Although President Jimmy Carter is often lauded for championing human rights, his foreign policy reflects a more complex legacy, especially in Southeast Asia. History professor Brad Simpson explains how Carter’s administration, while promoting human rights globally, maintained the military support to Indonesia during its brutal occupation of East Timor, which resulted in a genocide against the Timorese people. Under the watch of the Carter administration, U.S. military aid to Indonesia surged despite the ongoing atrocities.
In 1975, as Indonesia invaded East Timor, the U.S. effectively pulled out of Southeast Asia. This invasion led to the death of around 10% of the Timorese population, with the U.S. supplying nearly all the military equipment used in the assault. Upon taking office in 1977, Carter faced the immense ongoing human rights crisis in East Timor but chose to prioritize American alliances over human rights, continuing the policies of his predecessors.
Despite any personal sympathies Carter may have had for human rights, his administration expanded military assistance to Indonesia, even amidst escalating violence against Timorese civilians. U.S. officials misled Congress about the situation, falsely claiming control and stability in East Timor, while in reality, the Indonesian regime was requesting more military support to sustain its offensive.
Simpson emphasizes that the discrepancies in Carter’s human rights stance show the challenge activists face when urging genuine U.S. support for human rights in foreign policy. Although Carter was instrumental in elevating human rights discourse, the systemic inclination within U.S. foreign policy often conflicted with his ideals, making it hard to apply these principles consistently in regions like East Timor.
President Jimmy Carter is remembered as a proponent of human rights, yet his foreign policy reveals a complex reality. While he promoted human rights globally, his administration expanded military aid to Indonesia during its genocidal campaign in East Timor. This contradiction highlights the struggle of aligning U.S. foreign policy with human rights advocacy, as many officials continued to prioritize military partnerships over humanitarian concerns.
Ultimately, Carter’s legacy is one of contradiction: while advocating for human rights, his administration’s actions often prioritizing U.S. strategic interests over moral obligations. The continued military support for Indonesia during the East Timor genocide exemplifies the challenges faced by leaders in translating human rights rhetoric into actionable policy, showing a wider struggle within U.S. foreign policy regarding the commitment to uphold these ideals consistently across the globe.
This article examines the paradox of President Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy, particularly his stance on human rights in relation to U.S. support for Indonesia during its invasion of East Timor. While Carter is celebrated as a human rights advocate, his administration’s actions reflect continuity with previous policies favoring military aid to authoritarian regimes, calling into question the effectiveness of such a human rights policy amidst political and military alliances.
Original Source: www.democracynow.org
