Posted on 11/20/2006 12:50:02 AM PST by HAL9000
ALARM - Arrival of president Bush in Indonesia
BOGOR (Indonesia) - American president George W. Bush arrived Monday to Indonesia on bottom of demonstrations against this discussed visit of the chief of the White House in the largest Moslem country of the world.
It's good that he arrived on bottom of demonstrations. That bottom sorely needs a good kick.
I'll sure be glad when he leaves there.
Tight security in Indonesia for Bush visit
Bogor (ANTARA News) - Indonesia set in play a huge security operation ahead of the arrival on Monday of U.S. President W. Bush, ringing this scenic hill town with vehicle check points as thousands of anti-U.S. protesters gathered.
Bush is expected to spend just over six hours in the world's most populous Muslim nation after flying in from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, on the last stopover of an Asian tour, Reuters reported.
"Go to hell Bush", read a banner on a Bogor shopping mall.
The town lies 50 km (30 miles) south of the capital Jakarta and Bush will meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a palace on the grounds of Bogor's famed botanic gardens.
Indonesia is a key regional ally in the U.S.-led "war on terror" and looks to America for trade and investment. But many Bush policies, especially in the Middle East, are unpopular in the country of 220 million.
Some Muslim militants have called for Bush's death during protests in recent days.
Groups ranging from radical Muslims and traditional shamans to leftist students and political parties have staged rallies across the country to protest against the visit.
Roads in Bogor, a popular hill station known for its cool temperatures, were cleared and police and troops kept an eye on scattered protests.
About 3,000 people from the Islamic-orientated Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) marched from the eastern part of the town wearing bandanas reading "U.S. terrorist".
One protester carried a placard with a picture of a child war victim saying "Do I look like a terrorist, Mr. Bush?" and another a picture depicting Bush as a monkey.
Controversial
Bush's second visit to Indonesia has been controversial also because of reports of security and logistics costs. A helipad was built in the lush 87-hectare Bogor Botanical Gardens.
Defending the arrangements, Yudhoyono said on Sunday in Hanoi: "The world will blame us if anything happens in our country". Along with Bush, the former general was in Vietnam to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.
Many Indonesians are angry over U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, which are seen as attacks on Muslim nations.
Indonesia has consistently condemned U.S. actions in those countries, as well as Washington's perceived pro-Israel bias.
Yudhoyono is expected to raise the issues with Bush.
The leaders also will discuss topics ranging from education and poverty to anti-terrorism cooperation and fighting bird flu.
Officials on both sides have played down prospects of major new agreements. Washington is happy with Indonesia's efforts to combat militants, lifting restrictions on military sales that were a major irritant to Jakarta.
During the brief visit, Bush and Yudhoyono will meet children from a school in Bogor to look at their science projects. (*)
These guys will give him a much needed welcome:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738970/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738994/posts
wtf is an "indonesia?"
They like $$US, but they don't like US.
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