Discard force, use friendly approach
In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Monday and published Tuesday, the Prime Minister said that if the US continues to use its current approach, it would not be able to resolve the conflicts it started.
"They must learn. I have great admiration for the United States. They saved us from Japanese occupation and at one time they were concerned about the welfare of everybody," he said.
Dr Mahathir, due to retire in 10 days' time, said it was sad to see American embassies all around the world to be protected, in sharp contrast to the past when they gave aid to everyone and sent its Peace Corps everywhere.
"That's a measure of bad feelings against the Americans now. That's because they changed in attitude. They have become so powerful," he said.
He said using force to submit others seemed to be their foreign policy now while sanctions are applied on countries labelled as not a democratic country.
Dr Mahathir said such policy of using force to curb terrorism had made things difficult for countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.
Dr Mahathir said Malaysia's experience in dealing with terrorism clearly showed that finding the root cause of conflicts and terrorism as well as winning over the people were the best approach.
Asked about his speech at the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Putrajaya last week which prompted harsh criticism, Dr Mahathir reiterated that it was taken out of context.
"In my speech I condemned all violence, even the suicide bombings, and I told the Muslims it's about time we stopped all these things and paused to think and do something that is much more productive. That was the whole tone of my speech, but they picked up one sentence where I said that the Jews control the world," he said.
But he said the reaction of the world shows that the Jews do control the world.
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