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.S.interest in problems Indonesianscare about.The United States should craft initiatives to build personal and institutional ties byaddressing not only U.S.priorities but also issues of particular interest to Indonesians.To thatend, the United States might offer to conduct joint scientific research on agriculture andoceanography, with specific support, for instance, to existing endeavors such as the CoralTriangle Initiative and Heart of Borneo project.Washington should also consider ways tohelp support private initiatives that aid Indonesia s educational institutions.Work to include Indonesia in mini-lateral groupings as well as other international agenda-settingforums.Even as the United States looks to develop the bilateral relationship on the basis of aset of common interests and values, Washington should advocate the inclusion of Indonesiain mini-lateral as well as global forums, just as Indonesia has quietly supported U.S.participation in Asian regionalism.Indonesia s involvement in the G-20 should be aprototype for its inclusion in other major processes to address issues such as climate change,energy security, global health, and even Middle East peace, as one of an expanding group ofnew power players.By promoting Indonesia s inclusion in these forums, the United Stateswould demonstrate with even greater sincerity its respect for and commitment to promotingJakarta s status as a major player and global partner.The United States should also consider practical ways to work with Indonesia in conjunctionwith allies Japan, Korea, and Australia,4 and along with India, China, and others, discusspossible outlines of a future regional architecture.Continue to develop military-to-military relations and to boost the capacity of the National Policewhile remaining committed to reform.While the TNI and the Indonesian National Policeremain imperfect institutions, the trend line by all accounts is moving in the right direction.Indeed, much progress has already been made in modernization, professionalization, andadherence to internationally acceptable norms of conduct, including full civilian control.Assistance to the Indonesian military and national police in fact has been a major cause for asharp reduction in incidences of piracy in the region and a reduction in the threat of terrorismwithin Indonesia s borders.Using the same model it currently employs, the United States4Australia is a particularly useful partner for the United States as it engages Indonesia.Indonesia andAustralia today enjoy strong economic, social, diplomatic, and security relations despite a difficult period adecade ago when Australia supported East Timor independence.Australia has worked assiduously to assistIndonesia in counterterrorism and law enforcement capabilities independently and alongside the UnitedStates since the Bali bombing.The 2006 Lombok Treaty created a legal framework for close Indonesia-Australia security cooperation, and the two countries have joined together to chair the Bali DemocracyForum.Due to Australia s strong interest, knowledge, and experience working with Jakarta, the UnitedStates should coordinate closely with its ally in Canberra on Indonesia policy.indonesia | 57should continue to help Indonesia help itself and take advantage of opportunities to engendergoodwill and best practices within the military establishment in the broader interest ofIndonesian society and security.To that end, the United States should also help enhance Indonesia s civilian defense capacityby continuing to support the establishment of an Indonesian Defense University, which beganoperation in March 2009, and assist with professional programs in defense programming andbudgeting.The U.S.Department of Defense  Indonesia Defense Reform program, modeledafter the Philippine Defense Reform program, should also receive full U.S.government,including congressional, support.Enhance parliamentary exchange and knowledge of Indonesia on Capitol Hill.Given thegrowing importance of Indonesia, it is unfortunate that knowledge and understanding of thecountry is limited in the U.S Congress.While one can hardly fault the Congress alone for thisstate of affairs given the corresponding lack of knowledge about Indonesia in the U.S.government and population at large, it is clearly not in the U.S.interest that this situationcontinues.Congressional staff members have suggested that dispatching assistant secretariesfor Asia and deputy assistant secretaries responsible for Southeast Asia to consult withCongress periodically about Indonesian affairs will be welcome and help promoteunderstanding of Indonesia, raising Indonesia s status in return.Given that the DPR is anincreasingly relevant body to Indonesian foreign policy, with an imperfect understanding ofthe United States itself, the two countries can kill two birds with one stone by effecting aregular parliamentary exchange.Be careful in international conduct.Indonesia official and popular sentiment toward theUnited States remains highly sensitive to perceived inequities and injustices in U.S.foreignpolicy.Thus, one cannot divorce the future health of the U.S.-Indonesia relationship from theoverall conduct of U.S.foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East.To the degree that theUnited States conforms to international law, respectfully consults with the internationalcommunity over its actions, handles international problems according to principles of equity,justice, and balance among various interests, treats its allies, friends, and adversaries alike withmutual respect, and operates to the maximum degree possible through the United Nationsand other multilateral forums, it will appeal to the sensibilities of Indonesians and facilitatethe continued development of the relationship over time.It may be argued that without a strong and coherent Indonesia policy, the United States cannothave a strong and coherent Southeast Asia policy.As one senior U.S [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]