Western Crusades Again

The following press statement by former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is one the most well-argued condemnations of the hanging of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Dr Mahathir noted what most Western and even Asian observers failed to notice -- Saddam was hanged on a holy day in the Muslim calendar.

And as pointed out by Dr Mahathir, the inaction thus far by the International Criminal Court against Bush, Blair and Howard exposes the double standard of the said Court, when it does not hesitate to prosecute war crimes committed in Dalfur, Rwanda and Kosovo.

The Western agenda and action in the Saddam hanging clearly reflect a continuation of its crusades.

BY TUN DR. MAHATHIR MOHAMAD
The Barbaric Lynching of President Saddam Hussein

On the Holy day of Eid, the world watched in horror at the barbaric lynching of President Saddam Hussein of Iraq, allegedly for crimes against humanity. This public murder was sanctioned by the War Criminals, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair.

This sadistic act broadcasted to the whole world is a travesty of justice, and was meant to demonstrate the imperial power of the United States and serves as a warning to peace loving peoples that we must either bow to the dictates of the Bush regime or face the consequences of a public lynching.

The lynching was also an insult to all Muslims, as it occurred on the Holy Day of Eid, whereby Muslims devote themselves to prayer and forgiveness. It is all too clear that the war criminal Bush has no sensitivities whatsoever for Muslims on their pilgrimage to Mecca. This barbaric act is a sacrilege!

The entire trial process was a mockery of justice, no less a Kangaroo Court. Defence counsels were brutally murdered, witnesses threatened and judges removed for being impartial and replaced by puppet judges. Yet, we are told that Iraq was invaded to promote democracy, freedom and justice.

A peaceful country has now been turned into a war zone. Over 500,000 children died as a result of the criminal economic sanctions, and the latest findings by the medical journal, Lancet reveals that over 650,000 Iraqis have died since the illegal invasion of 2003.

The War Criminal Bush has killed more Iraqis than President Saddam ever did, if in fact he was guilty of any crime. If President Saddam Hussein is guilty of war crimes, then the world must find Bush, Blair and Howard equally guilty and the International Criminal Court cannot but prosecute these war criminals. The inaction thus far by the International Criminal Court against Bush, Blair and Howard exposes the double standard of the said Court, when it does not hesitate to prosecute war crimes committed in Dalfur, Rwanda and Kosovo.

If we support human rights and justice, we must condemn this barbaric lynching of President Saddam Hussein. There can be no excuse whatsoever for this injustice under any circumstances. War Criminal Bush and the puppet regime in Iraq have made a mockery of the Rule of Law.

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
Member of the International Committee
For the Defence of President Saddam Hussein
30th December 2006

Note: Pix and press statement sourced via Screenshots

Irony of Iraq

By Uncle C

The fiasco in Iraq progresses from bad to worse. I just watched a terrifying film made by an Iraqi doctor about life in a Baghdad hospital. The physical conditions of the hospital were like a bad nightmare. Mutilated patients torn apart by bombs and gunfire screamed as the hard-pressed doctors struggled to cope.

It is a horrible irony that at a time when Iraq so desperately needs doctors, those same doctors are fleeing abroad; it is estimated that 80 percent of the nation’s doctors have gone overseas. The same goes for blood supplies, which are in unprecedented demand. Terrorists have been targeting blood donors, gunning them down as they leave the hospital. Even the hospital’s head of security was shot dead by insurgents.

No doubt you will recall the televised scenes of jubilation a few years ago as American tanks pulled statues of the dictator Saddam Hussein off their plinths. Huge crowds of Iraqis cheered in delight. They stamped on the statues and removed their shoes, using them to beat Saddam's face — the ultimate humiliation for an Iraqi. We even saw Iraqi men gleefully urinating on posters of Saddam.

Well, I have to tell you that in another irony of the war, those same Iraqis are now saying life was better under Saddam. I watched in disbelief as Iraqi after Iraqi shouted at the camera that they want Saddam back. ‘Let Saddam out of his prison! Put him back in charge! At least Iraq was peaceful under him. Life under Saddam was paradise compared to this mad house!’ So the complaints carried on.

I could not help sympathising with those distraught Iraqis. Saddam Hussein may have been a brutal dictator who thought nothing of murdering his enemies but at least Iraq was a peaceful functioning country. The electricity supply was reliable; today it works for about four hours a day. Under Saddam Iraq was a secular nation, Islam had no place in political life; today rival religious extremists are tearing the country apart. The hospitals had medicines and plenty of doctors, healthcare was among the best in the Middle East; today it is a shambles. Iraqi women used to be free to work and did not feel compelled to wear face veils; today women who do not veil themselves are liable to be murdered by extremists. The ironies of this war are as endless as they are pitiful.

