Posted on 12/17/2005 2:46:05 PM PST by LibWhacker
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia : The image of the United States in tsunami-hit parts of Asia may have enjoyed a boost thanks to its massive aid donations, but one year on, residents say US policy speaks louder than dollars.
The US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, along with Washington's pro-Israeli stance, have incensed Muslims across the region, and no amount of aid -- even in tsunami-ravaged Indonesia -- has soothed their anger.
"I don't like the leader of the American people. I don't mind the people, I just don't like their leader," says Yan, a 35-year-old Acehnese dried fish trader who bears deep scars on each arm from injuries sustained in the tsunami.
"We saw how the US is an arrogant nation. They think they are a superpower and the international police, that they rule everything," says the merchant, who lost his parents, grandparents and three brothers in the catastrophe.
"We don't hate the people -- we just don't understand the way the American government thinks."
Two weeks after the devastating Indian Ocean disaster, US President George W. Bush said US aid to tsunami victims would help defeat Islamic extremists who had convinced Muslims around the world that Washington was the enemy.
"People are seeing the concrete actions of a compassionate country," he told ABC television.
A few months later, former US presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton -- appointed to head US private fundraising efforts after the tsunami -- insisted the aid was helping America's image in the countries hit by the massive waves.
"They see a country which of course will defend our security, but a country which also cares deeply about suffering people, regardless of their religion," Clinton said.
Din Syamsuddin, the secretary general of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas -- the highest Islamic authority in the world's most populous Muslim nation -- said the US aid campaign had changed little the attitudes in the country.
"I think the Muslim perception is very much dependent on American foreign policy in the Muslim world, not only in Aceh but also in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan," he said.
"Foreign aid to Aceh was not only peculiar to America -- all countries supported Indonesia."
Beyond the region's mainly Muslim countries, US aid work also failed to sway public opinion in Sri Lanka, where 1,500 Marines were deployed to help lead international efforts to clean up the island's tsunami-ravaged coasts.
Sunanda Deshapriya, director of the Center for Policy Alternatives, a Colombo-based think tank, said Washington had failed to capitalize on the initial praise it had earned for its relief efforts.
"There was no visible campaign to carry that forward," he told AFP.
As a result, Sri Lanka's leftist parties, including the Marxist JVP, which is part of the ruling coalition, continue to view the United States with suspicion.
Washington is not the bete noire of all countries in the tsunami zone. Its high-profile aid campaign served to strengthen its position in India and Thailand, US allies which are not predominantly Muslim.
The US Navy worked closely with India's fleet on relief operations, and Washington invited India to be part of a core group of four nations coordinating the UN aid effort, a move welcomed in New Delhi.
Relations between the two countries have continued to deepen, as evidenced by the landmark bilateral agreement to cooperate on nuclear technology reached in July.
Thailand also worked side by side with the US in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami, and the two states are now collaborating to develop a regional tsunami early warning system.
For Washington, Indonesia remains the key stumbling block in the region, a fact not lost on US officials. They sent Bush confidante and State Department image maker Karen Hughes to the country on a goodwill tour in October.
Indonesia: Ungrateful Muslims Still Hate America
Okay, now that what we should have known would happenned has happenned, will the faulty premises that led us to the false conclusion that aid would improve America's image will be re-examined? No? Do you mean to tell me that the premise "showering aid on ungrateful, self-righteous, America-hating Muslims will improve America's image" is so dear to our hearts it won't be abandoned despite being disproved by events, because, you know it would be so much nicer if it were true? Oh, well. Let's wait until the next disaster strikes so we can waste a few more billion dollars on a "let us feel good about ourselves" trip.
There's $100,000,000,000 down the drain. Thanks to the Dems who insisted that we should use the "opportunity" to show the muslims we care.
eff 'em.
Clinton jinxed it. It was true until he said it.
Thanks to the MSM, Democrats, Holllywood, anti-war activists and other traitors and appeasers.
Absolutely RIGHT ON!
A sentiment shared by the American people themselves.
Are you surprised that Muslims still hate America, I am not.
I didn't send a dime.
I already knew it was a bad investment.
Perskonally, I'd say nothing, and do nothing for these people.
Nomex and Kevlar on.
Exactly. How much did the Arab League give? Saudi Arabia breathes dough... how much did they give? I guess these organizations can only get money together for terror. These people need to realize their own don't give a damn about them and do something about it. If you ask them where they would want to go to school and work at... guess the first place they'll say... you got it, the US.
You're right of course.
If you pay taxes, you gave.
Suited up... lock and load.
