Word: timorous
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Vastly increased Indonesian involvement is now proposed: special forces troops, armed with weapons that cannot be traced to Jakarta will be used. Malaysia has reportedly agreed in principle to supply such weapons...recent press reports from Jakarta that claim FRETILIN forces crossed the border and attacked Indonesian Timor may have been released by military officers in an effort to build up the pressure on Suharto...
December 5, 1975: "President Suharto has reportedly approved a plan to begin overt Indonesian intervention in Portuguese Timor soon after President Ford leaves Jakarta...Suharto is undoubtedly still concerned about the effects of an Indonesian invasion on his relations with the U.S., particularly the continuation of U.S. military aid, and he will try hard to present a plausible justification...Suharto is certain to try to elicit a sympathetic attitude from President Ford during their meetings...
December 8, 1975: "Indonesian troops have captured Dili, the capital of Portuguese Timor. Yesterday marine and airborne troops equipped with U.S. weapons mounted a full-scale attack against the city...
December 10, 1975: "Indonesia is having trouble convincing the world that military intervention in Timor is justified in part because of the unexpectedly strong reaction from Portugal itself...Lisbon has broken relations with Indonesia and the Portuguese Foreign Minister has branded Jakarta's actions an 'unqualified act of armed aggression...
These excerpts from top-secret CIA documents leave no doubt that the U.S. did have the leverage to prevent Indonesia from invading East Timor without greatly upsetting President Suharto...