Perhaps the most supreme irony of all was that the job of war President fell on the shoulders of a man so supremely unqualified — George Bush. Being a leader when calamity strikes requires very special and rare qualities. That 9/11 should have happened under President Bush, and so early in his presidency, was the saddest and ultimate irony for America, Iraq and the world.

In fact, my worry extends to the Bush family. Did you see the interview — I think on Larry King Live — with the present President Bush’s father, who when U.S. President had refused to continue the Gulf War to Bagdad. When asked what advice he had given his son about Iraq, the elder statesman and former President Bush replied ‘I did not give George any advice. Like any father I do not interfere. I let him get on with the job’. ‘But you are a former President. This is more than a father and son relationship,’ continued the interviewer. I was amazed that Bush senior apparently could not appreciate that as a former war President with direct knowledge of Iraq, he almost had a duty to give advice even to a President who is his son.

Perhaps there we have the biggest irony of all. Father and son, both Presidents of the world superpower, who do not communicate with each other about events that really matter. I fear that their wealth clouds their judgement.

Bushwhacked Saddam Hussein Hanged

Latest news from AFP -- Saddam Hussein has been hanged.


Saddam Hussein executed in Baghdad: Iraqi official
30/12/2006 04h02
Saddam Hussein©AFP/Pool/File - Stefan Zaklin

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Ousted dictator Saddam Hussein and two former allies have been hanged as Iraq braced itself nervously for possible reprisals by his remaining supporters, officials said.

"The execution of Saddam Hussein is complete," state television said in a text headline broadcast against a background of Koranic verses.

"Saddam Hussein was hanged until death ensued. A black page in the history of Iraq has been turned," it added in a second news flash, as joyful popular music filled the airwaves.

Mariam al-Rayis, an official in the foreign ministry who attended the execution, said in an interview on state television news that the three men were hanged one after the other.

"It was between 5.30am and 6.30am," she said. "The whole thing was filmed."

Saddam the Martyr?

It won't be the end of conflict in the Middle East although the United States and allies have effectively 'silenced' former Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein.

Saddam was executed yesterday following a decision by the court of the US-backed regime. CNN and Reuters reports are quite extensive, plus very troubling footage from Iraqi TV on the noose being placed around Saddam's neck.

He has been hanged and is now buried next to his sons. What a tragic symbol of the end of the despot.

What is indeed troubling is that Saddam may go down in history as a victim rather than a tyrant. He was defiant, refusing to be hooded, yet subdued as he was led by the hangman to his final moments. His apparent courage in his final moments may elevate him to the status of martyr by his supporters. Even UK and Australia -- the two deputy sheriffs to US President George Bush in the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 -- have condemned the hanging as they don't support capital punishment.

Yes, Saddam was a tyrant when he was in power. He has been hanged for giving orders to wipe out 148 men and boys following an assassination attempt on him.

What about successive Israeli leadership's role in killing thousands of Palestinians and flattening countless Palestinian villages following each suicide bombing by desperate Palestinians on hapless Israelis? Will the US invade Israel one day and put its leaders on trial for crime against humanity?

Or will the world put President Bush on trial for crime against humanity one day? He issued the orders for the wrongful invasion of Iraq that led to the death of more than 650,000 Iraqis.

Impeachment is too light a punishment.

Note: Earlier postings on Saddam Hussein.

Hang Saddam, Bush

The world press is flooded with articles on the expected hanging of former Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity. There is no doubt that he deserves some form of punishment for the death of 148 Iraqis and other crimes he committed as president before the country was invaded by the order of US President George Bush in 2003.

But if the Saddam verdict was right, former Malaysian premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had correctly said that Bush should also be tried for a bigger crime -- death of 650,000 Iraqis and the brutal torture of thousands of innocent men, women and children. But Bush is still the President of the most powerful nation.

Will such injustice turn an evil man like Saddam into a martyr? Saddam definitely thinks so.

Extract of Saddam's rather poignant farewell on Aljazeera.

I call on you not to hate because hate does not leave space for a person to be fair and it makes you blind and closes all doors of thinking.

I also call on you not to hate the people of the other countries that attacked us.

I sacrifice myself. If God wills it, he will place me among the true men and martyrs.

Bush More Popular than Christ!

America is an odd country with such a dichotomy of views. At the end of one spectrum, US President George W Bush was named as villain of the year in a survey. In the same survey, he was hailed as hero of the year, beating even Jesus Christ in the ranking.

Bush was named as a hero although he had earned the wrath of many for ordering the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The unprovoked war led to the downfall of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, who has since been tried and sentenced to hang. According to AFP, Saddam may be hanged as early as today to help stem any further insurgency that has rocked Iraq in recent days following the verdict.

