'Pre-emptive raids must be retaliated'

'Pre-emptive raids must be retaliated'

MALAYSIA: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad vowed on Tuesday that
Malaysia would give a "bloody nose" to any foreign governments
that launch pre-emptive strikes against terrorists here.

Mahathir's warning in a nationally televised New Year's Eve
speech were an apparent reference to Australian Prime Minister
John Howard's stance advocating pre-emptive attacks against
militants in Southeast Asia.

Mahathir, who has led Malaysia for 21 years, said his nation
had not won independence - from Britain in 1957 - just so that
foreigners could come here and do whatever they want.

"Remember, it is such unfairness and arrogance that drove a
weak and frustrated race to resort to terrorism in retaliation,"
Mahathir said. "They had no choice."

Mahathir did not name the race, but has said previously that
oppression of the Palestinians is one of the reasons behind
Palestinian suicide bomb attacks. --AP