INDONESIA HOTLINE

U.S. Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama's choice of anti-Iraq war proponent Joseph Biden as his running mate will heighten the senator's leverage in the Muslim world, local analysts say.
The popularity of the Bush administration has plummeted since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Its continued dominance in war-torn Iraq has given it a poor image among the Muslim community.
Although the prospect of a black president with Muslim ties is viewed as a way for the United States to restore its reputation across the world, doubts are emerging over the 47-year-old senator's ability to become the commander-in-chief.
On Aug. 23, Obama named 65-year-old Biden, a senator from Delaware and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as his running mate, a move analysts say is crucial in securing victory.
"Joseph Biden is the most influential person in U.S. foreign policy as he has 30 years of experience in the Senate. And just like Obama, he has shown deep understanding and sensitivity for Asian issues. This is a quality we haven't observed in the Bush administration," said Wimar Witoelar, an advisor for former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and now host of several political TV shows.
"Biden's political heft will provide the expertise needed for Obama to navigate his way into the White House. And if the pair wins, they would make a huge difference for Asian countries, easing the global political tension between the West and Muslim powers," Wimar said.
Tension between the West and the Muslim world reached new heights after Bush launched the "war against terror" in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
Fighting extremism became top of the U.S. agenda in its bilateral and regional relationships with countries with large Muslim populations, including Indonesia.
"Definitely, I would say there will be shift in American relations with Muslim countries," Suzie Sudarman, director of the American Studies Center at the University of Indonesia, wrote in an email interview.
She said although the Bush administration had chosen the military option in the "war against terror", Obama has indicated his preference for a diplomatic approach when dealing with Muslim countries.
During his campaign and an interview with U.S. television, the Hawaiian native -- whose father was Muslim -- has shown his understanding of radicalism by differentiating between what he calls "terrorist targets" and "the average Muslims", who have also become the victims of extremists' violent actions.
"Obama has experience with Muslim-majority nations such as Indonesia and Pakistan, and his own family in Kenya," Suzie said.
"Now with Biden weighing into foreign policy decision making in the Obama administration, there will be a reasonable expectation of changes (that will ease the tension between Western and Muslim nations)."
But Suzie warned of likely turbulent relations with countries struggling with freedom and equality if the Democrats win office, given the party's history of intervening to enforce liberal values throughout the world.
Indonesia's relationship with the United States soured when the Clinton administration imposed a military embargo, citing concerns over human rights abuses in Timor Leste and Papua.
When the military embargo was lifted, it marked another phase of military ties with Indonesia after 15 years of interruption.
However, analysts said the aim of the resumption of military relations was to allow Indonesia, which hosts a minority of religious militants, to step up its fight against terrorism.
Achmad Jainuri, rector of Muhammadiyah University in Sidoarjo, East Java, said Bush was handing his successors more problems related to radical movements around the world, leaving the new leader the monumental task of bringing the superpower back on track.
"Regime change will always bring hope of a better nation and we are looking forward to Obama and Biden addressing it," he said.
Obama said he would withdraw troops from Iraq and seek diplomatic talks with Iranian leaders, making military action his last resort in addressing the issues of nuclear development with the Islamic nation

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta.