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| International |
| Ban war, Mahathir tells the world |
| 2003-02-25 |
| Expressing conviction that the world must be freed from the shackles of the age-old belief that killing people can solve problems of relations between nations, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants a revitalised Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to struggle to ban war. "War must be outlawed. That will have to be our struggle for now. We must struggle for justice and freedom from oppression, from economic hegemony", said the great leader of Malaysia in his historical sppech at very critical phase of history, "in the first NAM meeting in the new century and in fact the millennium. But we must remove the threat of war first. With this Sword of Democles hanging over our heads, we can never succeed in advancing the interests of our countries." I think that's an absolutely ducky idea. As soon as we see swarms of jihadis singing "Ain't a-gonna study war no more," we'll get right on it. Okay? Dr Mahathir, who takes over the chair of NAM from South African President Thabo Mbeki, said the movement must endeavour to outlaw nuclear weapons, stop the research and development of more and more lethal so-called conventional weapons and control arms trade. "We know we are weak. But we also know we have allies in the North. They too want the abolition of wars, the slaughter of people for whatever reason. They may not agree with us in everything, but in the opposition to war, very many will be with us. They are ready to oppose their warlike leaders. We must work with them." "At least until the jihadis blow up large numbers of their people and destroy a few national monuments. Then we'll have to work with somebody else." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #3 Trickster, phoney double-faced beguiler. It is easy to pontificate in front of a crowd composed of Mugabes, Mushraffs, and Mbekis of this world. Does Mahathir still have his bearings intact? Has he forgotten, that it was as recent as January 06, of the current year he was propounding theory of giving Singapore a, âa bloody noseâ in a war. In addition, he has been on and off threatening Singapore that he will turn off the water tap, as Malaysia supplies most of Singapore's water. Forgetting the fact, that Malaysia will suffer equally worse if Singapore pulls its investment out of that county. Dr. Mahathir Mohamad sure suffers from selective amnesia, again as recent as end of last year when the Australian prime minister proposed "pre-emptive strikes" after Bali bombing,in the Howard doctrine that Australia might strike first at any potential target that could threaten Australian security (i.e. even if they have to do this in foreign soil). Dr. Mohamad behaved as if the doctrine was intended in particularity for his country and construed it as a threat. He snapped that Australia should limit the scope of its duties to peacekeeping in East Timor. "It only confirms our earlier stand that Australia is a stooge of the United States. What moral right do they have to claim the position as the policeman for Asia? They might have the military capability, but this does not give them any justification to think that they are superior to other countries." No country in the area including Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, or Philippines â all having superior firepower than Malaysia responded in any form to the doctrine. The Spratly Islands has been a continuing six-sided dispute over ownership of the tiny islets and rocks known in the South China Sea. The area is believed to be rich in undersea oil and gas deposits. China and Vietnam have been at the forefront of the dispute, having come to blows over the issue. Lately the two countries have adopted a less confrontational stance, avoiding exploration in the area and sharply limiting activity in disputed blocks already tendered to foreign companies. China, Vietnam and Taiwan claim sovereignty over all the islands in the 800 km long chain, while the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei claim at least some. The Spratlys have long been a regional flash point, and some of the claimants occupy several of the islands and station troops there. It is a potential flashpoint as and least to say Malaysia, also has with others a military presence there. It has all ways been foregrounded for Dr. Mahathir's grandiose schemes are at the root of Malaysia's massive debt, leading in turn to the currency crisis. Commentators,fear that his combative, anti-Western stance will worsen Malaysia's recession. They also question the links between politics and business that have created crony capitalists close to his political party and its leaders. In addition, the manner he tailored the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim (on charges of an implicit leadership challenge.) The challenge was therefore aborted leaving Dr Mahathir unlikely to be opposed at party polls. That all has left Malaysia in the hands in this 72-year-old man who undergone a quintuple heart bypass operation in 1989, has no successor, and has embarked on an economic regimen that flies in the face of free market principles. After 17 years in office and already South-east Asia's longest-serving leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad has habit of indulging in such ideal talk of banning wars particularly when his audiences has duplicitous, double faced, deceitful,Mugabes, Mushraffs,or Mbekis of this world. |
| Posted by: ISHMAIL 2003-02-25 12:19:00 |
| #2 hang on guys. mahathir has been very solid in the fight against JI. Words like the above are cheap, and help him domestically. they dont cost us anything if we dont let them. especially as malaysia is not on the UNSC |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-02-25 12:07:46 |
| #1 Kumbaya, doc. Kumbaya. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-02-25 10:48:39 |