Obama's Short Indonesian Trip Significant
Making a trip over to the fourth most populous nation in the world, President Obama is due to end his journey to Indonesia in the next few hours. Indonesia, a country once home to the President many years ago, is the largest Muslim democracy today. As President Obama's trip comes to an end, many analysts wondered what he may have accomplished from his short, 24-hour visit to the nation's capital, Jakarta.
Indonesia's successful transition from a military dictatorship to a vibrant moderate Muslim democracy is important to recognize for the US. Speaking on WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show, Asia Society President Vishakha N. Desai who briefed President Obama before he went to India said that despite a recent blow to the Democratic party in the recent US midterm elections, President Obama is wise to understand that the US is an important player in Asian politics.
Listen to Vishakha Desai on The Brian Lehrer Show now (18 min., 51 sec.):
