U.S. must be counterbalanced<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia needs to strengthen its cooperation with countries in
\nAsia and other regions following the United States' victory in
\nthe Iraq war, observers assert.<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid and foreign affairs
\nanalyst Jusuf Wanandi said on Thursday the post-war period would
\nsee U.S. domination in international politics and that concerted
\nefforts are needed to counterbalance it.<\/p>\n
"A counterbalance is required, not because we consider the
\nAmericans an evil power, but because it is important for the
\nworld to have a check-and-balance," Nurcholish said at a seminar
\nheld in conjunction with the 29th anniversary of Pelita daily.<\/p>\n
He suggested that Indonesia work together with Asian
\ncountries, European countries and other regional organizations to
\nform a balancing power.<\/p>\n
"Just as in domestic politics, a single power dominating
\nglobal politics will be unfavorable in the future," Nurcholish
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Jusuf, from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
\n(CSIS), also warned of Washington's growing dominance in the
\nregion after the Iraq war.<\/p>\n
The imminent problem in North Korea will open up an
\nopportunity for the U.S. to further seize power in Asia, said
\nJusuf, which had to be avoided.<\/p>\n
"We should not just sit down and let the U.S.' plan
\nmaterialize. We have to strengthen our cooperation with as many
\ncountries as possible to counter the move," Jusuf said.<\/p>\n
The anxiety of possible U.S. hegemony in the world has emerged
\nin many countries, as Washington had ignored the United Nations
\nbefore it attacked Iraq and has continued to take the leading
\nrole in postwar Iraq.<\/p>\n
Analysts have warned that the war in Iraq has set a precedent
\nfor other unilateral, preemptive attacks by the U.S. on other
\ncountries, with the world left sidelined.<\/p>\n
Many countries have expressed concern regarding the nuclear
\ncrisis in North Korea, which could be the U.S.' next target after
\nIraq.<\/p>\n
Jusuf said that the main reason for the U.S. attacking Iraq
\nwas to eliminate any possibility of threats from the Middle East,
\nin light of its traumatic experience of the Sept. 11, 2001
\nterrorist attacks on New York and Washington.<\/p>\n
The attacks had prompted Washington to establish an American-
\nstyle of democracy in the Middle East to eliminate the threats
\nagainst American interests all over the world, he said.<\/p>\n
"It is a good thing that, regarding the North Korean issue,
\nthe whole region shares the same opinion in rejecting the use of
\nforce," Jusuf said, adding that this sense of unity should be
\nstrengthened to prevent further U.S. domination in the region.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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