[Maharlika]

...not against Iraq. (... - Mah)
Kuala Lumpur, AFP


Western nations are targeting Muslims rather than weapons of mass destruction in their drive towards war against Iraq, Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday.

The incoming chairman of the 114-nation Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which holds a summit today (24 Feb), cited the West's differing treatment of North Korea and Iraq as proof.

"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 against Muslims and not against the fear of the possession of weapons of mass destruction by the so-called rogue states," Dr. Mahathir told a business forum.
[snip]

Although, I do agree with the PM when he cited the West's double standards as Pyongyang is seemingly ignored, I wholeheartedly disagree that the West's (US and UK) drive against Iraq is actually against Muslims.

IMO, it's all about oil. I mean, what's so interesting about N.Korea? What do they have aplenty that the Westen states have a dire need of?

Personally, such statements from a moderate Muslim leader like him would only fan the flames of global terrorism and anger more Muslims who are likely to view the strike as against their religion rather than terrorism.

I would have wanted to tell him to think carefully of what he's saying... I mean, assuming the PM is right what do these Western states get from picking on Muslims? What would be their logical motive?

Yeah, if I had the chance I would have wanted to ask him just that: If what he is saying is true, the question is why pick on the Muslims? What for?