The Bush Administration’s delegation to East Timor’s independence celebration will be led, ironically, by former President Clinton and former UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, two men deeply involved in supporting Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor. President Clinton offered military support for Indonesia throughout his eight years in office, waiting until Indonesia’s army had burned East Timor to the ground before finally cutting off military ties. Richard Holbrooke, who was US Ambassador to the UN at the time of East Timor’s historic 1999 vote, was also the State Department officer in charge of East Asia when Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975. Amy Goodman had a chance to question then Presidential candidate Bill Clinton about U.S. policy toward Indonesia and East Timor in 1992, while Allan Nairn had a chance to question Richard Holbrooke at Brown University in May 1997.

In 1994 Allan Nairn and Amy Goodman also had a chance to question former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who along with Gerald Ford gave the green light for Indonesia to invade East Timor in 1975. This was the first time Kissinger had ever spoken publicly about his role in supporting Indonesia’s invasion.

Tape:

• Amy Goodman questions then-president-elect Bill Clinton after a major policy address in New York
• Journalist Allan Nairn questions Richard Holbrooke, former US ambassador to the United Nations under President Clinton. In 1997, Holbrooke was given an honorary degree from Brown University, and he gave an address about everything from Indonesia and East Timor to Bosnia. Nairn questioned him after he spoke.
• Journalist Allan Nairn confronts former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who along with former President Gerald Ford gave the green light for Indonesia to invade East Timor in 1975. This was the first time Kissinger had ever spoken publicly about his role in supporting Indonesia’s invasion.