Bush condemns Malaysian remarks on Jews

[Rose Siding]

BANGKOK, Thailand -- President Bush on Monday personally condemned the Malaysian prime minister for his statement that Jews rule the world, pulling Mahathir Mohamad aside at an international economic meeting to tell him the remarks were "wrong and divisive," Bush's spokesman said.

snip>

Mahathir, Asia's senior statesman in Asia whose pugnacious, articulate speeches against globalization and U.S. policy in the Middle East have a strong following, triggered an uproar last week at a summit of Islamic countries by stating that "Jews rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them."

The thrust of his address was that the world's 1.3 billion Muslims had been outmaneuvered by "a few million Jews" and needed to give up violence in favor of using greater unity and improved education to defend their interests peacefully. But the comments about Jews prompted outrage from Washington, Australia and the European Union.

"Everyone thinks the comments were hateful, they are outrageous," Rice told reporters. Bush "thinks those remarks were reprehensible. I do not think they are emblematic of the Muslim world," she said.

snip>

The outraged Western reaction was in marked contrast to the standing ovation Mahathir received from the leaders of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference - including several U.S. allies.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Asian%20Summit%20Malaysia

[SCDem]

1. Why won't he say that same thing to the military officer

who was found to be saying bad things about the muslim people and religion?

[Cocoa]

6. that would seem more logical, I agree

especially since Boykin is under his own command, in his own government, in his own country.

[PsychoDad]

13. I was going to ask the same, SCDem

n/t

[emad]

2. Guess it won't be too long before someone hands him a

dictionary and asks him to look up 'polemics' in the P section....

[flamingyouth]

3. * condemns religious intolerance?

No irony there, folks. <sarcasm>

When he condemns Pat Robertson or Gen. Boykin, then I will sit up and take note!

[0007]

7. "Rush Limbaugh is a pillar of society!"

LOL!!

[thebigidea]

4. snicker

"Mahathir, Asia's senior statesman in Asia"

brought to you by your Department of Redundancy Department, no doubt.

[Josh]

5. *LOL*

I just noticed that! :)

[RobertSeattle]

8. Wow - that only took 4 days

Our great leader - Rove must have had to waited for polling data to see if this would be smart to do.

[SilasSoule]

9. I still havn't heard Bush condemn

Pat Roberston's remarks that the State Department should be blown up with a nuclear device. Did I miss it?

[Rose Siding]

10. You didn't miss it.

He's cool with that!

[oneighty]

11. Mahathir

Sends a message here. 1.3 Billion to "A few million". The Few million have the power now, but it cannot last, it will not last. That is what he is saying. Bush* can condemn the statement all he wants. He cannot change it.

180

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. Are You Saying That The Thrust Of Mahatir's Remarks Were Correct?

I hope not.....


His remarks were wack.....


As were General Boykin's remarks


Those two knuckle scrapers deserve one another....

[PsychoDad]

14. I think he's right about Islamic unity.

Islam is more than just the arabs. At last count, I belive, Islam was the world's 2nd largest religion.

If Isreal and the US had to face a united Islamic front, not just Middle Eastern, but global...It could make a big differnce, and that resistance need not be violent.

Imagine an Islamic boycott on all things Israeli or American. No more Coke, Tobacco, McDonalds or KFC, No more US made weapons(Saudi is the #1 buyer of US made weapons). There are other markets for these things other than the US. On top of that the refusal to sell oil, rubber, even water to these 2 rouge nations. The impact would be considerable and quick.

The key here is Islamic Unity. Economic, not violent resistance to the "west" Is the way to get the attention of these powers, and to make an impact on the affairs of these countries.

[DulceDecorum]

15. Here: read the speech for yourself

SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA THE HON DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD AT THE OPENING OF THE TENTH SESSION OF THE ISLAMIC SUMMIT CONFERENCE AT PUTRAJAYA CONVENTION CENTRE, PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA ON THURSDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2003 AT 10.00 A.M.
http://www.bernama.com/oicsummit/speechr.php?id=35&cat=BI

It is not that long.
This is one of the excerpts that is NOT getting play but I think it is a better representatation of what the man was saying.

41. Apart from the partial unity that we need, we must take stock of our assets. I have already mentioned our numbers and our oil wealth. In today's world we wield a lot of political, economic and financial clout, enough to make up for our weakness in military terms.
42. We also know that not all non-Muslims are against us. Some are welldisposed towards us. Some even see our enemies as their enemies. Even among the Jews there are many who do not approve of what the Israelis are doing.
http://www.bernama.com/oicsummit/speechr.php?id=35&cat=BI

Incidentally, the guy behind this is VERY influential in banking circles and he is one of the major forces behind the gold dinar and the abandonment of the dollar.
He strongly advocates for an Islamic banking cartel that will follow shariah- Islamic law- and NOT charge interest.
Naturally the European and American banking institutions arre dead set against this and are prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure that interest-free banking does not come to pass.
Hence the war against Islam.
Check it out.
http://www.moneyfiles.org/goldwar.html

[Sesquipedalian]

16. There is nothing "Islamic" about the gold dinar

The Dinar falls under the category of "Masalih" meaning things that are things of benefit neither permited nor denied by Islamic law that are permitted to exist. It's a bunch of foolishness on par with American "John Birch" type reactionism over the gold standard.

[Loyal]

17. Okay, okay,

I thought of ONE good thing Bush has done, in response to another thread.

This.

This is the only good thing I have seen him do in almost 3 years. Don't count on many more moments like this. This is blatant anti-semitism, and is almost as bad as when Syria's President, Bashar Assad, blamed Jesus's death on the Jews a while back. :puke:

[RobertSeattle]

18. I agree, but why did it take so long?

This kind of thing needs to be slammed as soon as it comes out - not until Rove puts a script in front of *.

[Loyal]

19. Good question

nt

[cliss]

20. My thoughts exactly, PsychoD.

I could not have said it better myself. Words, rows of protesters, shaking signs, curses sworn, angry bitter diatribes here at the DU, letters to the Editor are NOTHING compared to the power of a unified front.

Imagine the Islamic World (there are 4 muslims to every 1 american) banding together to boycott American made products. You're right - it would produce quick results.

That's all they understand: the almighty dollar, or the lack of it.