Posted on 01/15/2005 12:59:45 AM PST by kattracks
The national government has forced the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to leave Indonesian territorial waters, and Marines assisting survivors have had to scale back operations.Vice President Jusuf Kalla said Wednesday that foreign military forces must leave within weeks barely three months after the tsunami struck.
Yet, the governor of Aceh province the hardest hit, with nearly 130,000 people killed and 300,000 homeless urged foreign workers to stick around in the interests of "long-term support."
All of which raises the not-unreasonable question: Why bother?
Yes, the Indonesian government is juggling a lot of balls right now.
In addition to recovering from a disaster of epic proportions, Aceh province has been the site of a decades-long virtual civil war.
[snip]
Given all this, it is somewhat understandable that the Indonesian government wants to be strict about security.
But the fact is that the U.S. military certainly has more than a few other priorities competing for its attention.
So if Jakarta wants American forces and relief workers out, fine.
They can be gone, yesterday.
But Jakarta can't have it both ways. If the U.S. personnel stay, they must be allowed to do what they can to both get the job done and keep themselves safe.
Either let them do their jobs or turn it all over to, say, the United Nations.
If Jakarta thinks that's a good idea, all it has to do is say so.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Now would be a good time for President Bush to say, "OK boys, turn that boat around and bring it on home."
You touched on something that I have seen quite a bit though. For years I lived in a house where I was the only American--my housemates were non-American students, as were all the friends they brought over. Almost to a man and woman, these people HATED the US, but wanted to be here to take what they could. I'm not being the Ugly American At Home here, merely relating my personal experience, and I don't claim this is EVERY immigrant or legal alien's position. But I'm talking dozens of people I spoke with over four years, and I was truly shocked by the attitude. Those that didn't want to leave ASAP wanted to stay awhile, make some money, and go home, and had a tremendous amount of anger toward the US because (this was a very common theme) we have so much that we should share our wealth, while their countries didn't have anything like our wealth so they didn't owe the US a thing. It was pretty damned stunning, and after a couple years I tended to avoid their parties.
I'd say that's a great start, and then "accidentally" leave crates of untraceable, lower technolohy armaments in the areas that might kill off the true hostiles.
Ooopsies!
This is why all Muslim countries are awful, failed societies.
Leaflets? You assume a level of literacy that may not be present.
Let 'em starve, ungrateful losers!
Superb post, Mr Valentine. A government can be very different from its people.
US military only has one prevailing interest to remain,...to defend US interests. IMHO, Until all US citizrns are accounted for, it doesn't matter what the Indonesian government says about our presence. If they seek to influence our presence, it might be in their best interest to consider us ally rather than threat.
Secondly, the taker always hates the giver. We should be used to it by now. It happens with people in our own country, so we should not be surprised when people in other countries act the same way.
Finally, as you stated, it is not in our national interest to be heavily involved in this situation. We are doing these people a favor. And we should never wear out our welcome.
Here is the truth: You can hear the most vile denunciations of the United States, the most hateful slanders against the American People, and the worst kind of hate speech against our government and its leaders almost every day of the week on the campuses of Cornell University, Wheaton College, The University of Ohio, Bard College, Yale, or for that matter on the campus of virtually every other institute of higer education in the United States - right down to the community college level, as for example, Foothill College in Palo Alto, California.
Yet, we are not a nation of self-loathers. We have a leftist cancer in our midst. It is the same overseas, in France, Germany, Argentina, Korea, and yes, in Indonesia. But just because these slime balls can grab headlines doesn't mean much beyond that, really. They are just leftist scum. Whether here or there, its the same.
Honest, hardworking people of goodwill know better.
One of the reasons I love this President so much is that he doesn't let ego and feelings deter him from the right course. Would you deny the kids down the street a warm meal or some hand-me-down clothes to teach their alcoholic, drug addict parents a lesson? This is about PEOPLE, not governments.
Amen.
And . . . perhaps for some return cheekiness . . .
Include some Christian tracts with the pamphlets.
. . . Or, perhaps better yet, a good historical narrative about the real truth and facts about the founding of Islam.
You are likely right.
If so, I expect within months MORE DEVASTATING NATURAL DISASTERS to hit this idiots nest of a country.
Absolutely fine with me.
I can easily believe you.
Short of annexing it as a new US State, I don't know how we can well manage doing good and inappropriately responding to the government.
Don't mind doing thankful hurting people good.
Great idea.
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
What were the 5 top reasons for their hating the USA???
Thanks for your informative post.
Fine. Use pictures and line drawings.
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.