Indonesia concerned over US troop increase

[cal04]

INDONESIA is uneasy about the possibility of more US troops in Iraq and would like to see a Muslim peacekeeping force established, the foreign minister of the world's most populous Muslim country said today.

(snip)
When Bush visited the Southeast Asian nation in November, Indonesia suggested a set of resolutions on Iraq, including reconciliation of sectarian groups and involving Muslim troops.

"Entering the fourth year of the war in Iraq, Indonesia views that the role of international society is absolutely needed in its resolution," Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said in a speech to mark the New Year.

(snip)
"We know that the existence of the US forces and their allies is part of the problem there," the minister said, stressing the need for "buffer forces involving Muslim nations".

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21029904-1702,00.html

[Eugene]

1. Muslim peacekeepers have been offered and rejected before.

The BushCo mission is to remake the Middle East, not just stabilize it.
A stabilized Middle East that still allows things the Bushies don't like
is not an acceptable option, especially for Bush, Cheney, or Rice.
Any international or multilateral solution will probably involve some
kind of a compromise with regimes the Bushies want to replace.
The Bushies absolutely will not stand for that.

[izzie]

2. Sound like a good thing to me.

I did not recall it said before and I guess Bush may do anything now to look good but I do not see if coming up before this as a real offer that Bush would have used. It would not fit into his plans for the whole image he has played. Landing and out of the plane etc.