Skeptics go even further, suggesting that Obama has fallen short of his powerful address last year
in Cairo promising “a new beginning” and engagement with the Muslim world (Ernest Bower, CSIS, June 4).

In addition to over promising and under delivering, the Cairo speech has also disappointed many who believed that Indonesia would have made a much better location representing the Muslim world, taking into consideration that its Muslim population was threefold that of Egypt’s.

Furthermore, commitments of “getting Asia right” through sustained presence and involvement seemed to be more rhetoric than action, a trend that needs to be placed under greater scrutiny considering US eagerness to participate in the East Asia Summit.

Whether the Obama administration has the ability and willingness to break away from Bush’s legacy of absence and detachment in Asia is yet to be proven.

After three canceled visits and last week’s disappointing “slap on the wrist” response toward Israel, regarding the aid flotilla incident that has disrupted the Middle East peace process, many Indonesians have begun to ponder whether Obama has already strikeout.

Contrary to the popular three-strikes of American baseball, in Indonesia, three consecutive strikes in a contest usually entitle you to a cute mug or umbrella, either as a jackpot or simply as a consolation prize. Although the decision to delay the visit has left many disappointed, in reality it seems it might be in Indonesia’s best interest.

The turn of events seems to strike a chord with the saying that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. Four main considerations lead to this conclusion.

First, the delay helped US and Obama dodge Indonesia’s climate of public “outrage” regarding recent developments in the Middle East.

Last week’s Israeli raid on the Gaza bound aid flotilla, as well as the emotional public response following it, had further complicated the situation with numerous protests being staged in several Indonesian cities (The Jakarta Post, June 3).

Protesters conducted pantomimes, raised solidarity funds, burned flags, recruited sympathizers to sail to Gaza, while others insisted on staging further protests to reject Obama’s visit, an attempt aimed at criticizing the US’s support of Israel’s atrocities in Gaza.

The underlying condition was rather unfavorable, rendering it nearly impossible for Obama to fully capitalize on his visit to Indonesia.

Second, the delay itself had made sure that the US head of state was not exposed to unnecessary security threats and risks following protests in major cities.

Head of Indonesian Police’s Special Detachment 88 antiterror unit, Tito Karnavian, indicated the likelihood of possible attacks intended to disrupt Obama’s planned visit (Jakarta Globe, June 3).

Despite no indications of a heightened possibility of a terrorist attack, if the visit was forced to follow its predetermined schedule, a lot of extra work would have been needed to be completed only within days prior to Obama’s arrival.

Installing additional precautionary security measures, further mobilization, and coordination of intelligence and counterterrorism personnel at all levels would have definitely demanded a great deal of additional time and resources from Indonesia.

Third, the delay made it possible for both US and Indonesia to avoid incidentals taking centrality over the main agenda of US-Indonesia long term strategic partnership.

The current relationship between US and Indonesia is a strategic partnership in the making and there is little need to put issues, especially those where US and Indonesia differ the most, at the forefront.

Condemnation of Israel’s action as well as the need to thoroughly discuss and solve Palestine’s plight, however noble and worthy the cause might be, was not the main reason of Obama’s visit to Indonesia. Of course, Indonesia should make clear of its position regarding peace in the Middle East to all of its partners.

However, it would be best for Indonesia to pursue such cause using other more appropriate opportunities, forums, as well as channels that can better reinforce its position and provide much needed leverage for Indonesia’s solidarity.

Fourth, the delay evidently also saved Obama from provoking further discontent among his American voter and supporters that are urging him to manage the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

This, in the long run, might help keep Obama in office for his next term making it possible for Indonesians to expect years of constructive engagement, mutual understanding, and strategic partnership in the near future.
 

The writer is a lecturer and researcher at the Department of International Relations, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, the University of Indonesia.

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