John Hopkins SAIS Dean Discuss Trump Administration Policy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Political scientist and Dean of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Dr. Vali R. Nasr, discusses the Trump administration policy direction, extreme vetting and relationship between Indonesia and America at an open forum in Jakarta's World Trade Centre on January 31, 2017.

The event was held by USINDO, an organization that aims to improve the bilateral relationship and mutual understandings between the United States and Indonesia.

With Trump.s administration in full swing, many people, including Nasr, are trying to analyze and anticipate Trump's next political move. In his first week of office, President Trump has signed many controversial executive orders including the 90-day ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries.

However, in regards to the legality and consequence of the executive order Dr. Nasr said that "[the orders] have legal problems in the sense of challenge of placing emphasis on religion, national origin and nationality which runs contrary to US law, it counters the spirit of America and American values. It also clearly has negative international diplomatic repercussions."

Nasr then said that "it would have been more credible if [the executive orders] had targeted countries where terrorism is active or where terrorists come from."

President trumps executive order includes a 90-day ban from countries such as Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Sudan and Syria. According to CNN, the executive order "[…] bans all citizens from those seven countries from entering the US and leaves green card holders subject to being rescreened after visiting those countries." The New York Times also stated that "President Trump omitted from his ban a number of other predominantly Muslim nations where his company has done business."

During an interview, Nasr said that the decision has more 'interests' than just business. Nasr also pointed out that Afghanistan, a country Trump has no business ties with, is not on the ban list. Nasr highlighted that the list somewhat peculiar.

"Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan are countries that either you have active terrorism or where traditionally a lot of terrorists have come," Nasr added.

Responding to the possibilities of Indonesia being included in the list, Nasr said that "Indonesia is way, way below the list when there are countries like Pakistan, like Saudi Arabia, like Morocco, like Algeria, like Jordan."

Nasr added that looking at where most of the ISIS terrorist that actually have threatened Europe and the US come from, Indonesia would be way below the list of countries Trump targeted.

GEMALA DARMADI (INTERN)

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