Australia and the United States have been allies for a long time and Australia has proven its military capabilities. For instance in 1999, Australia sent thousands of troops into East Timor as peacekeepers when Indonesia's army and its militia proxies killed hundreds of people after the territory voted in a U.N. sponsored referendum for independence. It also deployed special forces to Afghanistan last year to help U.S. troops root out Taliban and al Qaida odds and ends. Howard says that the U.N. Charter should be changed to allow member countries to defend themselves if terrorists strike. He later says "All I"m saying, I think many people are saying, is that maybe the body of international law has to catch up with the new reality." (CNN News pg2).
Asian countries are outraged to the calls that Australian prime minister had said about the terrorist attacks in Indonesia. Indonesia is warning John Howard to not make any attempts to follow up on his calls because he has no right to take military action. Even Thailand's government officials criticize Howard's remarks by saying that each country has its own sovereignty, which must be protected. Many other countries agree that the governments must work together rather than one country by themselves. Malaysia says that they will never allow international troops to operate on their soil, which could cause problems down the road. .
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokes person Marti Natalegawa says he understands Australia's horrible experience but said, "In the fight against terror, no country can act above the law and norms. The change has to be decided by the 190-odd members of the U.N. and this is not easy." Many Indonesian people including Alvin Lee, Head Legislator, don't see why Howard has reacted so strongly against them because they were victims too. Indonesian and other neighboring countries strongly agree with Howard about how there needs to be a increased cooperation among neighboring countries to fight terrorism but not attacks on countries that didn't initiate the terror.