Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUALALUMPUR760
2009-09-14 08:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
MALAYSIAN ACADEMICS ON OIC, U.S. ISLAMIC POLICY,
how-toVZCZCXRO4739 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #0760 2570855 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 140855Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3195 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0172 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0081 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0440 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0122
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000760
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KISL MY OIC
SUBJECT: MALAYSIAN ACADEMICS ON OIC, U.S. ISLAMIC POLICY,
AND AFGHANISTAN
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000760
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KISL MY OIC
SUBJECT: MALAYSIAN ACADEMICS ON OIC, U.S. ISLAMIC POLICY,
AND AFGHANISTAN
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A September 10 seminar on the Organisation
of the Islamic Conference (OIC) at Kuala Lumpur's
International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS),a
government-funded institute, was ostensibly about how the OIC
could regain relevance, but also included supportive comments
about POTUS's June 4 Cairo speech and questions about whether
Islamic countries should become more involved in Afghanistan.
END SUMMARY.
OIC's Woes
--------------
2. (SBU) The September 10 seminar's main speaker, Abdullah
al-Ashan, a Malaysian professor from the International
Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM),who was educated in
Canada and the U.S., described what he called the rise --
1966-1979 and decline -- since then -- of the OIC. Abdullah
said that the OIC was established as "a response to Israeli
aggression" and was initially filled with "jihadist spirit,"
which he and moderator Mohammad Hasim Kamali, founder of
IAIS, took pains to explain did not mean warlike. Member
states were initially united in their determination to keep
Israel from "ignoring international norms," but the 1979
Egypt-Israel Peace Agreement was a major setback. Another
blow to OIC credibility was its "naked" support of Iraq in
the Iran-Iraq war. Malaysia's 2003 chairmanship of the OIC
could have been a bright spot, he said, but internal
political issues had prevented Malaysia from focusing much
energy on the OIC. Overall, nationalism within OIC member
countries had eclipsed efforts to build the "Ummah," or
trans-national Muslim community.
Cairo Speech
--------------
3. (SBU) Abdullah said that the U.S. approach to the Islamic
world, especially after 9/11, was essentially an acceptance
of Samuel Huntington's thesis in "The Clash of
Civilizations," implying long-term hostility. But President
Obama had "taken initiative" with his June 4 speech in Cairo.
The OIC should try to support the speech's suggestions, such
as establishing more university exchange programs, expanding
academic programs on Islamic culture and U.S. relations with
the Muslim world, and fighting polio. At the same time, the
pro-Israel lobby in the U.S. would limit President Obama's
ability to force Israel to follow UN resolutions and other
international recommendations.
Abdullah said his own experience and that of many other
Islamic visitors to the U.S. showed that "U.S. society was
never anti-Islamic," and it was also true that certain groups
of Muslims, such as Pakistani MDs, were quite successful in
the U.S.
Afghanistan
--------------
4. (SBU) While the Muslim world believed Palestine was the
most important global issue, President Obama had declared
Afghanistan to be most important to the U.S., Abdullah said.
He asked whether the 80 seminar participants, mostly other
academics, students and diplomats, thought the OIC could play
a constructive role in Afghanistan, perhaps by replacing NATO
troops with troops from OIC countries, whom the Taliban would
not want to fight. Participants, starting with Pakistan's
High Commissioner (Ambassador-equivalent) to Malaysia,
described that suggestion as unworkable and naive. Moderator
Kamali lamented that the OIC was not only absent in
Palestine, it would most likely remain irrelevant for
Afghanistan as well. Asked how Malaysia could help
strengthen the OIC, Abdullah said Malaysia served best as an
example of successful development.
KEITH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KISL MY OIC
SUBJECT: MALAYSIAN ACADEMICS ON OIC, U.S. ISLAMIC POLICY,
AND AFGHANISTAN
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A September 10 seminar on the Organisation
of the Islamic Conference (OIC) at Kuala Lumpur's
International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS),a
government-funded institute, was ostensibly about how the OIC
could regain relevance, but also included supportive comments
about POTUS's June 4 Cairo speech and questions about whether
Islamic countries should become more involved in Afghanistan.
END SUMMARY.
OIC's Woes
--------------
2. (SBU) The September 10 seminar's main speaker, Abdullah
al-Ashan, a Malaysian professor from the International
Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM),who was educated in
Canada and the U.S., described what he called the rise --
1966-1979 and decline -- since then -- of the OIC. Abdullah
said that the OIC was established as "a response to Israeli
aggression" and was initially filled with "jihadist spirit,"
which he and moderator Mohammad Hasim Kamali, founder of
IAIS, took pains to explain did not mean warlike. Member
states were initially united in their determination to keep
Israel from "ignoring international norms," but the 1979
Egypt-Israel Peace Agreement was a major setback. Another
blow to OIC credibility was its "naked" support of Iraq in
the Iran-Iraq war. Malaysia's 2003 chairmanship of the OIC
could have been a bright spot, he said, but internal
political issues had prevented Malaysia from focusing much
energy on the OIC. Overall, nationalism within OIC member
countries had eclipsed efforts to build the "Ummah," or
trans-national Muslim community.
Cairo Speech
--------------
3. (SBU) Abdullah said that the U.S. approach to the Islamic
world, especially after 9/11, was essentially an acceptance
of Samuel Huntington's thesis in "The Clash of
Civilizations," implying long-term hostility. But President
Obama had "taken initiative" with his June 4 speech in Cairo.
The OIC should try to support the speech's suggestions, such
as establishing more university exchange programs, expanding
academic programs on Islamic culture and U.S. relations with
the Muslim world, and fighting polio. At the same time, the
pro-Israel lobby in the U.S. would limit President Obama's
ability to force Israel to follow UN resolutions and other
international recommendations.
Abdullah said his own experience and that of many other
Islamic visitors to the U.S. showed that "U.S. society was
never anti-Islamic," and it was also true that certain groups
of Muslims, such as Pakistani MDs, were quite successful in
the U.S.
Afghanistan
--------------
4. (SBU) While the Muslim world believed Palestine was the
most important global issue, President Obama had declared
Afghanistan to be most important to the U.S., Abdullah said.
He asked whether the 80 seminar participants, mostly other
academics, students and diplomats, thought the OIC could play
a constructive role in Afghanistan, perhaps by replacing NATO
troops with troops from OIC countries, whom the Taliban would
not want to fight. Participants, starting with Pakistan's
High Commissioner (Ambassador-equivalent) to Malaysia,
described that suggestion as unworkable and naive. Moderator
Kamali lamented that the OIC was not only absent in
Palestine, it would most likely remain irrelevant for
Afghanistan as well. Asked how Malaysia could help
strengthen the OIC, Abdullah said Malaysia served best as an
example of successful development.
KEITH