The epitome of pettiness

The epitome of pettiness

On learning that the U.S. had decided to close its embassy and
consular offices because of a "specific terrorist threat" on
Sept. 11, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono whined it was "a unilateral
decision ... that would give the false impression that Indonesia
was incapable of ensuring the security of foreigners and their
assets here". Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty
Natalegawa whined even more wretchedly that his ministry "had
never received any official notification about the closures".

In God's name, who do these people think they are? Have they
forgotten what a team of crazed Arabs did to the United States a
year ago? Or is their own feeling of self-importance so great
that they have lost all sense of humanity?

CHRISTOPHER R. MCRAE

Jakarta