Joshua Trevino, a speechwriter in president George W Bush's Department of Health and Human Services from 2001-2004, thinks that Anwar Ibrahim is no longer a friend and potential ally of the United States.

Writing an opinion piece entitled, 'The end of an affection' in the Washington Times yesterday, he said Anwar once commanded the respect of Americans but "that day is gone".

NONE "A decade ago, reasoned and informed Western opinion believed him a harbinger of enlightened and tolerant Muslim democracy.

"Now, he is just another Islamic-world peddler of Jew-baiting and anti-Americanism.

"Both America and the Islamic world, and certainly Malaysia, deserve better," he wrote.

Trevino, who has been described as a longtime observer of Malaysian affairs, questioned whether Anwar had ever been America's ally or friend, especially with "his use of anti-Semitic rhetoric in Malaysian politics."

Anwar had been vocal against Israel's seizure of the Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla about six weeks ago, and had led a demonstration comprising thousands of people in front of the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur on June 4, to protest against the action.

That outburst did not go down well with B'nai B'rith, the oldest Jewish community service organisation, which then urged US officials on May 25 to cease contact with Anwar.

Trevino also drew comparisons of Anwar with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who had denounced Israel for the flotilla seizure.

But the writer claimed that in this case, Anwar had "attacked Jews per se with all the tropes of classic anti-Semitism - and he attacked America, as well."

- Bernama