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Southeast Asia
Foreign troops given deadline
2005-01-13
I have a really great idea: Let's take our troops and aid, to include NGOs and UN contributions, out of Indonesia now and put them where people want them. Then the Indon fundos can attend to putting the damage done by the tsunami right and take all the credit for themselves, and the Indon army and GAM can go back to bumping each other off.
Tamils don't want us either. Somalis don't like us. I think we're down to the Thais, Maldivians and Indians. Works for me.
INDONESIAN Vice-President Jusuf Kalla yesterday called on foreign military forces to leave Aceh by March 26 or even earlier if emergency relief work was under control. "Three months are enough. In fact, the sooner the better," Mr Kalla said, according to the state Antara news agency. Mr Kalla, who is in overall charge of Jakarta's tsunami relief operation, said Aceh would need foreign medical workers and engineers instead of military assistance. "Foreign troops are no longer needed," he said.

Responding to mounting cries from nationalist elements in parliament, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Government is looking at an exit timetable for foreign military forces possibly beginning on February 26. This will not affect the largely civilian $1 billion five-year Australian-Indonesian Partnership for Reconstruction and Development announced by John Howard last week, the world's largest tsunami aid program. Cabinet secretary Sudi Silalahi said Dr Yudhoyono issued instructions about the timeframe after two of the biggest parties - Golkar and the Prosperous Justice Party-- demanded he set a withdrawal deadline. "If it is possible, starting from February 26 will be a transition period and on March 26 we can handle all of this independently," Mr Silalahi said.

Military personnel from five countries - Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the US - are helping provide food, medical and logistical help in Aceh, where at least 106,000 people were killed by the Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami. The 900 Australian troops in Aceh are not armed and are relying on Indonesian troops for protection in their relief operations, reflecting Indonesian sensitivities. Nevertheless, the presence of foreign troops on Indonesian soil has been a sensitive issue for the world's largest Muslim nation - particularly in Aceh, where separatist rebels have fought a guerilla war against Jakarta for more than two decades.
Posted by:God Save The World

#22  The Indonesian Vice President wants us to leave because there's no way he can skim off any of the aid money as long as we have a physical presence there, and as long as we're the ones controlling the aid. The entire bruhaha is over money, and who gets it. The Indonesian people should explain to their vice-president just how much they appreciate the US presence, and how much they DON'T appreciate their graft- and bribe-prone "national officials". A few effigies burned at the right time and right place can do wonders.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2005-01-13 6:52:27 PM  

#21  cingold - thanks for some perspective. It's important to remember that we have lots of foolish dolts in our own country, and the media loves to spotlight the comments of flaming idiots. If we truly aren't wanted it's one thing, but why should we believe this type of garbage spewed by our MSM anymore than we should believe Iraq is a quagmire or that the CBS weren't forged?
Posted by: 2b   2005-01-13 5:35:37 PM  

#20  Another vote for Jules's idea. College scholarships for Iraq veterans' kids. Get state universities to match the funds.
Posted by: lex   2005-01-13 5:24:09 PM  

#19  IMO, if the government does not want your help then you have to leave. Unfortunately, the affected people suffer because of pride from their government. There are other tsunami affected countries, where the government and the people actually appreciate help from the U.S.

'Tis a very difficult situation indeed.

I wonder, what would King Solomon do?
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-01-13 5:20:07 PM  

#18  I just don't think the "Indonesian Government" is who is saying we're not welcome -- it's just some wackos (they exist in any country). The official position, and reflective of the vast majority in Indonesia IMO, is:
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia would therefore like to extend its highest appreciation to the visitors, donors and volunteers who have demonstrated their sincere generosity to the victims of earthquake and tsunami in Aceh and Sumatera.
From PRESS RELEASE.
Posted by: cingold   2005-01-13 5:19:22 PM  

#17  Here is the $64,000 question(s).

Should the American troops stay to help even if some of the foreign government wants you to leave? What do you do when the government want American troops to leave, but the citizens of the affected country want you to stay?

A vast majority of the regular citizens in the tsunami affected countries want the U.S. to stay.
They know the U.N is useless. IMO, if the government does not want your help then you have to leave. Unfortunately, the affected people suffer because of pride from their government. There are other tsunami affected countries, where the government and the people actually appreciate help from the U.S.

Jules,
I love your idea.
Posted by: Poison Reverse   2005-01-13 4:41:12 PM  

#16  I admit I’m biased. I grew up in Indonesia, a few hours away from Aceh. I’d be the first to tell you that the islamofascists there should all be exterminated. But there are tons more Indonesians any American would be proud to call a friend. These are the Indonesians who would be just as quick as us to take offense at the islamofascists. Then there are the rest of the Indonesians, who run the gamut from closet communists to ultra-strict nationalists.
Posted by: cingold   2005-01-13 4:25:35 PM  

#15  Dang, Cingold, how cum ya got to make it so complicated--thought Jules and I had it all figured out.
Posted by: John Q. Citizen   2005-01-13 4:09:35 PM  

#14  These expressions of ingratitude are only coming from some, unfortunately vocal, elements. In contrast, the acting Aceh Governor wants the US forces to stay for a long, long time. See this thread. My guess is that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (or SBY) will take the conciliatory high road, never directly confronting or calling out any element for its position, but working frenetically behind the scenes to get things done and maintain harmony and unity.
Posted by: cingold   2005-01-13 3:27:27 PM  

#13  Jules, your idea of using our unappreciated aid would be a mighty fine idea.
Posted by: John Q. Citizen   2005-01-13 2:56:50 PM  

#12  BAR,

I was just giving a little background. IMHO, if I was the U.S, I wouldn't trust India, completely. I don't mean that in a bad way, but watch your back jack.
Posted by: Poison Reverse   2005-01-13 2:47:16 PM  

#11  Can it be recollected that way? One can only dream...

