Obama lived for some years when he was a little kid on Indonesia. Just to remember, Indonesia has the biggest muslim population in the world. This fact was used to call Obama a muslim during his Presidential Campaign.

Are the people in Indonesia happy with his visit? NO. Why? Because Obama made very clear that he was american and prone to americans, away from the muslims and all his policy so far is based on U.S. problems. When he did that, he simply put the religion issue aside, since U.S.A problems are big, but not related directly to religion, especially by the efforts made to turn off the link made between terrorism and islam during the Bush administration.

International Crisis Group adverted on 2009:

More than a month after the 17 July 2009 hotel bombings in Jakarta, Noordin Mohammed Top remains at large, but his network is proving to be larger and more sophisticated than previously thought. Not only was it responsible for coordinated bombings at two luxury hotels in the heart of Jakarta’s business district, but it also was apparently contemplating a car bomb attack on President Yudhoyono’s residence. As more information comes to light, it looks increasingly likely that Noordin sought and received Middle Eastern funding. While the extent of foreign involvement this time around remains unclear, recruitment in Indonesia has proved disturbingly easy. The salafi jihadi ideology that legitimises attacks on the U.S. and its allies, and Muslims who associate with them, remains confined to a tiny fringe, but that fringe includes disaffected factions of many different radical groups and impressionable youths with no history of violence. - 27 August 2009 (link)

Also, it shall be clear that Muslims and Terrorism are not co-related, but the financial support from bad groups in the middle-east to bad groups around the world does exist. It is not a matter of religion, but it is also clear that the spiritual leaders of some groups are using the religion as a tool to agregate the goals of destruction.

Indonesia has a good financial condition, and a freedom for this groups to work that many countries doesn’t provide. Indonesia is far from a failed state condition and it is growing in a balanced way. Even with the tragedy of the Tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands, the country is developing a good trade with the whole Asia, without envolving itself in the disputes between China and its neighbours.

The geographical position of Indonesia is privileged and rich in oil. The black gold is a warranty of a good future. Also, the religion of the majority, and I’m thinking of regular people who follows the sacred book of Koran without creating trouble for anybody. These are the indonesians. We can’t judge a people for a few bad elements, and the best part is: Those terrorists are the minority.

Obama needs to strengthen the relationship with Indonesia. This is a big and important ally in the muslim world, and also represents a strategical position in South Asia. But before all, Obama needs to re-think the place of U.S. soft power in its foreign policy, stop talking beautiful words and proving its intentions by good actions related to commerce and political agreements. That’s the way to tame the Muslim monster, by the good and old diplomacy.

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