"As America wages its war on terrorism, history will judge the nation by how it defends equality at home and human rights. Political, religious and economic freedoms represent the way we as human beings are intended to live our lives together. We will never turn our backs on those values." This was Al Gore addressing the New Hampshire Democratic Party fund-raising event a few days ago.

Now, contrast this to what Musa Hitam was reported as saying - democratic and human rights should take a back seat in the war on terrorism. Musa, oh, Musa, I imagine you're not talking about abandoning your own democratic and human rights!

It's funny, when people agree to abandon or to cede freedoms and liberties for the sake of so-called national security, they're talking about the ordinary men and women on the street, and never their own!

I find Musa's statement bordering on ignorance, and laughable. What democratic and human rights is he talking about as they do not exist in Malaysia? I suggest Musa tell that to the wives and children of the ISA detainees who themselves are victims of state terrorism.