Oh, and Israel... thanks for the money you sent.
Now get the hell out of Indonesia.
Good thing the whole Christian world sent these people billions.
</sarcasm>
Posted on 01/13/2005 4:09:46 AM PST by kattracks
The Indonesian government yesterday showed its appreciation to U.S. soldiers who have been risking their lives helping tsunami victims by ordering them to get out of the country by the end of March.
"Three months are enough," Vice President Jusuf Kalla told the official Antara news agency. "In fact, the sooner [they leave] the better."
Kalla's government also forced the Abraham Lincoln, from which Navy pilots have flown dozens of food supply missions to the hard-hit Aceh Province, to steam out of Indonesian waters because they refused to let U.S. pilots fly training missions in their air space.
The Indonesians also refused to let the Marines coming ashore rebuild roads, establish a base camp or carry arms.
Lynn Pascoe, the U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, reacted to Kalla's ingratitude by declaring that American troops will help as long as they were needed and "not a minute later."
But in Washington, White House spokesman Scott McClellan demanded "further clarification from Indonesia about what this means."
"We hope that the government of Indonesia and the military in Indonesia will continue the strong support they have provided to the international relief efforts so far," he said.
Although most Indonesians have expressed thanks for U.S. help, nationalist politicians in the world's most populous Muslim country have been grumbling about "American interlopers."
Indonesia's new president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is a former general in a country that has been under martial law for much of its recent history.
Always wary of America, Indonesia reluctantly allowed U.S. soldiers in when it became clear it could not deal with the aftermath of the Dec. 26 tsunami on its own.
Yudhoyono's government also moved to reassert control over wave-walloped Aceh by ordering aid workers and journalists to declare their travel plans - or face expulsion.
"It is important to note that the government would be placed in a very difficult position if any foreigner who came to Aceh to assist in the aid effort was harmed through the acts of irresponsible parties," the government said in a statement.
The Indonesian government was referring to the rebels who have largely stayed out of the way as the international rescue missions have been mounted.
With News Wire Services
Originally published on January 13, 2005
"Flimsy construction" except for the mosques which seem to be the only buildings left standing in a lot of areas since the mosques where well built. Which makes sense because that's the way all gov't offices are built......
And people expected something else? DUH
I have always tried hard to abide by the fact that it's easy to be kind to those who are kind back, but these people are stretching my patience very thin. Since we likely aren't taking any money back, we should defy them and stay in to make sure there is at least a teensy bit of oversight.
Religion of Peace® alert.
I specifically posted that the U.S. would be vilified before this was all over. Let them take care of their own. How stupid we are.
1. It is always better to be feared than loved.
2. People are no damn good.
3. No f*#&ing Good Deed goes unpunished.
Believe me, you're hearing this because the local pols are hearing the imams give the call for jihad against the American interlopers. I say publicly drop our goods on the beach, pull our troops out, publicly tell the Indonesians that we're going off to help people who actually appreciate the fact that we are helping thousands in need (such as the Sri Lankans, the Indians, and the Thais) and tell the ungrateful bastards that if the Toba Caldera goes off, Krakatoa acts up, or they get hit by an asteroid the size of city bus, they should ring up the f*%&ing Religion of Peace and leave us the hell alone.
Jesus, all we tried to do was our Christian duty (while the Religion of Peace couldn't even dig into the change purse, by the freaking way) to help others in need. Now we get the kick in the teeth?
Screw 'em.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
Well reasoned, well put. Thanks
And....who didn't see this coming?
And....who didn't see this coming?
Do they want any others who have to come help to get out (like the Brits and Aussies), or is it just us?
Agreed! Screw'em. Pull out all relief workers, and definitely pull out the troops, and cut off the cash today. At least the Thais and Indians appreciate the help, but I'm still a little ticked about Sri Lanka not allowing the Israelis in to help.
We should just steam around the island, bomb the mosques and help Thailand out a lot more.
Guess I won't be sending that second check.
What a slap in the face! Screw them. Send our soldiers somewhere where they're appreciated.
Fine, get them out right now and put them on our borders to protect us.
Call me a cold-hearted SOB if you will, but I'd have told 'em to eat sand and drink seawater and dress in palm fronds.
I am way past fed up with my tax dollars going overseas for ANY reason.
Eff 'em. Let 'em clean up their own messes.
I don't know why anyone would be surprised at this reaction.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.