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Southeast Asia
Burma generals still not letting aid in
2008-05-09
The UN says it is "disappointed" with Myanmar over its failure to allow foreign relief workers and supplies into the country quickly after being hit by one of the worst cyclone's in living memory.
Not that the UN is gonna do anything about it, mind you. The generals have been ruling since 1962, and they haven't become more competent over the years. By this point, hard as it is on the poor Burmese, any aid is a waste.
The UN's secretary-general has called on the country's military rulers to postpone a referendum due on Saturday on the country's constitution. Despite more than a million people being left homeless after Cyclone Nargis swept through the country on Saturday leaving an estimated 100,000 people dead, the government plans to press ahead with the vote. International attempts to get relief supplies and aid workers into the isolationist country were still encountering problems on Thursday, six days after the cyclone hit, with many residents remaining without food and shelter. Corpses rotting in the flood waters are adding to the health hazard. John Holmes, the UN humanitarian chief, told reporters on Thursday: "I am disappointed that we have not had more results."
I'm disappointed that Annette Haven's not in her prime anymore. Can't do anything about that, either.

Posted by:Fred

#12  FREEREPUBLIC > THE CASE FOR INVADING MYANMAR [Asia Times]; + US HALTS SHIPMENTS AS MYANMAR GENERALS CONFISCATE AID.

DREAM > "EARTH CHANGES" + FUTURE GUAM-WESTPAC > US-CHINA MILPOL STANDOFF over US [mostly Naval] efforts to remove Guam and Pacific Islanders to new homes.

CITIZEN KANE > "The Carriers, the Carriers"???

BEYOND MY LIFETIME BUT WHAT THE HEY!
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2008-05-09 21:14  

#11  I see no evidence that the regime's Chicom benefactors are stepping up to the plate. Maybe they should run the Olympic torch through the area, as an uplifting gesture.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2008-05-09 15:15  

#10  I agree with LH. The Treaty of Westphalia continues to bite the modern world in the hind end.
Posted by: Steve White   2008-05-09 12:51  

#9  Have to agree with Anguper on this one. If you're going to die anyway you might as well go down fighting.
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2008-05-09 12:28  

#8  the french have also tossed around the idea of dropping aid without permission. Problem (which the brits have raised) is that the army might seize the dropped aid.

No good answers here. Lots of innocent folks are gonna die, and we cant stop it, lib or consies or anyone else. Silver lining, is the rubbing in peoples faces of the real consequences of "absolute soveriegnty" for dictatorships. Dictarship kills, and not only when they shoot dissidents. Message that has to be hammered home again and again, left right and center, and esp in those parts of the 3rd world that usually have little sympathy for pro-democratic dissidents.

Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-05-09 11:29  

#7  The libs talk the good talk, but when faced by a Mugabe or Myanmar junta they just look like the clowns they are flailing their arms and making noise to appear important. Meanwhile the 'people' they so talk about and anguish over, just die off. In the end, it's their own self image, the need to 'appear' morally superior, that trumps any real action, because action can be oh so messy. Time and time again, they play this game. They are nothing more than accessories to the act.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2008-05-09 08:53  

#6  Maybe smn is right on this one - think anyone would mind if the first aid began being airdropped in 500lb guided packages start with those who believe they need aid most, that is key government and police stations. Then the Marines could unload individual care packages.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2008-05-09 08:40  

#5  Seriously though, unless you hand the food directly to the needy it WILL be stolen and sold or fed to troops. I think we must know that if we are holding back the supplies until we have permission to deliver them personally.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-05-09 08:28  

#4  John Holmes.

Tee hee.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-05-09 08:27  

#3  Perhaps at some point the Burmese will have had enough, join the dictatorship in not caring whether they live or die, and simply swarm over their rulers.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2008-05-09 03:49  

#2  The US just doesn't 'get it'. The Junta could care less about the number of people dead. Their rule is just as iron fisted had it been only 100 people left. "W" is going to airlift aid through drop sites against their wishes! He's going to make them love us!!!
Posted by: smn   2008-05-09 01:30  

#1  I'm sure Mrs. Fred isn't disappointed about that last item.
Posted by: Eric Jablow   2008-05-09 00:11  

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