Issues of the day: SBY is not comparable to Eisenhower

Paper Edition | Page: 8

July 10, p. 8

This refers to an article entitled “Yudhoyono and Petraeus: Between military and leadership”, (The Jakarta Post, June 25) by Wibawanto Nugroho.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and former US president Dwight Eisenhower are totally different.

Unlike SBY, Eisenhower was effective in making his policies, which were carried out by many.

To be a success, SBY must change. I do not think he is comparable to Eisenhower since, unlike SBY, Eisenhower put his country’s national interests first; while SBY seems to put his image first.

Eisenhower’s confrontation against the Arkansas government in 1957 to protect African American students was real proof of being a great leader of his nation.

What has President Yudhoyono done to protect minority groups here? Is he prepared to sacrifice his image in order to protect the minorities? (By Donny Emerald)

Your comments:

Indonesia needs a leader like Eisenhower. I hope Indonesia will get that in 2014.

He was a real general who knew how to become an effective president who could stand up for his people and was even willing to die to advance US national interests. Could Prabowo or anyone else do this? Let’s see.

Terry

SBY is not comparable at all to either Petraeus or Eisenhower. He is a totally different individual within a different social context.

If SBY was an American, he might rise to a rank of a two-, three- or four-star general. But I think he would not end up as successful as Petraeus or Eisenhower.

SBY is more fit for being president of university than president of a nation.

He is just a general who has tried so hard to become a politician, and has failed.

His inner circle is full of “yes men”, rather than people who would tell SBY the truth and come up with original advice.

Jaques P

He is definitely incomparable to Eisenhower. Just look at the Papua issue, can he take a clear stand on it?

Even his subordinates: the chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI), the police, and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) are confused and have their own perception of what is going on in Papua.

I think SBY needs to fully understand the concept that leadership and risks are part of the same package, and that sending clear messages is critically important.

President SBY has cared too much about his image, gestures and other superficial things.

This style coupled with his sensitivity, is not suitable for political leadership, particularly the democratic environment what Indonesia has now.

My message is this: If SBY does not want to take the risk of being unpopular, he shouldn’t have entered politics.

He is way too far from being an effective president like Eisenhower. His presidential leadership (using the term in the article) is a disaster for Indonesia.

Unfortunately, I don’t think that he can change.

Abdul Almasih