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In 1999, calls from Canberra for the provision of US “boots on the ground" during the crisis in East Timor went unheeded.

This is rather revisionist history to be honest. While it's true the US didn't put many boots on the grounds, the USS Belleau Woods was just off the coast of East Timor during the Australian landing operations, with the clear understanding that its force of US Marines would be available to provide assistance if the Australian Army encountered strong resistance. The US did not want to damage its relationship with Indonesia if it could avoid it, so did not want to go in unless necessary - but would have done so if it had been. And nobody can say for certain if their presence wasn't part of the reason it didn't happen, because the Indonesians didn't oppose the landings. Maybe they would have if they'd thought they could get away with it.

1 posted on 07/12/2015 1:50:52 PM PDT by naturalman1975
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To: naturalman1975

Indonesia is not a friend of the United States.


2 posted on 07/12/2015 1:52:55 PM PDT by SatinDoll (A NATURAL BORN CITIZEN IS BORN IN THE USA OF TWO USA CITIZENS)
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To: naturalman1975

The world’s largest predominantly muslim country.

What could possibly go wrong?


3 posted on 07/12/2015 1:54:19 PM PDT by null and void (She who uses rope to contain reporters during her candidacy will use rope to hang them when in power)
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To: naturalman1975

It wasn’t true in the 1960s, but Australia probably realizes that they can’t count on the U.S. as long as Obama and his Commie-Muslim pals are in the driver’s seat.

Hopefully that will change, although it must be said that it’s far from clear that the situation will change in the next election.

Meantime, the Ozzies had better look out for themselves, I’m afraid.


4 posted on 07/12/2015 1:59:06 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: naturalman1975; SatinDoll; null and void

5 posted on 07/12/2015 2:00:33 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
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To: naturalman1975

Eventually Australia and the rest of Asia will have to arrive at a reasonable working consensus with China, the Middle Kingdom. The US has limited power to intervene. For the past sixty years American entanglement whether in the Far East or the Mideast has been costly, has done little to enhance American security and has created bitter long term resentments. The time has come for a widespread reassessment of America’s broad involvement everywhere. The United States really only influences foreigners by its example and accomplishments. It cannot change people, beliefs and cultures at the point of a bayonet or by force.


8 posted on 07/12/2015 2:09:00 PM PDT by allendale
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To: naturalman1975

Good luck dealing with Indonesia. Very corrupt country. Then again. Might be a perfect fit for the DC Cartel.


9 posted on 07/12/2015 2:20:03 PM PDT by justa-hairyape (The use of the name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
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To: naturalman1975

I surely hope this is not so. I cannot think of a better ally, a country more in line with the US people than Australia. Indonesia follows more of the east Asia worldview which incorporates “face saving” and the idea that pronouncement of a policy means that the policy actually works, i.e. the eradication of malaria in Papua by 2020. (I do not know what disease I’ll get from that gosh darn mosquito in 2021, but it sure won’t be malaria because the government “eliminated” malaria the previous year.) Australia has been allied with US since before WWI (I cannot think of any history of alliance prior) and we should not realign ourselves now.


10 posted on 07/12/2015 2:24:21 PM PDT by Jemian
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To: naturalman1975
There was several 'guys' on the ground in ET. I was one of them.

Indonesia, with US 'support' mopped up the commies in the 60's. Indonesia is corrupt, but they respect the US and, overall the people there are very friendly to the US. Like any country, there will be pockets of hate and skid polls.

17 posted on 07/12/2015 5:19:22 PM PDT by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
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