Indonesia - ask our two patrons from there - is under siege from Islamism. Terrorism, encroaching sharia, trampled rights of non-Muslims in this most diverse country. The last thing democratic and pluralist Indonesia needs is support from the US president for theocracy.

Obama did very well to showcase America's plurality, its tradition of embracing different people of different bakcground, its liberty. This supports democracy in Indonesia, bolsters anti-Islamicist groups, inspires those students. Obama's speech is the equivalent of 'Ich bin ein Baliner'.*

If Indonesians want to hear theocratic mottos, they can just turn on their state radio.





* There must be people at the NYT or the Guardian who would sell their mother in exchange for that genius headline, which you fine gentlemen at this cult games forum get for free.