Exceeding expectations
A rare, spectacular sight greeted readers of The Jakarta Post of Dec. 19 when they opened to page 5 and were presented images of two eminent appointees to the Cabinet of president-elect Bush. One was Condoleeza (nicknamed Condi) Rice, National Security Adviser designate and the other was the famous Colin Powell, the Secretary of State designate.
The caption for Colin Powell's feature sounds alarming: Middle East minefields in-wait. Rather than carrying a congratulatory tone, it presented a challenging message.
The other eye-catching caption above Condi Rice's portrait was more graceful, befitting an academic celebrity in American national security and foreign affairs, as it signals "exceeding expectations" for Rice to serve in a top job in the White House.
During the tumultuous five-week suspense of the long awaited outcome of the U.S. Presidential elections, highlighted by drawn- out wrangling in the courts, worldwide misgivings were voiced, censuring the glorified American democracy, with its unique electoral system. For a brief spell, the American system of democracy was ridiculed, seemingly losing its age-long magical appeal.
Now, with the announcement of the two renowned figures rightfully symbolizing exemplary victors in the past struggle against the worldly unpopular segregational practices of the country, the grandiose image of American democracy apparently has regained its status.
Being acclaimed as the number one superpower, it is inevitable that the forthcoming Bush Cabinet centering on the posts of Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Treasury would be ardently watched worldwide. Meanwhile, the bipartisan policy to be pursued by the Bush administration amid a divided Congress has been announced.
Be that as it may, considering that under the eight-year Clinton administration the Democrats had significantly contributed to the nation's welfare and prosperity, now the Republicans under the new Bush administration can show their worth as guardians of peace worldwide.
In retrospect, four years for a Presidential administration in the American system may not be long. Therefore, it is hoped that when the leadership of American foreign policy is propelled by eminent figures like Colin Powell, Condi Rice and the next Secretary of Defense (hopefully Paul Wolfowitz), it is expected to be a far cry for America to pursue the unrespectful course of so called "warmongery" during the height of the past cold war. This time, under Colin Powell as Secretary of State, the Third World looks for peace in the Middle East and Asia.
As for Indonesia, it strikes a happy note that once Colin Powell visited Jakarta on his lecture tour promoting his book My American Journey, an occasion at the Regent Hotel, sponsored, I believe, by Citibank. And when Dick Cheney, the Vice President elect, was Secretary of Defense, Paul Wolfowitz, former Ambassador to Indonesia, was Under-secretary of Defense, and Colin Powell was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, under the former Bush (father of President-elect Bush) administration.
It is hoped that Indonesia will find friends in Colin Powell and Paul Wolfowitz under the present Bush administration to the mutual benefit of both countries.
S. SUHAEDI
Jakarta