizes others such as Germany, Italy, Britain and Spain for their strong condemnation.

“Mahathir’s speech must be condemned by responsible leaders of the civilized world as an unacceptable outrage and an affront to civilized society,” the letter said.

Media Comments from the ARAB and MUSLIM World . Read HERE for more...

Mahatir Muhammad was courageous when he presented honestly and clearly the issue of the relations between Muslims around the world and western countries and compared it with its relations with a few Jewish organizations of great influence in our modern world. The Malaysian PM's sayings about this issue were not based on a theological research or a fanatic religious point of view as it was based on a very accurate and honest, historical political and realistic view".
"Mahatir Muhammad's Speech and the Resolutions of the Islamic Summit"
(Editorial), Al-Ahram, October 19, 2003 (Egypt)

"Mahatir only spoke the truth….. The reality is that no one dares to criticize Israel, the Jews or the Zionists because then he will be blamed with 'anti-Semitism'…"
Dr. 'Abed al-Wahed al-Hamid, "A Man Who Dares to Speak",
Ar-Riyadh, October 20, 2003 (Saudi Arabia)

"…This illogical and non-objective call for war (of the EU) confirms the pressure of the Zionist lobby in the USA and Europe in order that it be harmonized with Israel's claims and make it a power free from criticism…"
"Al-Ahram's View (editorial): Not as a Defense of Mahatir Muhammad",
Al-Ahram, October 21, 2003 (Egypt)

'Nowadays, any criticism against the Jews and the Jewish policy is considered anti-Semitic. This proves how far Israel and its allies have succeeded in sanctifying Israel, preventing any side from criticizing it. "Such a common view proves Muhammad's comment on the extent to which the Jewish global influence has reached."
Fahmi Huwaidi, an Egyptian political analyst,
on Al Jazeera Arabic language satellite network (Qatar)

"Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad urged Muslims to take a common stand on the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation, and against those who rule this world by proxy - meaning Jews. President Jacques Chirac of France sent a letter to the Malaysian Prime Minister, condemning his remarks... Israel accused both of anti-semitism... A pre-made and ready accusation thrown against anyone who says 'No to Israel.'

To accuse a man like Mahathir Mohammad of anti-Israel and anti-Semitism is perhaps a normal Israeli practice... He is a Muslim... But to accuse a great world leader like president Chirac as anti-Semitic is something unimaginable... He was the first French President who accepted to bear the responsibility of the French state about what was called "transferring" French Jews during the World War II.

Second: why did they outraged by Mahathir's remarks about ruling the world by proxy?... Isn't that one who plays the role of the world ruler a "Strategic ally... and the best friend of Israel?"
Syria Times, Opinion, October 21, 2003 (Syria)

"The current row between Israel and France over Mahathir Mohamad's remarks on Jews and their role in ruling the world by proxy is something unusual -- for the French people at least. Their greatly respected President Jacque Chirac was dubbed in Israel as the Face of French Anti-Semitism, and?representative of a France that is miserable and dangerous, contemptible and a collaborator with the most vile of ideas.

The Israeli comments came as a front-page editorial in the Israeli Maariv daily, with an unflattering portrait of the French leader. The Israeli accusations went on to accuse the French people -- or a part of it at least -- of ?burning synagogues, desecrating Jewish cemeteries, persecuting Jews on the street and sullying the French public with severe expressions of anti-Semitic hatred.

As Arabs and Muslims, we are accostomed to such ready and pre-made Israeli accusations. But for the French people, they should have been astonished and shocked. French charge d'affairs in Tel Aviv Michel Miraillet expressed ?consternation and said ?this is a totally gratuitous insult .. and we are surprised by the Israeli way of reaction.

But a little advice may help: Be calm please ... you will hear a lot of such Israeli accusations as long as you call for realizing justice in this world... The accusations against you and against the Malaysian Prime Minister were directed to serve to deflect attention from Israeli acts of aggression against Arabs -- mainly Palestinians. What Mahathir said is no more than a call to ?stop violence against Palestinians and to study the situation with rationality and objectivity. And what is said about this call shows bad faith. These are lying allegations aimed at protecting Israel and deflecting attention from Israel's acts, an Arab foreign minister said as he was returning from Kuala Lumpur after attending the OIC Summit."
Syria Times, opinion by Fouad Mardoud, October 21, 2003 (Syria)

  Go to Latest Posting

---

Comments 0

---