Ah, the list!

Years ago I wrote a song called the "The List" precisely about this. "We did not touch one son of a bitch. We just wrote the list. Jakarta!" Had a lot of percussion in it.

I recall there was a State Dept. guy named Green who did the denying on this. He was the one who actually said we just wrote the list.

The estimates were from a quarter million to a million people killed. And let's face it, when you're doing mass killing you don't keep count.

The list was supposed to be of the Communists in Indonesia, but these things aren't so precise. Eligibility was extended to ethnic Chinese, because, after all, immigrant populations are always good targets.

It was such a bloody mess that it couldn't be allowed to remain visible. That's why New York Times reporters have to remain ignorant.

And if you look at the grand scheme of things, it helps to better understand one purpose of the Vietnam war. For Suharto wasn't protecting Indonesia from Communism as much as protecting all that oil for the oil companies.

I remember years ago seeing how many coups occurred from the mid-sixties on that had relationships to oil reserves. You'd almost believe that that lone nut in Dallas in 1963 had set off world-wide revolutions for brown peoples around the globe to give American oil companies their wealth. Truly amazing, and such a coincidence that it happened right there in Dallas and you can steer a tank from Dealey Plaza through all those countries right to where that statue of Saddam Hussein was pulled down in Baghdad.

Howard Hughes?

Our little Songbird from Glen Dale, linked to a butcher. Thanks for the link to Eva. It gives a little hope.

What book was it? Kai Bird talks about this in his biography of the Bundy brothers (The Color of Truth).

I remember when the story first broke about the list (around 1990, I think), the NYT among others quickly "discredited" it, so the guy you heard was just sticking to the party line.

Bu-bye, Suhi. Have a good eternity.

Also, wasn't Kissinger involved in some way (well, isn't he always?), but I mean specifically I think he told the Indonesians that the US would have no problem if the Indonesians took care of their "Communist" situation.

Donald,

If I remember correctly, it was something by Peter Dale Scott. I don't think I'd believe everything he says on all subjects, but as you know you don't need to rely on him re Indonesia. That was just the first mention I ever saw about it, so I started looking for more, which all said pretty much what he did. And since then, of course, there's been a bunch more released on the coup.

The funny thing about radio host is that he didn't even say "Oh, that was discredited." It really sounded like he'd never heard it before, but he knew it was ridiculous on its face.

catherine,

I suspect you're thinking of Kissinger re Indonesia's invasion of East Timor.

This was a really fine post, JoNathan. First class. Right ohhhhn!

The first account of the U.S. role in Suharto's slaughter I read was in 1979 -- Noam Chomsky's, in The Political Economy of Human Rights, Volume I: The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism.

Thanks for the link to the video. I'm normally a huge fan of gospel and gospel/soul style, and want to hear more of Eva Cassidy, but much prefer that particular song without any swing. Enya's version is beautiful.

If I recall there was an article based on Kadane's article in Covert Action Information Bulletin from around then.

But that was just a conspiracy-mongering rag. A few years later they had a good article on Echelon.

Who is the radio host you are talking about? Why you didn't mention his name.

Great post, but I actually prefer Enya's cover. Eva's FINE, but I like to celebrate dictator's deaths in a more solemn manner.

catherine,

I suspect you're thinking of Kissinger re Indonesia's invasion of East Timor.
Posted by Jonathan Schwarz at January 27, 2008 02:14 PM

Quite possibly, thanks. I think it had to do with his going to Indonesia and meeting with Suhi, and then flying back and just after he landed, they attacked. Does Kissinger ever leave his apartment? I'd be so happy to hear that he's afraid to. That's the best we're going to do, I fear.

You know, I ask people I know, do you really believe the US hasn't interfered in the live of others? Do you really believe that we've maintained our position as a superpower over the last 60 years by benign benevolence?

To a person conservatives answer "yes".

Not that I think they believe this of course - I think they don't care how we did it.

This sorely taxes by belief in humanity.

jeez, Suharto and Pinochet both die in their beds of ``natural causes''. But they both deserved to be hung or put in front of a firing squad. How many more of these thugs will escape punishment for their crimes?

Even stranger, Feeder, is that when he died, Suharto was the subject of major criminal probes looking into the corruption during his time in office.

That's a little wierd and deserves a whole analysis in and of itself -- the massive slaughter allowing him to take office is too much to take on, but the theft of money once he got there required a response? It's kind of like finally jailing Capone on tax evasion, because it's the only way to get some smidgeon of justice. Or maybe it's just that the victims of Suharto's corruption were still around and generally more powerful than the victims of the slaughter?

Either way: how do you say "good riddance" in bahasa? I only know how to wish a pleasant journey.

Jimbo, met with a bunch of my high school friends in early 2002 - we were planning a reunion. Talk of Guantanamo and torture got two responses: "Well, what do they expect if they come over here and fly into our buildings?" and "The U.S. doesn't torture."

I doubt any of them feel any different today. Well, maybe one of them.

Jimbo, met with a bunch of my high school friends in early 2002 - we were planning a reunion. Talk of Guantanamo and torture got two responses: "Well, what do they expect if they come over here and fly into our buildings?" and "The U.S. doesn't torture."

I doubt any of them feel any different today. Well, maybe one of them.

Sympathy for the Devil.

Bahasa just means "speak" or "tongue." Selamat malam means "goodnight." Close enough. Lights out. They evaded justice, but at least they're gone.