With a bit of good fortune the letter that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wrote to Tony Abbott will not exceed his literary skills and with advice from senior colleagues with cooler heads, will enable Abbott to craft a letter and strategy that hits SBY's buttons without compromising Australia's national security.
But failing that diplomatic 'get out of jail card' I despair about where our relations have already degenerated to:
. Other nations will line up to fill the vacuum Australia creates in trade, investment, education, services and of course regional security.
. Sovereign risk has now been magnified for businesses operating with or in Indonesia.
. Regional security will be in tatters - Abbott will have to kiss goodbye his great big election promise to stop the boats.
. There may be issues for our shipping and air traffic travelling through Indonesian territory - what will happen if pirates attack our shipping in their waters?
. One of our most popular tourist destinations may be impacted and their security endangered.
. The impact on Australians being held in detention may be profound.
. And so on!
Let's hope that Abbott puts an end to this festering quagmire.
