The Foreign Service Journal, September 2008

What Djalal wants to see is a smart U.S. policy, similar to that exercised by many other countries. He feels bilat- eral cooperation goes well because it stays low-key. This is particularly true in counterterrorism, reflecting Wash- ington’s understanding that it is an internal law enforce- ment issue. But Indonesia will never be a U.S. satellite in the region. “We are more like India in the way we have our own stands and actions,” he notes. Indeed, Gen. Widjojo believes there is little chance Obama or McCain can bring radical change, because most important decisions lie in the hands of Congress. But he would like to see the resumption of the International Military Education and Training pro- gram, suspended when Congress froze military rela- tions with Indonesia after soldiers killed as many as 200 civilians in a shooting in a Dili, East Timor, graveyard in 1991. Although those restrictions have now been relaxed, and some bilateral programs are in place, there are still congressional roadblocks in the way of the full relationship. “As a Democrat, Obama would likely be tougher on human rights’ issues, while McCain may help to improve the military relationship, as commonly happens with Republican leaders,” the general observes. But otherwise, he does not expect to see too many differences between McCain’s policies and Pres. Bush’s program. Widjojo says Indonesia has suffered enough from the military mistakes made during the New Order years. “Future military leaders should be given a chance to study alternative systems and share knowledge on democracy and human rights in other countries,” he says. Because the current generation of military officers does not have such opportunities, they do not even study English seri- ously, Widjojo says. Such sentiments run parallel to Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono’s views. Whoever wins November’s election should support Indonesia’s military capacity- building, he says, so that the country’s strategic position can earn more respect from the U.S. “Treat us as a part- ner, not an ally.” n F O C U S 44 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8