Bali is the price of indulgence

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 10/14/2002 | editorial board

[Pokey78]

Will Saturday's atrocity in Bali, which has already cost at least 182 lives, finally prompt the Indonesian government to take decisive action against the country's burgeoning Islamist movement?

Compared with nearby Malaysia and Singapore, or even the Philippines, Indonesia's contribution to the war on terrorism has been feeble. Not all of these countries have succeeded in eliminating their insurgencies, especially in the case of the Philippines, but each of these governments has at least made an honest effort.

By contrast, some senior Indonesian figures semi-openly identify with the political radicals, as was exemplified by the visit of its vice-president to an imprisoned Islamist leader. Indeed, even after September 11, when wide swaths of the Islamist movement expressed support for the attacks on America and solidarity with the Taliban regime, the best that President Megawati Sukarnoputri could do was to administer a slap on the wrist.

The attack in Bali calls into question the underlying presumptions of Mrs Megawati's policy. Its essence is not to treat the Islamists as another political movement, whose main aim is to seize power, and then to take them on and defeat them. Rather, its essence is to tame them through indulgence.

It entails a measure of acceptance of the Islamists' colossal self-estimation: that they are the earthly embodiment of the will of Allah and thus of the whole Muslim population (which they most certainly are not). Therefore, it is claimed, to challenge them risks a mass cultural and religious backlash that would sweep away a far stronger political leader than herself.

The results have not been impressive. In consequence of this "softly, softly" approach, the Islamists have grown bolder at all levels, ideologically and militarily. Anti-American and anti-Western themes now dominate public discourse in a way that would have been unthinkable even two years ago.

Unfortunately, too many high-ranking American officials have bought into Mrs Megawati's analysis; one key member of the National Security Council staff with responsibility for the region is even a close personal friend of the Indonesian leader. This school of thought seems to think that the choice is between Mrs Megawati or the deep green [Islamist] sea.

Of course, the unhappy case of South Vietnam showed that America cannot be more committed to the preservation of a ruling political class against a hostile insurgency than that ruling class itself.

None the less, that precedent should not exempt the Indonesians from a set of sharp questions about their fundamentally defeatist view of the prospects for challenging the rebels face on. After all, the post-colonial Indonesian state has enjoyed more successes than failures in crushing subversives: President Sukarno finally vanquished the Darul Islam rebellion in 1962, as did President Suharto the Communists later in the decade.

The case of Indonesia raises a much wider issue. On the basis of poor advice from a friendly but weak head of government, too many American policy-makers accepted the idea that there is a great beast called the "Indonesian street".

Unless this beast is ceaselessly propitiated, so the argument runs, it will turn round and devour the West's only hope in the area. But the terrible events in Indonesia have proved that feeding this creature whets, rather than satisfies, its appetite. There is a lesson here, surely, for those who constantly seek to raise the spectre of the "Arab street" as a reason for Western temporising in the Middle East.

[KantianBurke]

"the unhappy case of South Vietnam showed that America cannot be more committed to the preservation of a ruling political class against a hostile insurgency than that ruling class itself."

The Eisenhower Administration's idiotic support for President Diem and turning a blind eye as Diem annihilated every and any opponent group, particuarly anti-communist parties, who he feared the US could one day replace him with, doomed the US effort from the start.

[Bobby777]

Will Saturday's atrocity in Bali, which has already cost at least 182 lives, finally prompt the Indonesian government to take decisive action against the country's burgeoning Islamist movement?

No. I seriously doubt it. If, post-September 11, no one has come to the realization that this isn't a small problem, I doubt they ever will ... let the spin-doctoring begin, for it must surely come ... since the target was tourists, I'm guessing this ain't just some random attack ...

[JimSEA]

The Mullahs have blamed the USA and Mrs Megawati has not as yet voiced an opinion (At least one political advisor has joined the Blame America group). Fisk has blamed Australia and Bush. The Indonesian government may put out some mealy-mouthed statement for our consumption but the Islamists are celebrating. Bali is largely Hindu, so there couldn't have been a better target from the Muslim perspective.

Prediction 1 -- Mwgawari will not last the rest of this year.

Prediction 2 -- A military man acceptable to the Mullahs will assume power.

Prediction 3 -- The sin will rise in the east and set in the west (No heavy lifting here).

[JimSEA]

The sun will outshine the sin -- editing is against my beliefs (Sorry)

[gcruse]

"In consequence of this "softly, softly" approach..."

'...a smile on the face of the tiger.'

