MTT: Indonesia

MTT:

Now this is not so much of a theory, as an inkling, or a sense that there may be some small connecting thread between the story we included earlier in our gut-wrenchingly satisfying, post-holiday-gorge, news dump about the lifting of the US arms embargo against Indonesia, and this news item that shows that Indonesia will, in fact, be purchasing US arms. (I guess we just couldn’t stand the Russians getting all those sweetheart Indonesian arms contracts.)

“Wait a minute, Montag,” you say, “what’s so marginal about that theory? It’s pretty friggin obvious that the lifting of the US arms embargo against Indonesia story and the story that shows that Indonesia will, in fact, be purchasing US arms are related; and not merely by some small connecting thread, but by being fully related!”

“Let me finish,” says Your Montag.

Could there be some small connecting thread between this whole Indonesian-US arms arrangement, and a development between East Timor and Australia that has the two countries soon to settle a territorial dispute that will rightfully return control of the Timor Sea oil reserves to East Timor and allow them to proceed with plans to develop said reserves by constructing a gas pipeline to a processing plant inside East Timor? After all, it seems that the need for energy, and our worship of the Oil gods, seem to play an omnipresent role in our strategic decisions. Really, the last thing we need is another poor country running around with a bunch of oil. (Think: Red Menace Venezuela.)

Quoting from that article from earlier:

…analysts say the decision to lift the embargo may also reflect Washington’s desire to boost its influence in Southeast Asia to counterbalance China’s growing economic and strategic clout.

The major problem Your Admittedly Simple Minded Montag foresees between US and China is competition over limited energy supplies. (Perhaps now would be a good time to put some thought into what, besides oil, might work to fuel America as we know it!)

And, remember what we already quoted earlier from the same article and quote here, now, again:

“Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor in 1975 and the subsequent 24-year occupation is blamed for the deaths of 200,000 people — a third of the population.”

“But that was six years ago, and 16 of the 18 government and military officials involved in the East Timor violence were acquitted. So there is obviously nothing to be concerned about when we consider who we’re dealing with. That whole East Timor thing was just the work of a few bad apples,” you say.

“You’re absolutely right,” says Your Montag.

And, besides, Human-Rights-Activist-Hand-Wringers, Indonesia’s priority in restoring their military is on procuring transport aircraft “…because they have nonmilitary functions such as moving medicine and relief aid in disaster areas.” See? warm fuzzies for everyone! The new Indonesian military is a kinder, gentler Indonesian military! Yay!

Of course, their arms grocery list also includes fighter planes, submarines, short-range missiles and armored personnel carriers: humanitarian fighter planes, submarines, short-range missiles and armored personnel carriers! Besides, they’re going to buy those things from other places. Places like Russia, the Netherlands, South Korea, China and India. If shit goes down, they will be the ones with blood on their hands. So, rest easy, US pacifists and US human rights activists.

Sleep tight, East Timor!

Another article (not referenced above): A new page in US-Indonesian military relations opens