The Intervention in East Timor

Abstract

As East Timor rapidly approaches a formal declaration of independence next year, it is useful to consider what lessons might be learned from the Australian-led intervention, beginning in September 1999. The following observations are preliminary perspectives of a former U.S. government official, designed to contribute to the already-evolving analysis of this intervention by other practitioners and scholars. Eric Schwartz is a Senior Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace.