Then on Oct. 12th, the Bali bombing. 202 lives are taken. Australia loses more than any other nation with 88 killed. The Australian government and public, which had previously been quite resistant, instantly changes to support the US war on terror. The bombing is pinned on Ba'asyir by US intelligence, who claims Ba'asyir is the head of Jemaah Islamiah (JI). This leads to Ba'asyir's arrest and imprisonment, easily within the six-week timeframe given at the secret meeting. This is all very convenient for the US. A little too convenient in my opinion. Many in Indonesia doubt the US intelligence backing these claims. So do I. US officials continually deny putting any pressure on Indonesia regarding Ba'asyir.
For a more detailed description of this meeting, click here. For former Indonesian president Wahid's claim that the police or military may have played a role in the bombing, see the Sydney Morning Herald article available here. For further possible CIA links, click here and here.
Sept. 23 - 24, 2002 – Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) – Copenhagen
25 countries gather at this meeting with 21 heads of state represented. Blair and Schroeder are the only major leaders unable to attend. Among those present are Jacque Chirac of France, PM Junichiro Koizumi of Japan, Premier Zhu Rongji of China, PM Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, and Pres. Kim Dae-Jung of Korea. Their conversation is highly critical of the US desire for war in Iraq. Berlusconi, recently back from a Camp David visit with President Bush, is the only one who stands to support the US in its desire for a war on Iraq. Chiraq immediately berates him for coddling up to power. Berlusconi sheepishly stands up and apologizes. 52 interpreters representing 17 languages facilitated the conversation at this summit. According to other interpreters with whom I talked, these summits are almost always boring, but this one is quite fascinating. I was also informed that Denmark's most conservative party is more liberal than the US Democrats.
Oct. 21 - 25, 2002 – High-ranking Indonesian police
At a high level conference held just outside Washington, DC, a three-star US intelligence general tells top Indonesian police officials, "Everything I say is true." Shortly afterward, he states, "There are no CIA agents in Indonesia." The Indonesian police generals don't believe him. I am informed that one of the best speakers, a US four-star general, quit the military after the Gulf war because of major underhanded deals and secrecy going on, which he saw were clearly not in the interests of the nation. He gives an excellent talk on communication. Our conference is peppered with news of the sniper incident, which unfolds while we meet. In massive shopping sprees, many of the Indonesian police generals spend well beyond what their salaries would allow.
Oct. 23 - 27, 2002 – APEC in Mexico
Though I was not present, a colleague later relates to me that after a high-level meeting, President Bush threw a serious temper tantrum using four-letter words and all. He shouted that he was sick and tired of his job. Not realizing anyone besides his advisors were in the room, as soon as Bush realized my colleague was there, he instantly transformed into a "good ol' boy," smiling and joking with this colleague.
2003 – Bush/Megawati phone calls Feb 18, Feb 19 (Iraq), Aug 6 (Marriott condolences)
No advisors are used for these calls. For the first call, the White House situation room dials what should be President Megawati's personal phone number, but gets a young-sounding Indonesian woman who immediately complains that she's going to bathroom and hangs up. I only realize later that this is Megawati's answering message, designed to scare away those who might mistakenly call her. Megawati avoids answering the phone at the predetermined time of two calls, tantamount to a polite slap in the face. Though she doesn't say so, she is clearly not happy about President Bush wanting her to support his war in Iraq. Before one of the calls, I ask the White House situation room liaison how long our phone call will last. He guarantees me it will not take more than 15 minutes, as the next call is with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. He smugly tells me that the crown prince won't wait for President Bush! So who's more important here?
Sept. 23, 2003 – UN General Assembly, Bush and Megawati at Waldorf in New York
While waiting for the Indonesian delegation, President Bush asks Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Chief of Staff Andrew Card, "What do you want me to say?" After the delegation leaves and while waiting for the following African delegation, he again asks what he should talk about. He also cracks some jokes about sex shops in Thailand.
Oct. 22, 2003 – Bali: Bush with Megawati, four religious leaders in a four-hour visit
To arrange for this four-hour stopover, several hundred Americans work in Indonesia at a secure, five-star hotel for a week, and some for several weeks. As I arrive three days early, I am able to see again some of the detailed and scripted planning that goes into these high-level visits. Most of it is about security and making sure the leaders look and sound good to their public. On the morning of the visit, I run into a dead dolphin on the beach near the hotel. Strange omen. I notice during the several meetings how President Bush is very good at making no sound like a yes, particularly in regards to Indonesia's repeated requests for access to Indonesian citizen and suspected terrorist Hambali. Lunch conversation between the two presidents is all about personal stuff—cattle, kids, the difficulties of being a president, etc. Bush again is very nice to me, asking "Do you want water?" and "Aren't you hungry?" This is rare kindness exhibited by very few for whom I've worked in my many years as an interpreter. As is usual for events like this, there is a huge party for the hundreds involved in planning the visit the evening after Bush leaves. For more on this meeting, click here.
Late April 2004 – Wolfowitz with Indonesian journalists in Pentagon
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz walks into the room for our scheduled meeting at the Pentagon. He sees me first and immediately demands to know "Who is this?" In fact, I had previously worked with him a couple times. I'm told by a Pentagon staffer that he has become quite paranoid.
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