Plot: there is 'credible information' that 'prime suspect' Osama bin Laden has slipped out from Afghanistan and his satellite phone has been traced to Malaysia. Where in Malaysia?

"We can't make an exact determination as yet," says the superpower prosecutor cum judge cum jury cum executioner. "But our prime belief is Kota Bharu, Kelantan."

Demands are made on Malaysia to 'hand over' Osama but we reply that he probably died after eating budu, that super-smelly Kelantanese fish sauce.

Of course, since we are a bad Third World country anyway, the Cobbled News Network does not think that we are a 'credible' source of information.

"Make no mistake. This superpower is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger," declares its president after prayers at church. He then puts on his cowboy hat and nails a poster of Osama onto the pulpit: Wanted - dead or alive.

"Gee whizz ... sir?" we ask timidly. "But it sure looks like you're rustling up a pretty mean lynch mob? I mean, will there really be justice?"

"You betcha boy," says the cowboy folksily. "We like to have law 'n order Wild West style 'round these here parts."

"Wild West? You mean like in cowboys and savage Red Indians?"

"Yessiree, every place that ain't part of the White West is the Wild West, if you catch mah drift..."

As the factory owners who make missiles promise to donate another million dollars for his 'political action committee' re-election campaign, the cowboy stares blankly into the teleprompter and drones, "We love peace. But this is a righteous battle."

Seconds later, a dozen cruise missiles crash into Kota Bharu and hundreds of civilians are killed. But of course we are told that 'this is war' and that we must 'accept' some 'collateral damage'.

Anyway, the victims were mostly Muslims with fanatical fundamentalist tendencies anyway. They probably deserved it.

Meanwhile, every pickup-truck-driving gun-toting redneck in bars throughout the superpower down a few beers and cheer "Way to go man!" before awarding the cowboy more and more 'approval ratings' brownie points.

And what about Osama?

"Whooops! Whad'dya know folks? Dangnabbit, looks like we missed,'' mumbles the superpower president in a Texas accent.

. "Oh well, let's giddyup on to the next target," he says, riding off into the sunset. But wait, the movie isn't over yet.

In the last scene at Kota Baru, a boy is grieving over his killed family. He looks up at the sky and vows that one day he will become a suicide bomber - in God's name.

Movie synopsis

Forgive the black humour in the fictional movie synopsis above - it is the only thing that can be as funny as hypocrisy.

Meanwhile, we must say 'congratulations!' to Osama bin Laden for he has succeeded in spreading his gospel of hatred to Malaysia.

No, I am not talking about his supposed 'associates' who were videotaped here by American surveillance cameras (so, the US openly admits to spying here?) nor am I referring to the alleged 'harbouring' of terrorist money in our banks.

The real tragedy is that he, the American media hype demonising him and our racial mindsets, have succeeded in creating a clear division between Muslims and non-Muslim Malaysians on this issue.

After I wrote an article in a local newspaper which explained how America had been waging war and killing innocent civilians in many small Third World countries (for decades before President Bush declared 'this is war') I received about 50 e-mails, not to mention loads of verbal responses.

While almost all Muslims sympathised with or supported the article, sadly, many non-Muslims questioned why I was being 'insensitive' to how Americans 'felt'. Some even came up to me and told me in the face: "Eh, I didn't know you're supporting Muslims now. Sudah potong-kah?" ("Have you circumcised?")

Unfortunately, criticising the dubious policies of American politicians (including their previous support of terrorism) is now equated with supporting the attack on the World Trade Center and worse, cheering on Osama bin Laden.

Indeed, the arrogant statement of Bush - "either you are with us or you are with the terrorists" - seems to have been swallowed wholesale by some Malaysians.

Forty-four years after Merdeka and we still lack an independent mind of our own? It looks like we can only condemn terrorism when it's supported/paid for by Osama, Iran or Libya but not when it has been supported/paid for by US politicians.

This kind of attitude may be understandable among Americans. But among non-Muslim Malaysians?

Islamic bogeyman

Non-Muslim Malaysians are nervous about Muslim fundamentalism. The local media is only too happy to play up the 'extremist threat' and its vague associations to the 'Islamic bogeyman' PAS. And given the racial realities of Malaysia, their feelings towards Malay-Muslims are also ambivalent.

That is why when Yasser Arafat came to Malaysia a few years back, few non-Muslims went to the stadium to support him. But, despite such misgivings, they should not lose sight of the threat of 'superpower fundamentalism'.

Yes, we condemn terrorism - absolutely. Despite the sins of American politicians, the attacks in New York cannot be excused. No cause is holy enough or big enough. Religious fundamentalism, whether in the form of Islamic jihad (holy war) or Christian crusade should never ever be the justification for any slaughter of civilians.