Despite his chequered past, Saddam put up a brave front and offered to sacrifice himself when he got the death sentence earlier this week. Jesus, of course, had sacrificed himself as well for humanity.

What's Bush's sacrifice?

Villains and Heroes
AP Poll By The Associated Press

Demographics and details from the AP-AOL News poll on Americans' attitudes about who were the biggest heroes and villains of the past year. The poll was conducted by Ipsos, an international polling firm.

OVERALL: In a testament to how divided Americans are about their president and how strongly held those opinions are, George W. Bush earns two titles in the latest AP-AOL News poll: villain of the year and hero of the year. The poll asked adults to name a famous person to be named the biggest villain of the year, and allowed respondents to pick any name. 25 percent of adults picked George W. Bush as the biggest villain of the year. The poll also asked a similar question asking respondents to name a famous person as the biggest hero of the year, and Bush received the largest number of mentions, at 13 percent of all respondents.

VILLAIN OF YEAR: Bush was the choice of 43 percent of Democrats for villain of the year, higher than the 27 percent of Republicans who chose Bush as their hero. Bush was far ahead of any other figure in the race for villain of the year. The runners-up were Osama bin Laden, who earned just 8 percent of mentions, Saddam Hussein, at 6 percent, and the president of Iran with 5 percent of mentions. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il rounded out the top five with just 2 percent of all mentions.

HERO OF YEAR: In the race for hero of the year, Bush won by a smaller margin, with the troops in Iraq coming in second place with 6 percent of mentions. Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama and Jesus Christ rounded out the top five with 3 percent of mentions each. Older adults were more likely to name Bush as hero than younger adults. Those 35 and older, 16 percent, were twice as likely as those under 35, 7 percent, to name Bush as hero. Fully a quarter of white evangelical Christians named Bush as hero, more than all Protestants, 18 percent, and Catholics, 12 percent.

Analysis by AP Manager of News Surveys Trevor Tompson

Dr M Giving Umno Meet a Miss

According to The Star, former Malaysian PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad will give the general assembly of the United Malays National Organisation on Monday a miss after recovering from his mild heart attack. The former PM and Umno president looks good in The Star picture although the report said he seemed weak during the 20-minute interview.

(Pix: The Star)
Dr M, 81, definitely needs to take it easier at his age and after his second heart attack, and choose his battle more selectively. He can still be a useful watchdog of Malaysia and the rest of the world.

In the case of Malaysia, most of his criticisms of the current administration warrant a scrutiny although some feel that the "pensioner" should stay mum. They include issues like the much abused Approved Permit car import system, the need for national carmaker Proton to get a foreign strategic partner, the need to step up and distribute more equitably government development expenditure, the need to rein in nepotism and cronyism, and the need to build a new bridge to replace the old causeway linking southern Malaysia and Singapore.

In the international arena, Dr M continues to provide a necessary Asian voice in the world dominated by Western and American agenda. For example, the US President George Bush, who ordered the invasion of Iraq in 2003, was quick to endorse the Iraqi court decision last week to sentence former President Saddam Hussein to death for "for crimes against humanity for the killings and torture of hundreds of Shi'ites".

Dr M's equally quick response: "A court set up by his enemies has no right to try Saddam Hussein. A court set up by an illegal occupying power has no jurisdiction whatsoever to conduct the said proceedings."

Mahathir reportedly added that if the verdict was right, then US President Bush and British PM Tony Blair should also be tried "for the unlawful invasion and occupation of Iraq, the death of over 650,000 Iraqis and the brutal torture of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay."

PS: Blair has said he opposed the death penalty for Saddam following the Iraqi court decision.

Downsides of Democracy

By Uncle Cheng

As we know, Hong Kong's fascination with democracy was launched by our last colonial governor Fat Pang. Before his 'reign' the word 'politics' had almost been a taboo word in polite Hong Kong society. Fat Pang politicised Hong Kong and we are still not sure where it will all end.

But perhaps this is as good a moment as any to consider democracy's record around the world. I must warn you that the picture is not a pleasant one. Far from it. In fact, I would say that democracy as a system of government is going through a very bad patch and is in retreat in many countries.

You might imagine that one benefit of a democratic system would be more openness and less corruption. But that does not seem to the case at all. Just take a look at endemic corruption in democratic South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines ... I could go on but I think you get the picture.

Then you might think a democratic government would be more stable because it supposedly reflects the popular will. How then do you explain the military coup in Thailand where the introduction of a democratic system was supposed to have stopped such an event. The same happened in Pakistan some years back when a lengthy period of popular democratic government was suddenly swept aside by army generals.

The experience of the former Soviet Union is also revealing. There was great excitement in the west, especially in the U.S., when Boris Yeltsin won a landslide election to rule a democratic Russia . But what of that democracy today? Russia has kept its name but the government has become increasingly autocratic under President Putin and democracy is having a very rough time.

