As a former member of the Malaysian Armed Forces, I am of the strong opinion that our Prime Minister should stop playing opportunistic games on the subject of terrorism. It is too serious a subject to be played around with just to ensure his own political survival.

Instead of questioning the right of individual and collective self-defence and retaliation against terrorism of our allies and friends, namely the United States, United Kingdom and Japan by helping to spread Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda's war propaganda about civilian casualities, Dr Mahathir should condemn Osama bin Laden and his criminal group of terrorists whom I do not consider to represent Islam at all. They are just terrorists, pure and simple.

Dr Mahathir should not attempt to whitewash the crime against humanity of Osama bin Laden and company by pretending to sound like academics or political commentators asking for "definition" of terrorism.

Dr Mahathir does not seem to understand that the military alliance against terrorism in Afghanistan also consists of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Oman which are Islamic states.

What would Dr Mahathir the Prime Minister do had Malaysia been similarly attacked by terrorists? Sit down and do nothing? Say sorry to the terrorists? Theorise and moralise others about the universally true definition of terrorism? Start diplomatic negotiation with our attackers or others on the "root causes"?

Stop being a hypocrite and opportunist. It is time to be principled and say things straight.

If Dr Mahathir does not want to see civilian casualties in Afghanistan, then he should call on Osama bin Laden and gang to leave Afghanistan and fight it out honourably with the Americans and Israelis in the territories of the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia or Pakistan.

Why do Osama bin Laden and his fighters use Afghan women, children and elderly as human shields after committing the despicable crimes against humanity in New York and Washington DC?

Moreover, PLO chairman Yasser Arafat has already told US and UK that Palestinians do not need Osama bin Laden to champion the Palestinians. There are many Palestinians who are Christians too.

How does Osama bin Laden's scheme of "Muslims fighting Christian crusaders" fit into the just struggle of Palestinians of all faiths? It is pure nonsense.

Dr Mahathir should not help spread the war propaganda of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda anymore, by pretending to be compassionate.