But terrorism must be condemned in all its forms. What about economic terrorism? International Monetary Fund-style free market fundamentalism has impoverished hundreds of millions of Asians, Latin Americans and Africans - to create a global pool of cheap labour.

It is also a form of economic warfare when global (read: American-led) hedge funds and banks reap enormous, instant electronic profits on the backs of untold human misery, malnutrition and death.

What about state terrorism? America condemns Syria, Lybia, Iran and Afghanistan for 'sponsoring' terrorists. How about US support for Israel's terrorism against Lebanon and the Palestinians.

Israel is never condemned, only asked to practise 'restraint'. OK, so why not ask Osama bin Laden to just practise some 'restraint' too? The sad fact is, the US also sponsored terrorists in Nicaragua and Afghanistan - including Osama. Of course, when the US did it, they were called 'freedom fighters'.

It is just like in the American war for Independence. The British colonials regarded George Washington as a 'terrorist' for fighting a non-conventional and most 'ungentlemanly' war. But we know what the Americans think of him. And, through the power of their media, most people regard George Washington as a hero too. Rightfully so, for he helped to forge a great nation.

The thing is, we want to support the spirit of freedom and fair play as embodied by that George W. He fought against British oppression of the Americans. In that spirit, why can't we question George W Bush's bullying of weaker countries around the world?

How can justice be done when America has already decided that this is a 'crusade' where Osama is wanted 'dead or alive'? Even Al Gore could not get justice when the American Supreme Court, which was packed with more Republican-leaning judges, ruled against him on his Florida election petition.

American justice

American politicians want justice - but on their own terms. That is why in January, President Bush announced that his senate would not be asked to ratify the Treaty of Rome creating an International Criminal Court (ICC).

Osama has attacked not only America. Citizens of some 60 countries died in the World Trade Centre. If there is anybody that Osama should be 'handed over' to, it should be an ICC under the United Nations.

If Bush is truly interested in justice, instead of a lynch mob Wild West posse, why did he block the setting up of the ICC?

Well, maybe it's because the people like the former US Attorney-General, Ramsey Clarke, have lots of evidence that people such as President Bush Sr were guilty of war crimes during the Gulf War.

And non-Muslim Malaysians may like to recall that the US supported Suharto even though he massacred some 500,000 so-called communists in 1965, many of whom were Chinese-Indonesians.

Because Bush Jr is so 'interested' in international justice, he has also withdrawn American cooperation from the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the UN agreement on illegal small arms trafficking and the convention banning biological weapons.

In addition, the US senate has deferred indefinitely seeking ratification of the 1996 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and the 1993 Nuclear Weapons Reduction Treaty.

So, as you can see, I am not supporting Osama bin Laden. I am not supporting Islam for the sake of Islam. I am not even a Muslim to begin with. What's wrong with supporting justice and fair play? Are these not all-American ideals anyway?

Ultimately, it's not about religion or race. It is about basic human decency and about questioning the policies of politicians - whether they be American, Taliban or Malaysian.

Many Muslims don't agree with the extremist Taliban either. But they feel compelled to support them just because the US is attacking them. That is why even PAS feels duty-bound to organise special prayers for the Afghans even though they do not agree with the Taliban policy of banning girls from school.

The cowboy president is really smart. Thanks to his 'crusade' and 'smoke 'em out' war talk, a minority,disliked group of fanatics have now become the rallying point of Muslims worldwide.

But we are human. It's difficult to look beyond our religious/racial prejudices. Still, we could try to see that the real culprits are not whole races or religions but rather the good-old fashioned greed and power of politicians.

Even though we support Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he speaks up for Third World rights, it does not mean that we support him when he wants to privatise government hospitals.

Hated targets

Just as Taliban leaders are oppressing their own people, American politicians (and the corporate leaders supporting them) are not immune to ripping off their own American people as well.

For instance, American airline workers are being conveniently laid off now even though Congress has allocated billions of dollars as rescue funds for that industry. Where will the billions end up?

We want to stand with the American people too - in questioning: Why would someone do this horrible attack? Why do their leaders selfishly and recklessly pursue policies which cause innocent American civilians to become hated targets?

Do those leaders care for their people? Why were they hiding during the attack? Why are US politicians giving US citizens a raw deal in job benefits, public healthcare and education?

And we hope the American people can stand with us in questioning why those same leaders (hand in hand with their local agents of course) are oppressing weaker countries.

And what about non-Muslim Malaysians? If only we could see this as a human tragedy (on both sides). If only we could see the real culprits instead of getting swept along with American propaganda because of our innate prejudice against Muslims.

Otherwise, we have little moral right to cry foul when others practise such discrimination against us.

ANDREW SIA is a journalist and columnist with a local newspaper. This is the final of a three-part series.