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| International | ||||||
| Islamic nations cite U.S. ’threat’ | ||||||
| 2003-10-14 | ||||||
| The host of the world’s largest summit of Islamic nations has denounced the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq and Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, saying they represented a threat to "the very survival" of the worldwide Muslim community. I thought Muslims themselves did that, but anyway, go on... "We are gathered here at a time characterized by great challenges confronting the Muslim Ummah (community)," Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said. "The threats of unilateralism, globalization and terrorism, the precarious situation in the Middle East and the uncertain future of Iraq ... have only served to threaten our very survival." Syed Hamid was speaking at the opening of the foreign ministers meeting of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), preparing the way for a summit by national leaders later this week that will be preoccupied with the occupation of Iraq. The gathering marks the body’s first summit in three years, when terrorism has clouded the world’s view of Islam and Muslim nations are incensed by the continuing occupation of Iraq and by Israel’s repeated crackdowns against Palestinians in the occupied territories. Don’t get the two occupations mixed up now, d’ya hear?
U.S. occupation authority??? Syed Hamid said that the Muslim world was deeply worried by the worsening situation in Iraq, saying security was "at its lowest." And we don’t see you doing anything to help out. See below re. the peacekeepers. Stabilizing Iraq and ending U.S. occupation of the country has led to a dispute within Muslim countries over whether to dispatch peacekeepers, desperately sought by the United States to ease the burden on its 130,000 troops inside the country. desperately sought??? But only Turkey so far has agreed to send peacekeepers without control over the country first being shifted to the United Nations. Really? What about Poland? Oh, you mean from Muslim countries.
Oh gee, thank you. For now Iraq is represented at the meeting by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, and by Ayad Alawi, current holder of the council’s rotating leadership. A resolution welcoming the Governing Council will be approved, but will also stress that full sovereignty should be returned to Iraq, as well as control over its oil. Yes, especially the oil. Don’t forget the oil. What about the oil, is it in the resolution? Put it in bold. And underline it. Twice.
Where was your moral duty when Saddam was in power?
No waving fingers at the Palestinians! That’s clear incitement. Malaysia, a moderate Muslim nation, has been a longtime critic of Israel and of U.S. policy in the Middle East. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad denounced both nations over the weekend for allegedly trying to spark a wider Middle East war following Israel’s airstrike against an alleged Palestinian militant training camp in Syria. Other speakers at the meeting also denounced Israel’s policies, including its threats to deport Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who is prevented from leaving the occupied territories by Israel and has sent longtime envoy Farouk Kaddoumi to represent the Palestinians.
Inability to move with time... we already knew that. Malaysian officials say their nation, as chair for the next three years, will strive to transform the organization into an effective advocate for Muslim interests. OIC Secretary-General Abdelhouahed Belkeziz said that the Muslim world was being threatened by "enormous dangers." Giant squid? Killer whales? Aliens? Asteroids? Educated women? AK-less weddings? "They are so overwhelming that they are probably unequaled in contemporary Islamic history," Belkeziz said. "Islam itself stands accused."
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| Posted by:Rafael |
| #6 Mathiar has been a pain in the neck since before September 11, though I found it real funny when he blamed George Soros a couple years ago for single-handedly destroying the Malaysian economy. |
| Posted by: OminousWhatever 2003-10-14 6:27:28 PM |
#5 a threat to "the very survival" of the worldwide Muslim community.God, I hope so! |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2003-10-14 5:14:57 PM |
| #4 Based on our detractors - the US must be headed in the right direction. Don't forget Chavez, Chretien, and Castro. We do need to do more to pissoff Vincente Fox. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-14 4:19:37 PM |
| #3 I agree with Yank, this shithead Mahathir has been spouting some of the most vile,anti-American rhetoric of anybody. Time for somebody to smack him down a few notches. Then again, that guy is a Grade A nutjob, not on the scale of Lil' Kim of the NorK's, but trying his hardest to catch up. |
| Posted by: Swiggles 2003-10-14 2:11:35 PM |
| #2 Malaysia has been bashing the US since September 11th, whining that we don't give enough Aid, that the US is attacking Moslems. The US is Malaysia's largest trading partner, I think its time the US government shows some disapproval (travel restrictions, visa restrictions, trade restrictions) to help the Malaysians clarify their stance. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-10-14 11:13:08 AM |
| #1 Anytime the Islamic leaders of the world want to get serious about their failings I'll be happy to listen to their complaints about American screw-ups. |
| Posted by: Hiryu 2003-10-14 9:15:07 AM |