Well this didn't take long

[Krusher]

The Indonesian government showed its appreciation to  the soldiers and sailors who have been risking their lives helping tsunami victims by ordering them to get out of the country by the end of March.

"Three months are enough," Vice President Jusuf Kalla told the official Antara news agency. "In fact, the sooner [they leave] the better."

Indonesian troops have already begun accompanying United Nations missions to help victims of the tsunami and liaison officers are to be posted on the scores of foreign navy ships and military and civilian aircraft bringing in thousands of tonnes of emergency supplies.

Navy pilots flying the relief aid to the most devestated parts of the country now have to fly farther after their carrier group was ordered out of Indonesian waters because they have been conducting routine pilot training.

Marines in some parts of the country have already been sent back to their ships at night because Indonisian officials don't want them to be armed.

So how long will it be before we find out the AID money is being stolen by goverment officials and scammers.

[GRUNHERZ]

Nothing unusual about a country being sensitive to foreing troop presence, heck remember how mexico's army reacted when some US marines were to fire a salute at the funeral of a mexican-american marine in his old hometown down there not too long ago..

[Mickey1992]

Finally, a US military operation with an exit strategy.

[Saintaw]

So how long will it be before we find out the AID money is being stolen by goverment officials and scammers.

Send them over to us, we're used to this, working (read: sending money) with Congo & Rwanda et all...

I'm sure some O'Club poster is going to jump in here saying it's a good thing, that "they" need to sort this all out by themselves, blah blah blah...

[Bluedog]

The last thing the indonesian armed forces want is western militaries in or around Aceh, you never know what the locals might tell them, or what they may find or see.

Honestly though, with current world events, is it really a suprise to anyone that the largest muslim population in the world's military would be a bit edgy about a whole lot of western goverment forces showing up?

[Goth]

Yes it is surprising Bluedog because we are there dolling out food and other resources to a disaster stricken country. This IS the time to put politics aside and become part of the human race.

Now, all that kumbaya **** aside. Just deliver the damn packages then pull out. I'm tired of having our country offer a helping hand only to have that hand spit on.

[J_A_B]

How would you feel if a massive number of UN troops were sent to the US after some sort of natural disaster?

How would you feel if those same UN troops were still hanging around here 6 months later?


I don't know about you guys, but I wouldn't want them hanging around forever, either.  I understand completely how the Indonesians feel.   They've made it known that the help is appreciated, and that's good enough for me.



J_A_B

[Maverick]

I agree that a short time doing the distribution and assistance work would be best. I would have thought that a grateful nation would have put the request to set a time limit in a much more diplomatic tone. Frankly, my first reaction was to think seriously of dumping the remaining on board suplies in a large pile on the beach and then sail away with all the equipment we shipped there. That would be as tacky as the "request" to leave so not really a good idea.

If they don't need the physical assistance much longer I wonder about the need for additional funding after 90 days as well. Who will be the administrator of the funds?

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Mickey1992
Finally, a US military operation with an exit strategy.