In the Rhode Island capital, however, there is concern on the part of The Providence Journal that the basic premise of the independence vote is faulty. They suspect that making East Timor formally independent will simply add to the world's growing list of functionally dependent micro-states. An even bigger problem is posed by the attitude of Jakarta's military, which fears, not without reason, that allowing East Timor to secede will encourage drives for independence in Aceh, Irian Jaya and other provinces of the vast Indonesian archipelago. In the Pacific Northwest, The Seattle Times is totally in favor of the U-S role in the East Timor rescue force, and says President Clinton has done the right thing. That's as it should be.
Relief is on the way.
The first airdrops of good, clothing and shelter have landed. The first multinational wave of troops arrived over the weekend. The Clinton white House is still in the throes of contorted explanations as to why including U-S troops in the rescue mission can help stabilize Indonesia's democracy. No half-baked, defensive apologies are needed. The president did not want to put the U-S military in the lead, and properly so.