Clinton Joining Trip to East Timor

The Middle East it’s not. But former President Clinton has been asked to go to East Timor in what would be his first official role for the government since leaving the White House almost 16 months ago.

At the request of President Bush, Clinton has agreed to join an American delegation participating in a May 20 celebration marking East Timor’s independence from Indonesia, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“They asked him over a month ago,” a source close to Clinton said Tuesday.

As part of the trip, Clinton is expected to attend the inauguration of Jose Alexandre “Xanana” Gusmao, East Timor’s president-elect.

Clinton played an important role in East Timor’s road to freedom. After the Indonesian province voted for independence in 1999, triggering an outbreak of violence by pro-Indonesia militia, Clinton persuaded the United Nations to send peacekeeping troops to restore calm.

The invitation from the Bush White House, extended by National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, was reported Tuesday by USA Today.

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer did not confirm or deny the report. Asked about Clinton’s participation, he said: “There will be an event in East Timor. The United States will be sending a bipartisan delegation to attend. And it is not at the point yet where I can say something formal. Once it is a formal statement, I will be happy to issue it.”

Since leaving the White House, Clinton has traveled widely around the United States and the world, helping Democrats raise money and making speeches, being paid as much as $300,000 per talk. He is also working on development of his presidential library in Little Rock, Ark., as well as writing a book for a reported $12 million.

But Clinton has made it clear that he desires to remain active in public affairs. And last week he was in Los Angeles discussing with NBC television officials the possibility of a talk show of his own.

Bush’s overture is seen as something of a peace offering to Clinton. Recently, Bush tacitly criticized his predecessor for hosting a Middle East summit in 2000 that collapsed, suggesting that its failure played a part in the resumption of violence.

It is hardly unheard-of for former presidents to be sent on diplomatic missions, although they tend to be ceremonial in nature.

In July 1999, Clinton invited former President George Bush to fly with him on Air Force One to Morocco to attend the funeral of King Hassan II.