If it's wish time, I think a really good place to put that money would be towards improving the lives of vets and soldiers of this ME war-it would be appreciated (yes, Virginia, there are still folks who experience gratitude) and vets have earned it many times over. I am just being impractical, but that would be a worthwhile use of the monies.
Posted by: Jules 187   2005-01-13 2:42:33 PM  

#10  Please don't throw our troops out of the briar patch! I imagine our troops would be glad to get out of a shit hole where they are not appreciated. Give the aid to the mudslide victims in Cali_forniiaa or people in the good old US of A!
Posted by: John Q. Citizen   2005-01-13 2:29:16 PM  

#9  It's not that India does not appreciate foreign help, India have lots of experience handling catastrophes themselves and are self sufficient.

What I'm wondering about is what happens come time to call in the favor? I mean, let's face it - aid of the sort the U.S. is providing is not understood to have any conditions, but common courtesy dictates that at some point in time, the recipients could at least show some gratitude in the way of assisting us in pursuit of some goal, whether it be information, an alliance, or whatnot. India seems like a country that can't decide just where on the spectrum it wants to be, and that leaves me with the impression that it isn't above stiffing us even if we rendered massive amounts of aid in response to whatever disaster that visits its shores.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-01-13 12:47:40 PM  

#8  Bomb-a-rama,

It's not that India does not appreciate foreign help, India have lots of experience handling catastrophes themselves and are self sufficient. There are plenty of rich Indians all over the world and pour plenty of money to India.

For example, when the WMF denied loans to India, when they tested nukes, the Indian Govt. asked Indians all over the world to invest large amounts of foreign money into India. There was a huge response and therefore the Indian Govt. told the WMF to shove it and keep your money.
Posted by: Poison Reverse   2005-01-13 10:56:11 AM  

#7  Chuck, we will have to have the Fallujah Exterminating Company visit before it is fit for residency (TM). . . it has had a nasty case of Rebellion going on for some 20 years now . . .
Posted by: Jame Retief   2005-01-13 8:34:39 AM  

#6  Aceh seems like a nice place when it's not having tsunamis. Let's keep it.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2005-01-13 8:26:31 AM  

#5  Spot on, glenn. Well, as Diplomad said, it is time these countries, which (excepting Burma) are not so poor and helpless as the UN & MSM press machine would have us believe, will step up to the plate to help themselves... or not... Diplomad did say that they didn't cancel any of their New Years parties, have kept their nightclubs full, have no public assistance drive in progress, no public awareness campaign... the people of Indonesia, for example, seem to be content to let others do it all. Not just some, or most, no - all.

Worn out our welcome with the fundos, time to get back on the training schedule. Got that big game with Golden Dragon HS coming up and they're mouthing off to the press, again. Got my bulletin board full of it, too. Motivation.
Posted by: .com   2005-01-13 8:15:47 AM  

#4  In fact, the sooner the better," Mr Kalla said...

I hope and believe that shushing sound I heard was wallets abruptly slipping back into pockets.

...will not affect the largely civilian $1 billion five-year Australian-Indonesian Partnership... wishful thinking that's wishful thinking?

The crisis is over. The UN must have figured out how to call room service and gotten their Land Cruisers unloaded, now they are ready to take over. Our people should touch heads with the Aussies, other helpers and choose the day (soon) to pack up the toys and go home, but not before the locals are clued in exactly why.

+2.5G-rating for commenter on Diplomad for [Large file] picture. Someone there asked for 10k words worth, and got it.
Posted by: glenn   2005-01-13 7:26:28 AM  

#3  I don't know about the rest of the world, but Bush merely pledged those vasts sums of money for the victims of the tsunami. If our people aren't there, it isn't likely our money will be, either. But, if the Indonesians, the Indians, etc, are able to bootstrap themselves back on their feet with less outside aid than originally promised, that's something for them to proud of. It is demeaning to need to be the recipient of charity, after all.
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-01-13 7:07:23 AM  

#2  sigh..if the UN...which costs you and I billions, were worth anything at all, they would be welcomed at all disasters and the goal of helping the innocent would be met. The UN is neutral, but they steal the money that is intended for the victims...so nobody wants them around.

Somewhere along the line, the barbarians crapped all over the idea of chivalry and humanity. Internation Red Thingy, Amnasty, Ambulances as bombs and the biggest disaster of all, the money grubbing UN.
Posted by: 2b   2005-01-13 1:58:35 AM  

#1  
I think we're down to the Thais, Maldivians and Indians. Works for me.

I dunno about the Indians, but the other two seem okay to me. We already are familiar with Thailand, having had the luxury of the use of U-Tapao at one time long ago..
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-01-13 1:46:00 AM  

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