U.S. attack on Iraq would fuel radicalism<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A U.S.-led attack on Iraq would fuel radicalism and anti-U.S.
\nsentiment among Muslim communities, putting western interests,
\nparticularly that of the United States, across the country
\nfurther at risk, analysts warn.<\/p>\n
\"There's no doubt the reaction (to an attack) will be as
\nstrong as before,\" vice president of the Indonesian Society for
\nMiddle East Studies (ISMES) Smith Aldahar said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
\"A war will provoke a reaction from groups usually critical
\ntoward anything that is American or western,\" said political
\nanalyst Daniel Sparingga.<\/p>\n
U.S. President George W. Bush has threatened to attack Iraq to
\ntopple President Saddam Hussein for allegedly developing mass
\nweapons of destruction.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, saw anti-U.S.
\nprotesters take to the streets last year immediately after the
\nU.S. pounding of Afghanistan for harboring Osama bin Laden, whom
\nthe U.S. accused of masterminding the deadly attacks in
\nWashington and New York on Sept. 11. The heated demonstrations
\nforced several western embassies and foreign companies to shut
\ndown for days.<\/p>\n
Although last year's protests went relatively peacefully they
\nadded to concerns of a rising radicalism in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The Sept. 11 terrorist attack claimed more than 3,000 lives,
\nbut the U.S.' swift retaliation drew little sympathy from the
\nMuslim world.<\/p>\n
Extending the war has drawn even less support, especially
\nsince the U.S. linked the new war mainly with Iraq's weapons of
\nmass destruction, having found little evidence to connect Baghdad
\nwith al-Qaeda.<\/p>\n
M. Iqbal Siregar, who heads the Jakarta chapter of the Islamic
\nYouth Movement (GPI), said his group was ready to protest an
\nattack against Iraq.<\/p>\n
\"We will consider forming a coalition with other Islamic
\nelements if the issue is strong enough,\" he said, adding there
\nwere no plans to take actions as yet.<\/p>\n
The Islamic Defender Front (FPI) promised mass demonstrations
\nacross the country, targeting U.S. facilities.<\/p>\n
\"If our demonstrations don't get the attention they deserve,
\nwe will take other measures,\" said FPI secretary general Sabri
\nLubis. \"There are Americans everywhere we will look for them.\"<\/p>\n
The group has threatened before to expel Americans when the
\nwar in Afghanistan broke out, but there were no reports of any
\nU.S. citizens actually forced to leave the country.<\/p>\n
\"They (America) want a change in regime for Afghanistan, they
\nwant a change in the regime in Palestine, they want a change in
\nregime for Iraq, what country do they want next?\" asked Sabri.<\/p>\n
The government, he said, should do more than just complain to
\nthe U.S. or else President Megawati Soekarnoputri must resign.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has expressed concern over the U.S.' wish to topple
\nIraqi President Saddam Hussein, saying that actions against Iraq
\nmust be under the auspices of the United Nations.<\/p>\n
\"The government's position isn't clear at all, why can't we
\nsay that we reject any U.S. intervention (in Iraq),\" said Amris
\nHassan, a legislator of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).<\/p>\n
Middle East analyst Aldahar agreed that the government should
\nand could raise objections against the U.S. planned attack.<\/p>\n
\"The U.S. will understand if our government is taking a tough
\nstance against the attacks on Iraq,\" he said, explaining
\nWashington was aware of pressure here from the hard-liners.<\/p>\n
Analyst Daniel said that several political parties would
\nlikely exploit the war in Iraq to raise their visibility among
\nvoters. \"It's part of their struggle for existence.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-attack-on-iraq-would-fuel-radicalism-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}