The U.S. spreading fear

The U.S. spreading fear

According to Time magazine, Indonesia is one of the centers of al-Qaeda's network in Southeast Asia. The magazine is very sure that after al-Qaeda's base in Afghanistan was destroyed, some of al-Qaeda leaders had been slipped into the country to prepare new terror.

In Indonesia the organization, according to the magazine, planned an enormous attack on all the U.S. 'interests' in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia to commemorate the Sept. 11 tragedy. The plan had been, however, aborted.

The cover story of Time of this week's edition said the al- Qaeda has had a link to radical Islam in Indonesia since a long time ago. The organization was involved in some terrors, including the Christmas' eve bombings in 2000 and the blast at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta in 1999.

Terrifying still, al-Qaeda, according to Time, had attempted, but failed, to assassin Megawati Soekarnoputri twice in 2000 and 2001.

The Time reports had too many coincidences. The report also coincided with President George W. Bush' telephone call to President Megawati, which was, according to the White House, on the U.S.' plan to attack Iraq.

Failing to arrest Osama bin Laden dead or alive, the U.S. has been spreading fear from day-to-day. According to Time the radical Islamic group has been on growing in the eastern part of Indonesia. This has become the reason for the U.S. to renew its military aid to Indonesia. By so doing, the U.S. has helped the Indonesian military to comeback (on the political stage). The U.S. has also provoked suspicions between Islam and Christianity in the country.

-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta