tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27644679.post116200241576031645..comments2023-11-03T03:17:27.053-05:00Comments on NPR Check: Hendren's Magic MarkerMytwordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307620268159811668noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27644679.post-1162049397740151002006-10-28T10:29:00.000-05:002006-10-28T10:29:00.000-05:00Thanks for the links. I'll add them as a postscri...Thanks for the links. I'll add them as a postscript to the original post!Mytwordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04307620268159811668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27644679.post-1162046213727041902006-10-28T09:36:00.000-05:002006-10-28T09:36:00.000-05:00Even the CIA doesn't get it quite right. The viole...Even the CIA doesn't get it quite right. The violence in 1999 was more from Indonesian's military, than the militia, who were bit players by the end. Official reports documenting direct involvement by the Indonesian military in the violence and destruction have long been available. <BR/><BR/>As to today, the NPR report gives no indication that the reporter or the admiral talked to any Timorese. Most international observers don't call Timor a "failed state." The country is very troubled and has been mismanaged (and the UN and World Bank bear some responsibility here), but the violence has largely been confined to the capital and most state institutions still function. Most of its leaders are working to come up with solutions, even if they can't all agree on the diagnosis. The brief NPR report is a classic example of parachute journalism at its worst.<BR/><BR/>For some more knowledgeable and thoughtful analyses of Timor's crisis folks could start with <A HREF="http://etan.org/news/2006/10coi.htm" REL="nofollow">Commission of Inquiry Report Can <BR/>Help Timor-Leste Overcome Divisions, But Context of Recent Violence Needs <BR/>Attention</A> and other items on the ETAN and <A HREF="http://www.laohamutuk.org/" REL="nofollow">La'o Hamutuk</A> <BR/>(Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring & Analysis)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com