I note with interest the discussion on what former US ambassador to Malaysia Mr John R Malott had commented in his many letters to malaysiakini , including his personal interest in the well-being of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. He is not alone in doing this.

Malott, too, had not reserved his comments on the Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad's administrations; this I believe was done out of concern for Malaysia and Malaysians generally.

However, I do feel strange as to why Malott has to be put on the burner, so to speak, for all the things that his own government had done in the past. This, I think, is unfair to Malott or just about anybody who is not connected to the American administration from George Washington's days all the way to George W Bush's. Malott did not deserve this.

Those who want to introduce another topic on American injustices in the Third World and Muslim World must disengage themselves from the Anwar saga altogether, to be fair to Malott.

Do all of Malott's critics believe that he (Malott) agrees to the other (earlier) American policies?

And just what did Malott do to deserve this treatment?

What if a non-American were to say similar things Malott had said? Would other well-meaning Malaysians such as Sharaad Kuttan, condemn them?

And what about all the other Malaysians who had voiced similar sentiments including all the leaders in Keadilan, PAS, DAP and other NGOs? Wouldn't they, too, be charged for not being consistent?

Therefore, for this discussion, I do hope all those who want to take part in it, please do concentrate your views on just what Malott has to say on the Anwar saga and how he has been unnecessarily incarcerated. I believe what Anwar experienced is for most Malaysians to feel sorry for.

Malott, being an insider on the affairs of the Malaysian government whilst when he was the US ambassador in Kuala Lumpur for three years, surely knows more than ordinary Malaysians.

Also, if we were to blame America for all the ills that its administration had inflicted on innocent people abroad, can't we also blame all of our Third World leaders for collusion?

Mostly, we must blame the Saudi Arabian, Turkish and other Arab governments in the Middle East for helping America to destroy Iraq. Without their assistance, it would have been impossible for America to launch any air attack on Iraq.

In this regard can't we all blame the 260 million ordinary Americans including Noam Chomsky for not doing anything to halt their own government from inflicting us with more atrocities?

Do remember, former American president George Bush Sr who was in office during the Gulf War crisis could not have done whatever he did on Iraq on his own. He had to engage even leaders from the Muslim and Third World, including our own Dr Mahathir Mohamad who gladly agreed to the destruction of Iraq, for which he (Mahathir) and many Muslim leaders are now complaining about.

And for that matter, all the economic ills that other countries are experiencing have nothing to do with America alone. It has a lot to do with the incompetence of our own leaders for not being able to develop our economy on our own without having to engage Americans or Westerners and even the Japanese.

Lastly, I salute John R Malott for his opinions on the Anwar saga. Write on, Mr Malott.