Complex sentence: In 1998 Australian Prime Minister John Howard looked to establish a reputation for himself as a regional statesman, and he attempted to solve the issue of the Indonesia's brutal 24-year military occupation of East Timor.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1998 Australian Prime Minister John Howard sort to establish a reputation for himself as a regional statesman. He attempted to solve the issue of the Indonesia's brutal 24 year long military occupation of East Timor.