LAST week’s shocking news was that Lt. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Defense Department Secretary-General, was denied entry into the United States of America. Earlier, he was touted as the strongest candidate for the post of Cabinet Secretary. Sjafrie was denied a visa when applying to accompany President Yudhoyono to the G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh, USA, last September.

Sjafrie refused to confirm or deny this unfavorable issue. “Just ask the US