Bush can learn from Susilo on disasters handling<\/p>\n
Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
U.S. President George W. Bush should not feel embarrassed to seek
\nthe advice of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on how to handle
\nnatural disasters and how to persuade his mother Barbara to stop
\nmaking statements that could spark anger among people when they
\nmeet during the United Nations summit in New York next week.<\/p>\n
Susilo, who will celebrate his 56th birthday on Friday,
\ndeserves credit for the way in which he handled the Dec. 26
\ntsunami disaster, which struck out of the blue. In fact, he did
\nmuch better than President Bush in handling the aftermath of
\nHurricane Katrina in New Orleans, even though Bush had been
\ninformed about the hurricane long before.<\/p>\n
Barbara Bush's statement -- perhaps she thought the criticism
\nof her beloved son was getting out of hand -- that the people of
\nNew Orleans had been very poor even before the hurricane has
\nangered black people. Susilo's mother, Sitti Habibah, never comes
\nout in public to defend her only son, who is now the subject of
\nstrong criticism by many for his perceived indecisiveness. In
\nfact, not a day goes by without negative reports about her son in
\nthe media.<\/p>\n
One of the pieces of advice that Susilo could give to Bush
\nwould be to act decisively when facing an emergency. Many
\nAmericans have criticized Bush's lack of attention and seriousness in
\nhelping New Orleans. It is very difficult to suggest the same as
\nregards Susilo's seriousness in helping the Acehnese people. Most
\npeople would agree that he has worked very hard and determinedly
\non behalf of the nation, although many also expect better results
\nfrom his hard work.<\/p>\n
Of course, Bush could argue that Susilo was able to do better
\nin Aceh as the U.S. sent its best military personnel and
\nequipment to help the tsunami victims. Susilo should refrain,
\nhowever, from sending his officials to help the Katrina victims
\nas the temptation might be too great and they might end up
\nstealing aid meant for the victims.<\/p>\n
As a token of appreciation of the U.S.'s great help to the
\ntsunami victims, Susilo should make a dollar donation to help the
\nKatrina victims. The American people would appreciate a show of
\nsolidarity from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Giving advice to Bush could turn out to be one of his most
\nimportant missions during a 15-day overseas trip he will take
\nuntil Sept. 24, which will also bring him to Saudi Arabia,
\nJordan. Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Palestine.<\/p>\n
Although many politicians, media people and scholars who think
\nthey have a natural right to criticize other people are not happy
\nwith his leadership, the leaders of other countries are impatient
\nto get their change to met with our President. British Prime
\nMinister Tony Blair and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
\nare among the foreign dignitaries who want to meet him during his
\nfive-day trip to New York, which ends on Sept. 17.<\/p>\n
He has even been invited to open the New York Stock Exchange.
\nIsn't that a sign of the great esteem in which our President is
\nheld?<\/p>\n
\"The meetings are at the request of the other leaders, not
\nus,\" a senior Indonesian diplomat said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
While Arab leaders seem reluctant to listen to Bush's speeches
\non democratic values, knowing full well that oil is of much more
\ninterest to Bush than democracy, it is a different matter with
\nthe President. Arabs are more willing to listen to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, can share
\nher experiences with other predominantly Muslim nations about how
\ndemocracy can be implemented.<\/p>\n
Susilo's sharing of experiences is not politically or
\neconomically motivated. Of course, when the Arab leaders then
\ndecide to send more oil to oil-thirsty Indonesia after
\nenlightening discussions with the President, the President is
\nquite likely to say a sincere Alhamdulillah (thank God), as this
\nmight serve to let him off the hook as regards increasing oil
\nprices.<\/p>\n
However, his two-week overseas trip means there will be no
\nCabinet reshuffle at least until the President returns home on
\nSept. 24.<\/p>\n
After returning from his trip, we all hope that the President
\nwill exhibit renewed decisiveness.<\/p>\n
Bapak President, if the public continues to criticize your
\nleadership, you can counter the critics by saying, \"Even
\nPresident Bush listens to my advice. Are you all smarter than
\nhim?\"<\/p>\n
The writer can be reached at purba@thejakartapost.com<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bush-can-learn-from-susilo-on-disasters-handling-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }