Comments on: Clinton’s visit to Indonesia http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/02/24/clintons-visit-to-indonesia/ Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:28:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Peter McCawleyhttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/02/24/clintons-visit-to-indonesia/comment-page-1/#comment-12614 Peter McCawley Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:06:42 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=2122#comment-12614 I agree entirely with these comments from Exmond DeCruz. In the interests of keeping the blog comment brisk, I did not elaborate in detail on these points. But the emphasis that Exmond puts on the the aim of the US to demonstrate how Islam, democracy and modernisation can co-exist seems entirely correct. And so, I think, is his important observation that it is hard to see how Indonesia can really contribute meaningfully in this area. While the U.S. is a key player in the Middle-East, Indonesia is not. Nevertheless, it can do no harm on the global chess board for the U.S. to work to foster relations with a large and moderate Muslim nation like Indonesia so Clinton's visit to Indonesia was very welcome from this point of view. I agree entirely with these comments from Exmond DeCruz. In the interests of keeping the blog comment brisk, I did not elaborate in detail on these points. But the emphasis that Exmond puts on the the aim of the US to demonstrate how Islam, democracy and modernisation can co-exist seems entirely correct. And so, I think, is his important observation that it is hard to see how Indonesia can really contribute meaningfully in this area. While the U.S. is a key player in the Middle-East, Indonesia is not. Nevertheless, it can do no harm on the global chess board for the U.S. to work to foster relations with a large and moderate Muslim nation like Indonesia so Clinton’s visit to Indonesia was very welcome from this point of view.

]]> By: Exmond DeCruzhttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/02/24/clintons-visit-to-indonesia/comment-page-1/#comment-12609 Exmond DeCruz Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:32:41 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=2122#comment-12609 Officially. the US seems keen to demonstrate how Islam, democracy and modernisation can co-exist and holding Indonesia up as a model state. Although Indonesia appears keen to assist US efforts in the Middle-East especially in regard to Palestine, it is hard to see what Indonesia could contribute meaningfully in that regard without economic power or political leverage. The US should strive to ensure continuing stability in Indonesia by providing some degree of economic certainty in the context of the current global downturn. Developing closer counter-terrorism linkages and efforts could also be a part of that equation. What was especially reassuring about the Clinton visit and its dynamics was that Obama's elevation to the Presidency has obviously generated enormous goodwill to the US amongst ordinary Indonesians. Hopefully Obama's advisors will help him do more to build on this reservoir of goodwill. Officially. the US seems keen to demonstrate how Islam, democracy and modernisation can co-exist and holding Indonesia up as a model state. Although Indonesia appears keen to assist US efforts in the Middle-East especially in regard to Palestine, it is hard to see what Indonesia could contribute meaningfully in that regard without economic power or political leverage.

The US should strive to ensure continuing stability in Indonesia by providing some degree of economic certainty in the context of the current global downturn. Developing closer counter-terrorism linkages and efforts could also be a part of that equation.

What was especially reassuring about the Clinton visit and its dynamics was that Obama’s elevation to the Presidency has obviously generated enormous goodwill to the US amongst ordinary Indonesians. Hopefully Obama’s advisors will help him do more to build on this reservoir of goodwill.

]]> By: Peter McCawleyhttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/02/24/clintons-visit-to-indonesia/comment-page-1/#comment-12380 Peter McCawley Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:32:30 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=2122#comment-12380 Thanks to Rachel Bannikoff and Nick Dommett for these comments. In response to the helpful comment from Nick Dommett, what I said was that "Clinton emphasised northern topics such as ... environmental issues." I presume that there was a response from the Indonesian side although I don't, of course, know any of the details. Thanks to Rachel Bannikoff and Nick Dommett for these comments. In response to the helpful comment from Nick Dommett, what I said was that “Clinton emphasised northern topics such as … environmental issues.” I presume that there was a response from the Indonesian side although I don’t, of course, know any of the details.

]]> By: Nick Dommetthttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/02/24/clintons-visit-to-indonesia/comment-page-1/#comment-12316 Nick Dommett Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:02:22 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=2122#comment-12316 It's slightly disingenuous to say that environmental issues were only raised on Clinton's side. In particular the Indonesian President demanded leadership from the US on climate change, especially, I suspect the REDD scheme It’s slightly disingenuous to say that environmental issues were only raised on Clinton’s side. In particular the Indonesian President demanded leadership from the US on climate change, especially, I suspect the REDD scheme

]]> By: Rachel Bannikoffhttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/02/24/clintons-visit-to-indonesia/comment-page-1/#comment-11916 Rachel Bannikoff Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:25:29 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=2122#comment-11916 Very astute analysis. A pleasure to read your blog, as always. Very astute analysis. A pleasure to read your blog, as always.

]]>