[Uncle Miltie]

Over on DU, they are sure it is the wages of Bush's sins against muslims that caused the bombing.

[patriciaruth]

Regardless of what the Indonesian government does, Bali just went into an economic trash heap.

Remember when they sold tourist there with the picture of idyllic innocence and friendly, loving native population?

I heard all the uninjured tourists went straight for the airport and got outta Dodge.

Australians were, what? 75% of those killed, as a result of their being the greatest source of tourist dollars due to their proximity.

We have always had great allies with the Aussies, but we are certainly blood brothers now. I can see only a stiffening of the Australian spine resulting from this atrocity.

[weegee]

At least they aren't blaming it on Falwell's appearance on 60 minutes (like the muslim riots in India were).

[BenLurkin]

They must have peculiar and twisted minds.

[ChadGore]

"Let's go Queda hunting in Indonesia."

[shetlan]

let the spin-doctoring begin, for it must surely come ... since the target was tourists, I'm guessing this ain't just some random attack ...

Nice place to *visit* <

[ladyinred]

Funny, my Brother in law who lives in Singapore (an American) just told us tonight that the government of Singapore refuses to acknowledge that any terrorist acts could possibly happen there. We spoke with him because he has another home in Bali and were concerned about him after the attacks.

[ladyinred]

Of course DU is blaming Bush. The only thing they haven't blamed him for since he took office is for the sunshine.

[Savage Beast]

Bali is the price of indulgence

Yes. And "Liberalism" is its cause.

"Liberalism" has now brought terror to The Morning of the World as it has to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

"Liberalism" is the enabler of international terrorism, and until it is defanged, Balis and September 11's will continue to occur.

[ApesForEvolution]

BTTT

[brat]

"The attack in Bali calls into question the underlying presumptions of Mrs Megawati's policy. Its essence is not to treat the Islamists as another political movement, whose main aim is to seize power, and then to take them on and defeat them. Rather, its essence is to tame them through indulgence."

How would this differ from the treatment we give the Muslims in this country? "Religion of Peace" indeed.

[Brian Allen]

<< Funny, my Brother in law who lives in Singapore (an American) just told us tonight that the government of Singapore refuses to acknowledge that any terrorist acts could possibly happen there. >>

I have homes in Asia too, [Am there, now] including in Singapore and would suggest the Singapore Government [With which, in one capacity or another, I have worked on and off since the 1960s] is pretty close to being right on the money.

Singapore, an essentially ethnic-Chinese, Western-oriented Island of Sanity and of relative Moral Integrity in a surrounding ocean of colonialistic-islamic insanity and obscenely-abject institutionalizwed corruption and looting; is pretty darned paranoid [Or in touch with its reality!] and is a state-security fortress. It has a mandatory death penalty for gun and/or explosives ownership. US aircraft carriers and their fleets pull in regularly to Changi Naval base, which was built for just that purpose. US Airforce aircraft are airborne over and around Singapore virtually around the clock.

Your brother-in-law is in Asia's [And one of the world's] safest and its only relatively corruption-free state.

FReegards -- Brian

[Brian Allen]

<< "Let's go Queda hunting in Indonesia." >>

Don't you just love that American Citizen Soldier's face?

Hauntingly beautiful.

I have a similar one taken of a New York Fireman as he climbed the stairs in the World Trade Center on September 11 2001.

Brings tears to my eyes and makes me almost more proud than I can stand [But not quite!] to be An American!

I'm figgering this to be a real bad time to be a terrorist, eh?

F*****g bastards.

[lump in the melting pot]

Sure Singapore is sane and secure (it's not paranoia if they are out to get you...) but they have nabbed a number of jihadists in the last year with video tapes of potential US targets and bomb plans etc. The American Club and US Embassy are guarded by Gurkhas with MP5's round the clock, but I've made a point of not spending much time near either place regardless. Of course as the Bali attack showed, as a security precaution it's now pointless to avoid 'American' hangouts and crowds, because all Westerners are targets (in Indonesia it's all non-muslims; ethnic Chinese and Christians (regardless of race) have been murdered by the thousands there). I hate to say it but despite its precautions I would not be surprised if Singapore suffered a terror attack. It's a target-rich environment (lots of expats, great economy, steadfast allies of the West, etc.) and it's a real thorn in the side of the pan-islamists to have an outpost of civilization and secular success pinched between Malaysia and Indonesia (which could both easily become islamist states in the next 10 years). ...just my $0.02 (Sing dollars of course)...