U.S. attack on Iraq would fuel radicalism

U.S. attack on Iraq would fuel radicalism

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A U.S.-led attack on Iraq would fuel radicalism and anti-U.S.
sentiment among Muslim communities, putting western interests,
particularly that of the United States, across the country
further at risk, analysts warn.

"There's no doubt the reaction (to an attack) will be as
strong as before," vice president of the Indonesian Society for
Middle East Studies (ISMES) Smith Aldahar said over the weekend.

"A war will provoke a reaction from groups usually critical
toward anything that is American or western," said political
analyst Daniel Sparingga.

U.S. President George W. Bush has threatened to attack Iraq to
topple President Saddam Hussein for allegedly developing mass
weapons of destruction.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, saw anti-U.S.
protesters take to the streets last year immediately after the
U.S. pounding of Afghanistan for harboring Osama bin Laden, whom
the U.S. accused of masterminding the deadly attacks in
Washington and New York on Sept. 11. The heated demonstrations
forced several western embassies and foreign companies to shut
down for days.

Although last year's protests went relatively peacefully they
added to concerns of a rising radicalism in Indonesia.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attack claimed more than 3,000 lives,
but the U.S.' swift retaliation drew little sympathy from the
Muslim world.

Extending the war has drawn even less support, especially
since the U.S. linked the new war mainly with Iraq's weapons of
mass destruction, having found little evidence to connect Baghdad
with al-Qaeda.

M. Iqbal Siregar, who heads the Jakarta chapter of the Islamic
Youth Movement (GPI), said his group was ready to protest an
attack against Iraq.

"We will consider forming a coalition with other Islamic
elements if the issue is strong enough," he said, adding there
were no plans to take actions as yet.

The Islamic Defender Front (FPI) promised mass demonstrations
across the country, targeting U.S. facilities.

"If our demonstrations don't get the attention they deserve,
we will take other measures," said FPI secretary general Sabri
Lubis. "There are Americans everywhere we will look for them."

The group has threatened before to expel Americans when the
war in Afghanistan broke out, but there were no reports of any
U.S. citizens actually forced to leave the country.

"They (America) want a change in regime for Afghanistan, they
want a change in the regime in Palestine, they want a change in
regime for Iraq, what country do they want next?" asked Sabri.

The government, he said, should do more than just complain to
the U.S. or else President Megawati Soekarnoputri must resign.

Indonesia has expressed concern over the U.S.' wish to topple
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, saying that actions against Iraq
must be under the auspices of the United Nations.

"The government's position isn't clear at all, why can't we
say that we reject any U.S. intervention (in Iraq)," said Amris
Hassan, a legislator of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Middle East analyst Aldahar agreed that the government should
and could raise objections against the U.S. planned attack.

"The U.S. will understand if our government is taking a tough
stance against the attacks on Iraq," he said, explaining
Washington was aware of pressure here from the hard-liners.

Analyst Daniel said that several political parties would
likely exploit the war in Iraq to raise their visibility among
voters. "It's part of their struggle for existence."