Draw!
Following the successful vote for Independence in East Timor there was a
crisis in law and order as Indonesia lifted martial law and anti-independence
forces went on a rampage. The Australian Government led by
Prime Minister John Howard made immediate moves to provide protection to
the new nation. At the time some critics accused the Australian Government of
simply following US policy and US President Bill Clinton. The UN
sanctioned troops being sent to East Timor, but not before an article appeared
in The Bulletin with a statement, unfortunately, and wrongfully, attributed to
John Howard, that Australia was "deputy sheriff" to the US in the Asia region.
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