July 29, 2007:
Russia has stepped in to become the
prime supplier of weapons and military equipment to Indonesia. The United
States and European suppliers used to get most of this business. But this was
all cut off when Indonesia was found to be offending Western human rights
standards. The Russians are just looking for more customers, and have extended
the Indonesians a billion dollars in credit, and generous repayment terms, for
Russian weapons. Indonesia plans to buy several billion dollars worth of
Russian weapons and military equipment.