U.S. should involve Muslim nations: Lee

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, SEPT. 20. Singapore's veteran leader and Senior Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, has suggested that the United States should draw Muslim and Third World nations into its broad coalition against terrorism.

Mr. Lee was quoted by The Straits Times newspaper as saying that Muslim and Third World nations would be especially apprehensive about retaliatory strikes by the United States. Stating that Washington was dealing with a ``hydra-headed'' group of terrorists, the U.S. Government, in his view, had to satisfy its own people that it had the wherewithal to strike back and protect its own people. But beyond that, the former Prime Minister said, Washington had to ensure that it did not alienate more Governments and peoples then absolutely necessary.

About what the U.S. should do about the terrorist attacks, Mr. Lee maintained that it was a ``remarkably complex problem'' which could turn into a ``long-drawn trading of blows''. Referring to the response of individual countries, he said not every nation had the luxury of unequivocally saying that they would help the U.S. in its battle against terrorism. ``Each country has its own domestic constituency, even those most friendly to the U.S.,'' Mr. Lee maintained. In a public address yesterday, the Senior Minister said the world would face a ``choppy time ahead''.

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Section  : International
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