Mechanics giving C-130s new life (ban on Indonesian military parts lifted)

[harpboy_ak]

The butchers of East Timor finally get the military equipment ban lifted, just as that comb-licking slimeball Wolfywitless visits...

Why did they do this? Once our guys are gone, they'll use them to transport troops around Aceh...

Mechanics giving C-130s new life
U.S. lifts decade-old ban on parts to help tsunami-hit nation rebuild

By TATABOLINE BRANT, Anchorage Daily News

Published: January 18, 2005

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Aircraft mechanics
from Alaska who are taking part in the massive relief operation
here found themselves Monday in the middle of a delicate
diplomatic event that was punctuated by a visit to their
modest headquarters by U.S. deputy defense secretary Paul
Wolfowitz.

At issue were parts for C-130s, the workhorse cargo planes
that militaries worldwide are using to ferry food and medicine
into Indonesia, the country hardest hit by the Dec. 26 tsunami.

Only a handful of Indonesia's roughly two dozen C-130s are
in condition to fly, according to U.S. officials here and
news reports. Many others are sitting on the ground, awaiting
parts that for years have been hard to come by because of
strained relations between America and Indonesia.

You can read the full story online at:

http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/6038694p-5924870c.html

[UL_Approved]

1. Another PR stunt

This is a double-edged sword. If they don't get parts to fix the aircraft, then the aid mission gets delayed and slowed down. If they do supply the parts, then the Indonesian military gets re-supplied with arms to fight the separatist groups.

This is a story with mixed feelings by me. The solution would be to agree to full part and labor supplied to the Indonesian government to help the aid mission only if the U.S. gets them to agree to a military presence and to agree to drop the war on separatists. That would work, but does not appear to be the case.

[Turley]

2. A "military presence"?

You sure that's a good idea?

[UL_Approved]

3. Its probably better than letting Indonesia off the hook

I guess I'm still thinking in days past when I say things like this.

Bush should have said this in hopes that it would put Indonesia on the spot for its internal bullshit. I really don't want to see the PNAC dropped on that country.