ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the terrorist attacks on the United States the ensuing 'global war on terrorism' (GWOT), and the release by the Bush administration of the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) in late September 2001. The document known as the National Security Strategy (NSS) in September 2002, have spurred intense debate about the future direction of US foreign and security policies generally, including the evolving US approach to the security order in the Asia-Pacific region. The Bush administration took office with several planned policies on Asia. Its first priority was revitalizing relations with 'allies and friends'. The Bush administration's skepticism about regimes, treaties, and multilateral organizations was another major feature of the early approach toward Asia and elsewhere. For the US, the September 11 terrorist attacks are the most dramatic, if not yet definitive, events of the post-Cold War era. The Indonesian case is more complicated, but considerable efforts are being made to work with Jakarta in counterterrorism.
