: Bush Tries To Kiss & Make Up In Indonesia

You’ve got to give President Bush credit – it takes courage to visit the world’s most populous Muslim country, days after one of the top generals in the “war on terror” is revealed to have likened Muslims to idol-worshippers and Satan himself. With over 80% of Indonesians viewing the US unfavorably (mainly due to the Iraq occupation and US tilt toward Israel), Bush had to do quite a bit more spin-controlling than his administration has been doing lately in the US. He thrust himself directly into the tiger’s den, meeting with a group of Indonesian imams who politely but firmly reminded Bush that policy changes towards Iraq & Israel/Palestine – not flattery toward Islam – are what the Muslim world wants to see. Bush tried to emphasize the positive, and fished for commonalities between the two nations. “Your national motto, ‘Unity in diversity,’ sounds a lot like our own, ‘Out of many, one’,” said Bush. He also tried to paper over General Boykin’s comments on Islam. “Americans hold a deep respect for the Islamic faith, which is professed by a growing number of my own citizens,” he said. “We know Islam is fully compatible with liberty, tolerance and progress. We see the proof in your country.” Bush also pledged to return suspected terrorist and Indonesian native Hambali for trial in his home country “eventually” – after he is properly interrogated by US officials. While Bush heaped praise on President Megawati Sukarnoputri, she was not eager to embrace him in light of upcoming presidential elections there. “We do not always share common perspective,” she commented during a joint TV appearance.

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.