RICE CONTINUES HER SLIDE INTO THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S AMORAL MORASS

ASIAN TRIB:

The United States has "an excellent relationship" with Indonesian President Yudhoyono and his government, the Secretary said. "We are very pleased with our relationship on the war on terror." Although the Bush administration has made "difficult decisions" in the war on terror that have not been popular in some Muslim-majority countries, the United States has "enormous respect" for the Islamic faith, Rice said. "We share Muslim values because they’re part of our own," the secretary said. Americans care about their families, and they are people of faith, Rice said. Indonesia, she said, is another example of "a multi-ethnic, multi-religious state, where people live in peace and harmony and in a democracy."

Sheesh. She's not being diplomatic; she's pandering to a regime which is at least as duplicitous as Pakistan's, and which has been a dubious partner in the GWOT. On the heels of pandering to Arabs. (More here.)

WHERE'S REAGAN WHEN WE NEED HIM!? Reagan was right when told Gorby to tear down the wall. We need a POTUS and a Secretary of State with the same courage.

(BTW: Indonesia was just fined by the Int'l tennis federation for withdrawing from a sceduled tennis match versus Israel. The USA has tolerated this kind of duplicity and moral ambiguity from so-called allies like Indonesia for way too long. Maybe President Giuliani will be braver?)