APCO Worldwide is pitching the importance of Indonesia as a "front-line state in the war on terrorism," and a fledgling democracy that doesn't get the attention that it should merit from Washington decision-makers.

The Grey Global Group unit is delivering that pitch on behalf of the National Bureau of Asian Research in Seattle. It released a "Report by the National Commission on U.S.-Indonesian Relations" last month calling for a revamp of ties between the two countries.

Indonesia, with its population of 230 million, is the world's largest Muslim state. The country faces a serious threat from radical Islamists as evidenced by terror attacks on a resort in Bali (202 dead) and the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in downtown Jakarta that killed 14 people.

Indonesia, according to the Report, faces major problems: "a difficult transition from authoritarian rule to democracy, slow economic growth and inadequate job creation, capital outflow, endemic corruption, sectarian violence and a weak judiciary."

The Report, which was drafted by former U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Edward Masters, says the country is at a critical juncture, and in dire need of emergency financial relief from the U.S. to the tune of $1 billion during the next five years. It states that a "failure of democracy there would hurt not only Indonesians. It would reinforce the stereotype that a Muslim-majority nation cannot manage a democratic system." The Report says there is but a "temporary window of opportunity" for the U.S. to help Indonesia on the road to democracy.

Failure to act will result in "cycles of violence and repression."

The Report was co-sponsored by the U.S.-Indonesia Society and the Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University.