Oh come on Tripwire, that article is SO old... I thought u were
more updated than that...
That was before the malaysians announced their massive arms
purchase of new jets, new sams, new mlrs and new tanks a few months
ago...
AND need we also say that this article was published BEFORE
9-11...
It all has to be viewed in light of the changing geo-political
developments... the Americans want the support of "moderate" muslim
countries to support their war and china has eclipsed in
significance as a security threat cos they're busy in afghanistan
and mid-east and their involvement in this region is now limited to
chasing abu sayafs around the mindanao, which they are in the
process of winding down...
you don't know where their "vital interests" will blow them next...
our dealings with them has always been consistent but they are more
than happy now to deal with other people as well... mahathir went
to washington after 9-11, got a vip welcome and brought up the
subject of more f-18s...
where they once banned arms sales to indonesia because of east
timor, they now want to re-open channels of communications within
the military and if congress allows, resume military exercises with
them... surely a step towards resuming arms sales to gain the
goodwill of moderate muslim leaders and preventing them from
falling into the control of radical muslim elements...
Containment is very much alive now as the post 9-11 era brings back
old uncertainties...
They won't abandon us yet, but they sure as hell aren't favouring
us to a great extent where the other players are
concerned...
