Israel Matzav

International Holy Alliance

Peace on Earth had a new meaning this holiday season. At a time that normally sees the gathering of loved ones and the celebration of faith, an anomalous group of Jew baiters, pseudo conservatives, leftist loons, and even a Marxist dictator, assembled in Malaysia for the 2005 Perdana Peace Forum.

On December 15^th through the 17^th, 2005, at the Putra World Trade Center in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, 2,000 individuals from across the world congregated to “collectively brainstorm on the practical way…to achieve global peace.” The ostensive goal of the forum was to formulate “viable, peaceful solutions to volatile international issues…providing a blueprint which eventually can serve as guidelines for conflicting parties and nations to resolve contentious issues.”

To advance these “solutions,” the center enlisted the aid of individuals known more for their vehement loathing of Israel and the U.S., as well as their unwavering support of Palestinian terrorism and admiration of Saddam Hussein, than they are for proclamations of peace and understanding. Chief among them was Malaysia’s anti-Semitic former prime mister, Mahathir Mohammad. Several sleazy rungs below him was the fascist ideologue and anti-Israel conspiracy merchant, Justin Raimondo.

The Perdana Peace Forum was organized by the Perdana Leadership Foundation, which was founded by Mahathir Mohamad. Dr. Mahathir, who served for 22 years as Malaysian Prime Minister, making him one of Asia's longest-serving political leaders, is widely known for such statements as describing Westerners as promoters of “war, sodomy and genocide,” declaring that a Jewish cabal “ruled the world,” and that the U.S. is as guilty of terrorism “as the people who crashed their planes into the buildings.” It was, however, during his speech at the Tenth Islamic Summit Conference in 2003 that Dr. Mahathir made his most proactive statement, advocating that Muslims should unequivocally conquer the Jews. ...

Among the invitees to the Peace Forum was Justin Raimondo. Despite Raimondo’s open homosexuality, and Dr. Mahathir’s unsympathetic record in dealing with homosexual issues (including the fact that he imprisoned his deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim on a false charge of sodomy), Raimondo professed extreme admiration for Dr. Mahathir, stating: “the man seems to emanate benevolence and great gentleness, almost an aura of serenity, like some sort of Buddhist guru.” Apart from their differences in views of sexual preference, it makes sense that Raimondo would hold Dr. Mahathir in such high esteem. Both share an intense hatred of Israel, Jews, and the West.

Raimondo, who runs the website Antiwar.com, is bursting with inconsistencies: Although a self-professed libertarian, he has more contempt for his native United States than statist dictatorships like Saddam Hussein-era Iraq. Indeed, he portrays the Ba'athist party-states of Iraq and Syria as victims of the malicious West. Despite being openly homosexual, he admires gay-basher Dr. Mahathir. While mouthing anti-fascist rhetoric, he routinely espouses fascist ideals. Even as Raimondo’s professes to despise war and conflict, he has defended murderous dictator Slobodan Milosevic, who started the only wars in Europe over the past half century. While wrapping himself in the American flag and denouncing his political opponents as unpatriotic, he has stated publicly his wish that Japan had won the Second World War. Notwithstanding these contradictions, Raimondo is consistent on one point: He despises Israel. This attitude permeates all of his words and deeds....

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:12 PM