Indonesia and war on terror 1 & 2

Indonesia and war on terror 1 & 2

In this strange post-Sept. 11 world, it is interesting to
observe the reactions across the world to proposed U.S. military
initiatives, in particular the different reactions to the lead-up
to the attacks on the al-Qaeda-backed Taliban regime in
Afghanistan last year and the strong likelihood of a proposed
American-led attack on the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq this
year. Nowhere has the contrast in reaction to the two proposed
military strikes been more curious than here in Indonesia.

U.S. and British bombers started their air assault on
Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001, less than a month after those
devastating terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. The
international community in general expressed understanding for
the U.S. position in seeking to wipe out the al-Qaeda bases from
where it was presumed the Sept. 11 catastrophe had been planned.

The reaction to this year's anticipated attack on Iraq is,
however, quite different. The Bush administration has yet to
garner support for the military option from key Security Council
members Russia, China and France. Tens of thousands of people
have already taken to the streets in London, Rome, Madrid,
Australia and even in the U.S. itself to oppose war on Iraq.
Most commentators agree that the case for war against Saddam
Hussein's regime in Iraq is more problematic than last year's war
in Afghanistan.

Yet the reaction in Indonesia has been quite the opposite.
This year in contrast, the silence in Indonesia to the
anticipated attack on Iraq is almost deafening, with only a
relatively small rally being staged on Oct. 8 comprising mostly
moderate Islamic and reformist groups in which calls for jihad
were absent. The organizations that were apparently willing to
fight to defend the Taliban regime in Afghanistan have been
virtually silent in coming to the defense of Iraq.

Why the stark contrast in reaction in Indonesia between 2001
and 2002? There are a number of possible answers to this
intriguing question. It is a matter that might better be put to
the leaders of the Indonesian Ulemas Council and other
organizations that were so vociferous in their stance last year.

ROGER SMITH

Jakarta