US Marines Told, "No" by Indonesia

ABOARD THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (AP) — The aircraft carrier leading the U.S. military’s tsunami relief effort steamed out of Indonesian waters Wednesday after the country declined to let the ship’s fighter pilots use its airspace for training missions — part of a broad effort by Indonesia to reassert control over its territory.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/Tsunami/2005/01/11/893937-ap.html

c ya :hi:

Muslims end up dead, usually in really gruesome and nasty ways.

Are really patrols and an intregal part of a Carrier's security. It would be a big breach of security to not fly them and basically leave a battle group sitting out somewhere blind.

Seems to me from the report that the Indonesians are wary of US motives. I don't blame them.

U.S. carrier leaves national waters
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is leading the U.S. military’s relief effort, steamed out of Indonesian waters Wednesday because the U.S. Navy has permission from the Indonesians only to fly aircraft into its airspace that are directly supporting the humanitarian operation, said Lt. Cmdr. John M. Daniels, a spokesman for the Lincoln carrier strike group. Helicopters will still deliver aid to Sumatra’s devastated coast, however.

Indonesia declined to let the ship’s fighter pilots use its airspace for training missions. Under Navy rules, pilots of carrier-based warplanes cannot go longer than 14 days without flying, or their skills are considered to have degraded too far. Since the Abraham Lincoln has been stationed off Sumatra since Jan. 1, the carrier moved out of Indonesian waters so its pilots could conduct their training flights in international airspace.

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla said foreign troops would be out of the country by March 31.

“A three-month period is enough, even the sooner the better,” Kalla said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6754820/

nothing more nothing less. under this administration we are seen by most in the world as warmongers, someone to not be trusted. It is a sad day in the world with what is happening in the U. S. (the new V. A. administrator) wants to cut veterans benefits, the apparent attempt to bankrupt our country so we can't continue our social programs, social security, Medicare, Medicaid and on and on. We have fought for so long to have these programs. So I applaud these people for taking a stand.

that all foreign troops must leave within 3 months. This is also understandable...let's give aid but why send troops that will only antagonise the locals.