Powell: Tsunami Aid May Help Fight Terror
Tuesday January 4, 2005 8:01 PM
AP Photo JAK112
By ANNE GEARAN
AP Diplomatic Writer
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - U.S. money and military assistance to countries where tens of thousands died in the tsunami may lessen anti-American sentiment in the Muslim world and help in the fight against terrorism, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday.
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Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country with 238 million people, had the largest loss of life in the Dec. 26 disaster that struck 12 countries around the Indian Ocean. Indonesia is a fledgling democracy and an ally in the Bush administration's war on terrorism, but suspicion of Americans runs deep here.
Islamic militants are blamed for three large bombings in the past two years, including one that killed 12 in the Jakarta hotel where Powell's entourage is staying during a tour of tsunami damage.
The United States bankrolls humanitarian relief in part ``because we believe it is in the best interest of those countries and it's in our best interest,'' Powell said. ``It dries up those pools of dissatisfaction that might give rise to terrorist activity.''
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4710705,00.html>edit: Maybe * didn't think about the fact that there are lots of Muslims over there in Southeast Asia. They're playing catch-up now.
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