From the same site:
FEB 23, 2003
Dr M: Iraq war will be seen as war on Muslims
KUALA LUMPUR -- Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad warned on Sunday that the Islamic world would consider a US-led attack on Iraq as 'a war against Muslims,' especially since Washington has been significantly less hawkish in handling North Korea's nuclear programme.
'The attack against Iraq will simply anger more Muslims who see this as anti-Muslim rather than anti-terror,' the Malaysian PM told a forum of business leaders coinciding with a summit of the 114-nation Non-Aligned Movement.
'The fact that North Korea's open admission that it has weapons of mass destruction has met only with mild admonishment by the West seems to prove that indeed it is a war against Muslims and not against the fear of possession of weapons of mass destruction by the so-called rogue countries.' The government of US President George W. Bush has threatened to use force to get Baghdad to give up its alleged chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.
However, Washington has stressed that it has no plans to attack North Korea despite US assertions that Pyongyang recently admitted having a secret nuclear weapons programme and North Korea's withdrawal from a key nuclear treaty.
In his speech, Dr Mahathir also accused Israel of seizing upon fears of terrorism following the attacks of Sept 11, 2001, as an excuse 'to launch terror attacks against the Palestinians.'
He said this had extended a cycle of violence. 'There is not only no end to this, but acts of terror are escalating and have already spread to other parts of the world,' he said.
The Malaysian leader said this had contributed to a rise of anti-Muslim sentiments.
'We are afraid of Muslims, of Arabs, of beards,' he said. -- AP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright @ 2003 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. |
