Robi's South Asia Briefing: 2003-10-29

Winds of Change.NET Regional Briefings run on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, and sometimes Fridays too. This Regional Briefing focuses on South Asia, courtesy of Robi Sen.

TOP TOPIC

• Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad touched off a firestorm with a speech to the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Malaysia that made numerous disturbing comments about Jews ruling the world, etc. He also exhortated Islamic world to arm itself. We have a roundup of blogosphere reactions to Mahathir's comments inside...

• JK: Are Pakistan's actions making nuclear proliferation unstoppable? "Fibonacci's Nukes" offers a sobering analysis of the current situation.

Other Topics Today Include: More on Mahathir; Our problematic allies; Philippines reports; Indonesia; Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in a nukes deal; Pakistan's mixed record; G.W. Bush's success in Asia; is South Asia cyber terrorism central; and more.

Mahathir & Malaysia

• RE: Mahathir. Little Green Footballs, which reports closely on organized hatred in the Islamic world, has numerous posts here. The Gewilo and Niraj have commentary on Mahathir speech while ChannelNews has a great article on Mahathir and his administration. Personally I am happy he is stepping down at the end of this month, it is time for a change.

• JK: Daniel Drezner's take on the speech as a reflection of Islam in 2003 is also worth serious consideration. Congrats on being reprinted in India's 3rd-largest paper, Dan!

• Malaysia, in many ways demonstrates the difficulties the world has in waging the War on Terror; which is, many of the countries where terrorist come from, train, are financed, and launch their attacks are the same countries that are our allies. Yet they are allies who routinely criticize the west and are often openly hostile to non Islamic countries and people. Mahathir at one point has been pointed out by G.W. Bush as a great aid in the War but in the last months Mahathir has said the War on Terror is an excuse for the US to wage war on Islam. Remember that Malaysia was one of the bases for al-Queda and the 9-11 operations which some suggest where even supported by staff at the Iraqi embassy in Malyasia.

• At the same time Mahathir acknowledged that Malaysia has terrorist cells but says "We are very vigilant and we know what is happening. We have a good intelligence and we can act before things happen".

Our Problematic Allies

• Pakistan is a prime example of the problem and the UPI reports that Pakistan is trading nuclear weapons technology with Saudi Arabia. Little Green Footballs has more on the subject. If this is true its deeply disturbing but hardly surprising. Niraj also has some interesting commentary on the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia alliance.

• Philippines reported eliminating the Jemaah Islamiah bomb maker Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi who just a few months earlier had escaped from jail in Manila. The Gweilo has a great commentary though casting doubt on official claims that al-Ghozi was killed in a shooting as well as problems with the Philippines government in general.

• This month was also the one year anniversary of the Bali bombing by the Al-Queda franchise Jamaah Islamiah and people are still feeling the after effects. Indonesia like Malaysia is noted partner in the US War on Terror, and just like Malaysia, Indonesia recently snubbed Australia by not attending an Australian ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Bali bombings. Indonesia has been a weak player in the War on Terror. Their government has moved slowly to deal with its serious terrorist problem, and has often pandered to the Islamic fundamentalists in its country and the terrorist thus make a big come back.

Bush's Asian Travels

• This month G.W. Bush also made a six country whirlwind trip to Asia which in part was soured by Mahathir's speech and further comments. While the media focused on Mahathir, Bush was able to persuade the 21 countries at the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting to issue a joint statement against terrorism. He also made Thailand and the Philippines non Nato allies.

India and Pakistan

• India has offered Pakistan a deal to restore air links and sporting ties between the two countries as well other things to help move the peace process forward. Jihadis though, are actively trying to sabotage the process even during Ramadan when on October 28th terrosits set off a bomb injuring 36 people and Indian Intelligence sources expect more to come.

• I have reported before about the terrorist Darwood Ibrahim holding up in Paksitan and India demanding that he be turned over to authorities. Varnam reports that the US has confirmed he is in Pakistan and is putting pressure on Pakistan .

• While Pakistan often seems to be working against the US led War on Terror, it has also been one of the most successful countries in capturing and eliminating terrorists often in close coordination with the US. While I have in the past citied possible reason for this schizophrenic behavior regardless Pakistan keeps nailing terrorists.

ETCETERA

• Last week in the Philippines police raided a bomb making lab and terrorist hide out and found materials and notes supposedly related to biological and chemical weapons manufacturing.

• Deroy Murdock wrote a article for the National Review Online last month that linked Iraqi staff in the Philippines to Abu Sayf bombing in Zamboanga city.

• Every month I like to point to a resource that I think is especially interesting and informative about South Asia. If you don't regularly read Rantburg I recommend checking it out on a regular basis especially since they seem to catch a lot of news on South Asia that seems to slip through the major media sources.