Posted on 03/15/2010 8:37:09 AM PDT by Mount Athos
The United States is looking to break a taboo and train an elite Indonesian force linked to past abuses, as President Barack Obama courts the world's largest Muslim-majority nation with a visit.
The United States cut off support for Kopassus under the so-called Leahy Amendment in 1997, which prohibited training to foreign military units involved in human rights abuses.
Kopassus was seen as a key force in the 1975 invasion of East Timor and the 1999 violence when the territory voted for independence.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I understand that we’ve done it in the past, but why are we training ANY foreign military?!
I don’t believe it’s the military he wants to train. It’s more like the muslims.
Now why would we train a military junta that kills it’s citizens for sport? Something to think about.
at least the Indonesians don’t do waterboarding
do they?
sarc
We might say we’re training them, but I think the Obama administration may really be trying to pick up a few tips for home use. It’s information-sharing, don’t ya know?
Just training up his new civilian police force......
Do you really think that? I think NObama is just trying to increase the killing efficiency of his junta friends.
Does it not feel slimy that a president of the USA would do something like this? Instead of fight for freedom? You would think our president grew up harboring feeling of these two-bit tin pot killers in Indonesia.
More seriously -- I remember very well how the press handled the Shah of Iran in 1978-1979 and his secret police force SAVAK. They were portrayed as devils incarnate, abusing human rights in terrible ways. Jimmy Carter turned his back on the Shah and opened the door to Khomeini and the hostage crisis.
And here we have Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter II, working with a foreign power whose military has been linked to human rights abuses. All in the name of Allah. How sweet.
I was in Iran on business the week before the Shah was forced out by Jimmy ‘Mugabe’ Carter. The Shah was trying really hard to improve Iran, and his SAVAK like you say was nothing of the sort.
Agree with your conclusions.
"With its moderate form of Islam and democratization since the 1990s, Indonesia is increasingly seen in Washington as an ideal partner. Obama spent part of his childhood in Jakarta, giving him a propitious personal connection.
Ahead of Obama's trip next week, top officers from Kopassus -- a military unit that focuses on counter-insurgency and intelligence -- visited Washington to discuss a resumption of training, people with knowledge of the talks said.
The United States cut off support for Kopassus under the so-called Leahy Amendment in 1997, which prohibited training to foreign military units involved in human rights abuses."
-SNIP-
"Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said that the United States was discussing a re-engagement with Kopassus "that's in accordance with our laws, our values and advances our interests."
Obama is probably considering training the Indonesian military as a threat against the Indonesians who were protesting Obama’s visit. Obams seems to be getting more and more dangerous.
Grab the Vasoline!!!
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