And what of Iraq whose people were trampled on by that vile dictator Saddam Hussein. The Iraqis, so the Americans thought, would be delighted to embrace democracy? Today, not only are democratic ideals in ruins in Iraq, but the Iraqi example has sent democratic dreams into retreat in neighbouring countries.

But by far the most compelling and worrying example of democracy in action is to be found in Britain. But isn't Britain meant to be the ultimate example of a functioning democracy that works without blemishes? Not now it isn't! The British Prime Minister has been interviewed twice by police investigating allegations of corruption and attempts to pervert the course of justice. A member of his staff was arrested early one morning at her home. A close colleague and member of the House of Lords was also arrested.

And it gets worse. Tony Blair went to an elite public school, became a barrister, and is a devout Christian. You expect him to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. But his opponents are compiling a long list of things he has said in his career that have proved to be untrue. In the early days it was minor untruths such as when he first entered politics he said he had written articles for the Guardian newspaper but no such articles have ever been found. More recently in 2002, he famously claimed that "the intelligence community had established beyond doubt" that Saddam Hussein was making chemical and biological weapons and was on his way to making nuclear weapons. It was all untrue.

Do they really believe that democracy will cure all known ills? Would you prefer to be ruled over by a benevolent dictatorship instead? The only problem is that benevolent dictators are in very short supply.

Welcome to 2007!

Pix credit clockwise from top left: Bombing in Bangkok (AFP pix via The Straits Times), Fireworks in Sydney (Reuters pix via The Straits Times), Fireworks at Marina Bay in Singapore (The Business Times), and the hanging of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein (Iraqi TV footage via CNN).

The new year started rather ominously with mixed images of celebration and suffering. Fireworks across the region were probably eclipsed by the more unforgettable images of the hanging of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein hours before the new year. Bombs also marred the celebration in Thailand, killing at least two people.

Dr M for Nobel Peace Prize

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize this year, according to The Star and other reports earlier this week.

Four non-governmental organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina nominated the longest-serving Malaysian leader for the coveted prize for his leadership when Malaysia provided economic, political and humanitarian support to a Bosnia-Herzegovina recovering from the trauma of genocide and ethnic cleansing in the 1992-95 civil war. The other candidates include former US Vice-President Al Gore, Finnish peace broker Martti Ahtisaari and Chinese dissident Rebiya Kadeer.

In a nomination paper signed by Dr Ganic made available to The Star, Dr Mahathir was described as the Third World’s “most illustrious contemporary” and its “most courageous advocate.” Dr Mahathir, 81, who retired from public office in 2003, launched the Kuala Lumpur Initiative to Criminalise War in December 2005 and chairs the Perdana Global Peace Organisation.

Will Dr M join the illustrious club of peace laureates? I think he should although there are other deserving candidates as well.

Dr M is eminently qualified to clinch the Nobel Peace Prize. Apart from what he had done in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he has tried to broker peace in Myanmar and southern Thailand selflessly. He has been pushing the agenda of the Third World in a peaceful manner. He has preached the policy of 'prosper-thy-neighbour' and practised it. He has not been afraid to speak out against blatant injustice such as the unprovoked invasion of Iraq and the execution of its former president Saddam Hussein.

But I somehow think the odds will be against Dr M. Why? There could be many forces that will lobby against him (or lobby for others) simply because he's too outspoken and blunt for the liking of leaders of certain developed nations. For example, the United States, United Kingdom and Australia -- the axis that effectively invaded Iraq -- would probably root for former US Vice-President Al Gore.

The powerful Jewish lobby may work against Dr M as well. Dr M was unfairly accused of being anti-Jew when he spoke about the need for Muslims to emulate Jews in 2003. He was chastised by the Western world and the Jewish community when he said: "'The Europeans killed six million Jews out of 12 million. But today the Jews rule this world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them."

But Dr M was merely advocating Muslims to counter Jews in a more effective manner, without resorting to violence. Read his original speech for proper context. Perhaps, one cannot even criticise anything linked to Jews or Israel. After all, it's amazing that historian David Irving was jailed for denying the existence of the Holocaust!

True, Dr M is not the most diplomatic person. He has the tendency to exaggerate to make a point. He is sarcastic. He can be combative. He is relentless. Nevertheless, he is a true Asian voice that is sorely needed in a world dominated by Western agenda. Others may say things in a more diplomatic manner but their actions tell a different story.

In the final analysis, I think Dr M has done more good than harm as an elder statesman in this world. And he has done more good as a peace broker than many pseudo doves.

I therefore hope the Norwegian peace committee will be truly impartial in picking the peace broker of 2007.

But Dr M will probably continue to speak his mind, with or without the Nobel Peace Prize.