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Mahathir blasts Americans, Bush (and endorses Kerry)
The Australian ^ | 10/19

Posted on 10/18/2004 5:47:39 PM PDT by ambrose

Mahathir blasts Americans, Bush

From correspondents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

19oct04

AMERICANS were "very ignorant" and would almost certainly re-elect a "liar" as their president, Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said in an interview published today.

The trademark tongue lashing directed at US President George W. Bush also took in his allies - Prime Minister John Howard and Britain's Tony Blair.

In an interview with Malaysia's The Star newspaper Dr Mahathir also did not spare Mr Bush's rival, Senator John Kerry, saying both politicians were "in total denial" about the root causes of terrorism.

Dr Mahathir stepped down as prime minister after 22 years in office on October 31, 2003.

He worked with the United States in cracking down on terror while in office, but said Islamic terrorism had been fuelled by US and Israeli injustices against the Palestinians.

He said neither Mr Bush nor Senator Kerry wanted to address the root problem of terrorism because that would "annoy the Jewish group (voters)".

"If you mention Palestine as the root cause (of terrorism), you will lose the election. So neither Kerry nor Bush will mention Palestine.

"But surprisingly, the electorate appears to be willing to accept a person who told a blatant lie and to elect a liar as their president," he said, referring to Mr Bush's claims about Saddam Hussein stockpiling weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

"The American people are, by and large, very ignorant and know nothing about the rest of the world. ... yet they are the people who will decide who will be the most powerful man in the world."

He said he expected Mr Bush to win the November 2 poll.

"They (accepted) Blair, and I am sure they will accept Bush. They have already accepted Howard who told a blatant lie," he said without elaborating.

But Dr Mahathir apparently sees Sen Kerry as the lesser of two evils.

In an open letter dated October 15 to America's Muslim community, Dr Mahathir urged them to vote for Sen Kerry, saying Mr Bush has been "the cause of the tragedies" across the Muslim world.

"Vote Bush out of office," Dr Mahathir said. "It is truly an ibadah (act of devotional worship) that you perform."

Although adored and respected by many in Malaysia, Dr Mahathir's last days in office were tainted by a controversial speech he gave at a summit of Islamic leaders when he said "Jews rule the world by proxy".

He also came under criticism from democracy advocates around the world for firing and subsequently jailing his deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in September 1998 for sodomy and corruption.

Mr Anwar was released from prison last month after his sodomy conviction was overturned. He had completed serving his corruption sentence.

In The Star interview, Dr Mahathir said Mr Anwar's release would not have any effect on the country's politics. "I don't think Anwar has got any more credibility," he said.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: antiamericanism; antisemitesforkerry; foreignleaders; kerry; mahathir; malaysia
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1 posted on 10/18/2004 5:47:39 PM PDT by ambrose
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To: ambrose

And the "Muslims of the world endorse Kerry" bandwagon gets larger and larger.


2 posted on 10/18/2004 5:48:35 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: ambrose

Malaysia's former prime minister can screw himself in the a$$ for all I care.


3 posted on 10/18/2004 5:48:45 PM PDT by conservativo (A close to empty ketchup bottle is a good example of what John Kerry does under pressure: it farts!)
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To: ambrose

Fine then...Cut off the financial aid spigot to Malaysia and then we'll see who is ignorant.


4 posted on 10/18/2004 5:50:20 PM PDT by Chickenhawk Warmonger (GOD BLESS THE USA!)
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To: ambrose

Another foreign leader for Kerry.


5 posted on 10/18/2004 5:50:58 PM PDT by Reaganez
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To: ambrose

for Mahathir to call anybody a liar is like a pot calling a kettle black (sic)


6 posted on 10/18/2004 5:51:09 PM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: ambrose

Another impeccable endorsement for Kerry.


7 posted on 10/18/2004 5:51:35 PM PDT by Tamar1973 ("He who is compassionate to the cruel, ends up being cruel to the compassionate." Chazal)
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To: ambrose

Isn't he the same guy who said the Holocaust never happened.


8 posted on 10/18/2004 5:51:41 PM PDT by Ptarmigan (Proud rabbit hater and killer)
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To: ambrose

Another Jew/Israeli hater endorses Kerry? Surprise, surprise!


9 posted on 10/18/2004 5:52:06 PM PDT by Sower (sower)
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To: ambrose

Hey Mahathir,
From one dumb American to one braindead Indonesian,

"See the concern in my eye?"
( Pulling down lower eyelid with middle finger."


10 posted on 10/18/2004 5:52:52 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: ambrose

Just another reflection of the Muslim world...and what it means to America. Muslims are weak, unable to clean up their own ranks, yet they pander to the sub-human scum in their ranks, to protect their own cowardly butts.

If I could, I would order every one of them out of the USA. They do not deserve to be in this country, for more reasons than one can count...


11 posted on 10/18/2004 5:54:05 PM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: ambrose

"Mohamad" says? I guess we should be shaking in our boots.


12 posted on 10/18/2004 5:55:01 PM PDT by freeangel (freeangel)
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To: ambrose

"If you mention Palestine as the root cause (of terrorism), you will lose the election. So neither Kerry nor Bush will mention Palestine.


If I recall correctly our President refused to negotiate with Palestine while they have a terrorist for a leader.


13 posted on 10/18/2004 5:56:19 PM PDT by Two Dawgs
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To: ambrose

The voice Asian Islam. How many has he had arrested and murdered?


14 posted on 10/18/2004 5:57:11 PM PDT by Dallas59 (I'm a "Scumbag" who has been "Intimidating" the Press since 2003!)
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To: ambrose
Dr Mahathir stepped down as prime minister after 22 years in office on October 31, 2003.

So now he's just another peon? Why should we care what he says now?

15 posted on 10/18/2004 6:00:03 PM PDT by nosofar
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To: Sower

"Another Jew/Israeli hater endorses Kerry? Surprise, surprise!" Yup, even though his endorsement was a little lukewarm.

Nuttin' to see here, folks, move right along...


16 posted on 10/18/2004 6:03:03 PM PDT by Theresawithanh (Kerry says "Vote for me I have a plan" - I'm voting for Bush, 'cause he's da MAN!)
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To: ambrose

Frankly, this American is just too ignorant to comprehend the multitudinous "root causes" of terrorism, whether they be Palestine or poverty. For me the root causes of terrorism need be considered no deeper than the people who are committing acts of it, and to what degree they're bulletproof.


17 posted on 10/18/2004 6:04:02 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: ambrose
He said neither Mr Bush nor Senator Kerry wanted to address the root problem of terrorism because that would "annoy the Jewish group (voters)".

Ahhh yes - the old tried and true convenient scapegoats...the jooooos.


18 posted on 10/18/2004 6:08:21 PM PDT by reagan_fanatic (President Kerry - - there, scared ya didn't I?)
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To: tet68

Please don't call Mahathir an Indonesian. He's NOT. He is the former Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Different country. It would be like calling Bush the President of Canada, for crying out loud.

As for the rest of your reply, the guts of it, I second the finger motion.


19 posted on 10/18/2004 7:03:55 PM PDT by John Valentine
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To: John Valentine

You are right that this is not a very productive use of my time, but you need to face this fact: Your hypothetical was third-grade silly, and it is YOU, not me that is frustrated.

The utter lack of people taking you seriously, exemplified by the fact that my replies account for about 20% of the traffic, is obviously hard for you to take in.

Signing off for good.


20 posted on 10/18/2004 7:26:11 PM PDT by John Valentine
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