In response to a request by the U.S.-based Exxon Mobil Corporation for an opinion on the lawsuit brought against the oil giant by 11 Acehnese villagers, the State Department has asked a federal judge to dismiss the case. The request cited the United States' political and economic interests in the region, and particularly emphasized concerns about compromising the war on terrorism. The six-page letter, sent by the department's legal advisor, William H. Taft IV, was met with criticism by human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch. See Spotlight Article.