Same with Afghanistan... let Osama come out of the cave, clear some damage and build some dwellings... it's not like he's busy blowing himself up anywhere. He could spend some of that terror dough.
The more important question is "What do Americans think about Muslims?"
What they "think" about us is irrelevant.
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$O WHAT !!?
They never have enough....
100% service connected disability.
Va pension and SSI.
About the only taxes I pay are school and local.
Michael Savage had warned us about this when the US went ga ga in sending money to Indonesia, Malysia and Sri Lanka. He may be number three on talk shows, but I think alot of what he says may not be so far fetch after all.
Wait until Israel wipes out Iran's nuclear facilities. That ought to make their heads explode.
The notion these two touring buffoons living in La-La-Land were necessary to "prove" U.S. "sincerity" instead of dwelling of the billions of dollars in aid was an idiotic premise to begin with.
We're fed up with the politically correct cowards in government who have no conviction in carrying out the mission of attaining victory; no matter what the venue... Domestically, internationally, or militarily, with the exception of Rummy, who is the only one with balls enough think, strategize, and ACT!
"How much did the Arab League give? Saudi Arabia breathes dough... how much did they give?"
They probably scraped together enough to set up some new mosques to warn the victims about the Great Satan USA and the wrath of Allah.
It's interesting how the our own underclass behaves the same way.
Now yer' talking!!!
Who gives a rats a$$ what those turd world mewslims think about the USA. Since when did this become a popularity contest??? They should be scared sh*tless about what we have planned for THEM.
This is another perfect example, along with NOLA, of the total failure of WELFARE. It creates entitlement and resentment and kills the human spirit.
There, I fixed it.
I love how the media presents this as an image "problem" for the West, as though islamic sentiment towards the West has even been, or ever will be positive. The article also presupposes that "image" is more important than truth and reality.
Islam is essentially still living in the 8th century and they have refused to accept Western culture since mohammed beheaded his first 'infidel'. Is the barbaric culture of the muslim so important to us that our government should hire a small army of Hollywood publicity agents to help them shape our foreign policies so the muslims will like us more? Should private citizens in the West change themselves, their behavior, their faith, their culture to accomodate a 'healthier image' for the mohammedans?
The real problem is that muslims don't even have a good image of themselves, hence they are either at perpetual war with their neighbors or amongst themselves. The rest of the problem is that the media is insane.
Why should we care about how the barbarians think?
The Indonesian muslims beasts killed thousands of Chinese in 1998. And they even keep bombing on their own soil. I see the tsunami as something long overdue.
Being the third most listened to man on American radio is nothing to sneeze at. Michael Savage has a huge audience, (and it's growing). It is also an educated, intelligent audience that is sick and tired of liberals and liberalism. I could care less about his personal demeanor, which is all for entertainment value anyway; it's what the man says that I care about, and he is usually right on the money.
we can just borrow more money...it's only paper anyway...
just send the bill forward...
I don't like Yan. He is stupid and his business is not registered with the Gummint. Neither is his house registered with the Gummint. He knows nothing and will never amount to anything. He can't even read Arabic.
I agree, their mindset is that anything bad that happens is fate and there is nothing to be done about it anyway.
Personally, I'd say nothing, and do nothing for these people.
Throwing money at them just offends their religious sensibilities.
Regards,
GtG
Gig, I thought I was the only one on this planet that thought this way. Thanks for some sense of intellectual agreement. Cheers.
They're muslims. Enough said.
Savage could make more casual mention of things he has read such as petite madelleines, but he could make his references more metaphoric than literal. It needn't interfere with his act.
I've learned my lesson.
OH NO!!!!! I MAY NEVER SLEEP AGAIN KNOWING THE MUSLIMS DONT LIKE ME!!!!!
???. Muslim nut jobs killed three thousand innocent people on 9/11. If this isn't hate what is?
I have friends on the ground in Aceh. This article is BS. Absolute BS.
They sound remarkably like the 'rat parasites from NOLA.
Muslim image problem persists among Jews and Christians in the U.S. despite Saudi media blitz
For shame. You mean, you're not concerned about the opinion of an illiterate backwater dried-fishmonger in some remote Asian coastal village? How insensitive of you.
Muslims don't think the way others do. They'll take your money and kill you too. It's a part of their ideology...conquer and subdue them or die.
The only money I donate to that part of the world is to organizations that promote Christian conversion while helping them.
That is the official line. The individual people very probably don't feel this way. I have traveled extensively and while the official line may be one thing, I have encountered friendliness everywhere I go. To be sure, I haven't been in Banda Aceh, but I have been in other parts of Indonesia as well as other countries in Asia. I have had no trouble in Indonesia.
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