When you're in a hole

Keep digging. At least, if you're Malaysia's government. In the wake of yesterday's broadly anti-Semitic remarks by its prime minister, Malaysia attempted to quell criticism with this clarification:

“Islam has never advocated being anti anybody including the Jews,” Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters. “The only problem with the Jews is when the State of Israel was created."

Well, that's better, then.

Look, I realize his remarks were intended to addrerss the Israeli-Palestinian problem, and I understand that they stop well short of being as menacing as they appear in the surface. Still, there is no excuse for saying things like that, and Malaysia is rightly to be condemned for it. This "apology" adds nothing, and it arguably makes things worse.
- posted by Anonymous @ 8:53 AM