Potential Australian/New Zealand/East Timor/Indonesia conflict (was Red Dawn Remake

[waiting4something]

East timor was hardly even covered in the U.S. media(no big surprise), but I'm sure the sports world was. It is a wake call to most of us that believe bad things can't happen in modern times, but bad shit like that happens in places like the Congo a lot. We just blow it off and wonder who will be eliminated on American Idol. So yeah, I think one day we may be in for a rude awaking. For the U.S.A. our version of this would be Mexico. I always thought invading Mexico was more important then fighting in Iraq and Afganistan, and lately things are getting real interesting on the border.

I remember when I was in Indonesia for a short while. I was blown away by how third world it was. It reminded me of pictures in Soldier of Fortune magazine of Central America back in the 1980's. When I was touring one of the Indonesia Marine bases there I saw they even still had PT-76 tanks!

[Legbreaker]

Back in the day, we trained to fight against the mysterious Kamarians who's country was located somewhere around where Indonesia is - but definitely NOT Indonesia....

Rumour had it that if the Indonesians had the will, and managed to quickly obtain enough transport ships, they could be halfway across Australia before we were even able to mobilise. A couple of weeks later and Australia would consist of little more than the 400,000 living on Tasmania plus another 50,000 or so refugees from the mainland.

Of course there were a number of prerequisites for that scenario to occur (namely will and transport), but it was a topic of discussion late at night around the Company bar - the consensus was that as a unit we'd hit the hills and do what we could from there.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by waiting4something

East timor was hardly even covered in the U.S. media(no big surprise), but I'm sure the sports world was.

It wasn't much, though MSNBC covered it here in the US more than most. East Timor actually made it into the plot of several episodes of JAG as well, believe it or not.

[waiting4something]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

It wasn't much, though MSNBC covered it here in the US more than most. East Timor actually made it into the plot of several episodes of JAG as well, believe it or not.

I can't believe it. But, I was like 13 at the time, so I'll take your word for it. I just remember being interested in it, but what was shown was very vague.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

One of my friends was asked if he would rejoin the military when the fighting in East Timor occured. His cousin (female) was married to an ex-SAS guy who was also asked to come back

[Webstral]

Originally Posted by waiting4something

But, I was like 13 at the time, so I'll take your word for it. I just remember being interested in it, but what was shown was very vague.

Dude, you're killing me.

Webstral

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by waiting4something

I can't believe it. But, I was like 13 at the time, so I'll take your word for it. I just remember being interested in it, but what was shown was very vague.

You said it, Web! I'm almost old enough to be his grandfather!

[waiting4something]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

You said it, Web! I'm almost old enough to be his grandfather!

No, I just had my timeline screwed up I thought that it happened in the early 1990's, for some reason. How I was this far off I don't know? I could have swore something happen there back then, but I looked and I'm dead wrong. Sorry about that.

[Legbreaker]

As far as I'm aware, the US barely had any involvement at all in East Timor. Most of the work was done by Australians with some small support from a few other nations.
The UN basically washed it's hands of the situation, at least in the first few months.

Of course with the intial invasion by Indonesia occuring back in the 70's, and the Australian government of the day sitting on their hands in fear of a confrontation, it was about time we did something good for the East Timorese.

[headquarters]

But will you give back the oilfields that the Indonesians grabbed from the East Timorese and subsequently sold to Australia ....

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

As far as I'm aware, the US barely had any involvement at all in East Timor. Most of the work was done by Australians with some small support from a few other nations.
The UN basically washed it's hands of the situation, at least in the first few months.

Of course with the intial invasion by Indonesia occuring back in the 70's, and the Australian government of the day sitting on their hands in fear of a confrontation, it was about time we did something good for the East Timorese.

[headquarters]

Originally Posted by waiting4something

No, I just had my timeline screwed up I thought that it happened in the early 1990's, for some reason. How I was this far off I don't know? I could have swore something happen there back then, but I looked and I'm dead wrong. Sorry about that.

Actually , East Timor in particular and Indonesia in general has been a powderkeg with numerous civil wars and insurgencies ( not to mention banditry,piracy and religious strife ) for a long time.

Reports of bombings,guerilla warfare and oppression have been plentiful ever since modern media coverage started.

I wonder if the incident in the 90s tho which you refer is the student massacre -same old story,unarmed students with flowers and slogans ,armed security forces with short temper .I know that it was one of the turning points in the East Timorese war for independence in the way that it brought attention and brought East Timorese together in support of the Fretellin.

It rang a bell .