When US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Kuala Lumpur on July 27 to meet with ASEAN leaders, the youth wing of the ruling party, UMNO, led by Oxford-educated Deputy Chief Khairy Jamaluddin, demonstrated vigorously in protest. These demonstrations, carried on TV and in the press, gained kudos for UMNO Youth from many Muslims, especially the young.

Until the 1980s Malays in Malaysia identified themselves first as Malays, second as Muslims and third as Malaysians. Recent polls have disclosed a fundamental shift: 73% identify themselves first as Muslims, 14% as Malaysians and 13% as Malays. Malay-sian Muslim attitudes have turned hostile toward the US and its allies because of the bloodshed in Iraq between coalition forces and the insurgents.

On Sept 10 Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, the vice chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia and a much-respected academic, wrote a commentary in Malaysia's English-language New Sunday Times carrying the headline: Did the US Stage a Lie on 9/11? In the article Dzulkifli repeats a conspiracy theory prevalent on the Internet that contains false statements and dubious assertions:

"Pressure is mounting on the US to 'let the truth out?' whether the World Trade Center collapse was due to 'jet fuel.' Or was it bombed from inside, the same way useless buildings are brought down in the US? Did the US stage a lie that has helped only Washington in the entire process of waging a war against Islam which it called the war against terror?? Why were the reports of bombs found at the WTC not made public? There are also reports of a bright flash seen on the right side of the plane just before impact on both the North Tower and the South Tower, as captured on video by at least five cameras, including those belonging to renowned news agencies. What are these?"

With the hardening of attitudes it's not surprising that Muslims in Southeast Asia cheered Israel's failure in Lebanon. Despite 34 days of battering, a defiant Hezbollah continued to fire on Israel. The Islamic extremists have learned to use the media against the Israelis. Hezbollah fired its rockets from the cover of heavily populated areas and near UN observation posts, knowing that Israeli counterfire would cause death and injury to civilians and UN peacekeepers and calculating that once the carnage was seen on television, Western opinion would put pressure on the US to get the Israelis to agree to a cease-fire.

Singapore's 600,000 Muslims--15% of the population--did not demonstrate or posture to win votes. They did not receive Al Jazeera newscasts, but they did see graphic photos on Muslim Web sites of injured women and children in Lebanon. Singapore's Centre for Contemporary Islamic Studies condemned Israel's bombings.

In Indonesia Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of JI (Jemaah Islamiah, a terrorist network), who recently served a short jail term, claimed to have registered 500 volunteers to wage a jihad in Palestine and Lebanon.

Lebanon: More Devastation to Come?

When the dust of battle settles, the Lebanese will have to ask themselves why they had to suffer through a conflict that didn't involve their country's national interests. In contravention of UN Resolution 1701, Hezbollah now intends to keep its rockets, which in all likelihood will be fired again. Then all the rebuilt buildings, bridges, power stations and other infrastructure will once again be destroyed. The Lebanese people must decide who they want in control of their country--their government or Hezbollah. Hezbollah has made it clear it will not disarm. And Israel may want to erase any perception that its military has lost its invincibility. If Hezbollah provokes Israel again, there is real risk of another severe clash.

Big Challenge in Iraq

When Iraq was under Sunni control, it blocked Iran from spreading its influence westward. But now Iraq is controlled by a Shiite majority. In April President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt said, "Shiites are mostly always loyal to Iran and not the countries where they live." But I believe the Bush Administration has it right, that Iraq's Shi'a will be Arabs first and foremost and ultimately will not be subordinate to Iran's non-Arab Shi'a. However, we must keep in mind that the Shiite Iraqi leaders, who only recently have returned from an Iran that gave them sanctuary and succor, will not go against Shiite Iran. Iran's influence may even grow.

If the US were to make a precipitous exit from Iraq, the Shiite and Sunni militias would be left to battle it out. Iraq's neighbors would likely join in, destabilizing the region. No American President--Republican or Democrat--can afford to let this happen.


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