Joint Chiefs Chairman Begins Pacific Trip

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii, May 28, 2008 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has begun a swing through the Pacific that will take him to Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines and Korea.

After a 30-hour flight from Washington aboard a C-17, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen will meet with Indonesian leaders in Jakarta. Indonesia is the fourth-largest country in the world and the largest majority Muslim nation. Officials traveling with the chairman said Indonesia has been a firm ally in the war on terror. Jemaah Islamiyah -- a terror group affiliated with al-Qaida -- has launched terror attacks in Bali and in Jakarta. The way forward against such groups and improving military-to-military contacts between Indonesia and the United States will dominate the discussions.

"It's not limited to that," a Joint Staff official, said on background. "We’re going to listen to whatever concerns the Indonesians have."