IN the past year, the special staff of President Yudhoyono’s administration has become a hot topic of discussion. This is the inner circle, which was initially expected to provide SBY with current and correct information. Although handpicked from people close to the nation’s chief executive, it seems that not all of them have proven to be effective. Some, whose task was to handle natural disasters, ended up managing politics. Others found their work overlapping with those of cabinet ministers. Worse, the rumor mill says some of this inner circle actually represent the interests of certain businessmen and politicians outside the Palace. Who are they and what influence do they wield on decisions taken by the President?