Burma Aid

[Steel_Tomb]

Whats the government playing at? First they refuse aid, now they seize shipments and impound UN aircraft? How long will it take before the world sees that the Junta couldn't give a s**t about the population?

Personally I'm sick to the back teeth with it all, they've been offered aid freely... now its time to shove it down their throats whether they want it or not. Whilst the politicians play their rediculous games people are dying from no fault of their own, just the sheer incompetance and contempt of their rulers. The people at the top care for no one but themselves... I'm sure their lives are very comfortable whilst joe bloggs dies from dissentry and starvation :damn::damn::damn::damn::damn::damn::damn::damn:

ARRH! :nope:

[Tchocky]

John O'Shea of GOAL (Irish NGO) was on the radio today, saying that he's never seen a hungry Burmese soldier.
This isn't hurting the army, it isn't hurting the leaders. Nothing will happen until it does.

Oh, and nothing will happen unless China wants it to. Chinese influence will call the shots in Burma.

[Jimbuna]

Agreed.....but what's the answer ?

Send troops in and create another war theatre :hmm:

[PeriscopeDepth]

Agreed.....but what's the answer ?

Send troops in and create another war theatre :hmm:
Sigh.

PD

[Jimbuna]

Yeah, sigh away, but the Burmese government aren't about to suddenly start listening to humanitarian reasoning after all these years of keeping their population under thumb.

They've a long track record of resentment and intolerance toward any western countries they perceive to be interfering in their affairs.

Military interdiction is all they would take notice of and that would draw China into the arena even more so than they are now.

[OneToughHerring]

I noticed in the images from the region that a lot of heavy duty fishing and other vessels had sunk by the cyclon. I wonder if it would be smart to gift them with some basic fishing vessels so the food situation would begin to easen up.

[Steel_Tomb]

That won't work though, where are these boats going to dock and distribute their catches? The facilities will have been completely wiped out by the cyclone, along with the major rail and road links. Its why the government needs to send in foreign aid in choppers to reach isolated areas quickly. The death toll is high already, is the world going to sit by and watch it soar because they sat on their asses whilst the ruling government says no? Then what? We forget it? Like how we forgot the bloody put-down of the monks peaceful protests?

Enough is enough, the time for words has past... now the world needs to take forceful action to help those in need... removing the *****s in charge if at all possible, and charge them for crimes against humanity.

22,000 dead

41,000 missing

195,000 homeless

There is talk that the death toll could reach up to 100,000 people dead... if not from the initial devestation from starvation and/or exposure.

And the government says no to aid? Madness, we must act... or there truely is no justice in the world

[PeriscopeDepth]

Yeah, sigh away, but the Burmese government aren't about to suddenly start listening to humanitarian reasoning after all these years of keeping their population under thumb.

They've a long track record of resentment and intolerance toward any western countries they perceive to be interfering in their affairs.

Military interdiction is all they would take notice of and that would draw China into the arena even more so than they are now. Military interdiction of what exactly? By who?

And just so I understand where you're coming from Jim, are you American? European? Other?

And if they don't accept our aid, there isn't much we can do. What I would do is drop what we can by air anyways.

PD

[3Jane]

I would have expected China to seize the opportunity to improve it's image by leading the aid effort, given the total P.R disaster with the Olympic torch.

[PeriscopeDepth]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/09/myanmar/index.html

[AVGWarhawk]

Relax fellas. USAID has requested airlifting supplies to an American base. Pricing and getting the cost together started today. I know, they called my office to get started. It won't be long before C130's are making numerous airdrops to the people. So much so that seizure of the goods by the local government will not happen.

[Oberon]

Relax fellas. USAID has requested airlifting supplies to an American base. Pricing and getting the cost together started today. I know, they called my office to get started. It won't be long before C130's are making numerous airdrops to the people. So much so that seizure of the goods by the local government will not happen.

:up: :up: :up: :up: :up:

[Monica Lewinsky]

Personally I'm sick to the back teeth with it all, they've been offered aid freely... now its time to shove it down their throats whether they want it or not.

Today's news was good to here that the U.N. suspended sending more until they get their act together. What I find confusing is where have I been the last 20 years ignoring that the milatary government knows better what to do rather than a civilian government. My disappointment is in myself by being IGNORANT of the state-of-the-state of that region. Said to self "how did you miss this one"?

[Platapus]

If America wants to put itself in the position of being the savior of the world, we should have invaded Burma and not Iraq. While Iraq does have oil, Burma has more suffering people.

It just depends on what is important to America -- oil or actually helping poor huddled masses yearning to breath free.

I guess we already answered that question.

Sorry Burma, if only you had oil. Better luck next time.

Sometimes our international policy really pisses me off. I am not one that is eager for the United States to invade any country. But if there is one country that needs a ass-whuppin, it is Burma.

[PeriscopeDepth]

Isn't Burma very rich in natural resources?

PD

[iambecomelife]

Isn't Burma very rich in natural resources?

PD

Yes; there are extensive teak forests. They may in fact have oil b/c IIRC there was once a British oil company based there during colonial times.

[bradclark1]

It just depends on what is important to America -- oil or actually helping poor huddled masses yearning to breath free.

How about it's not our job to right every wrong in the world. We aren't responsible for all the wronged peoples of the world. Let the U.N. deal with it (or not).

[AVGWarhawk]

There you are gents. C130's on the way.


http://abcnews.go.com/International/Weather/story?id=4818210&page=1

[iambecomelife]

It just depends on what is important to America -- oil or actually helping poor huddled masses yearning to breath free.

How about it's not our job to right every wrong in the world. We aren't responsible for all the wronged peoples of the world. Let the U.N. deal with it (or not).

May 2008 - "They won't send troops to Burma! Heartless!"

December 2008 - "Quagmire! Unilateralism! No blood for teak!" ;)

[SIGH]

...Anyway, here's an amazing before & after shot of the Irrawadday (sp) delta. It just humbles you to see how much damage can be done in such a short time.
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/226233main_myanmar_close_690.jpg

[Happy Times]

Yeah, sigh away, but the Burmese government aren't about to suddenly start listening to humanitarian reasoning after all these years of keeping their population under thumb.

They've a long track record of resentment and intolerance toward any western countries they perceive to be interfering in their affairs.

Military interdiction is all they would take notice of and that would draw China into the arena even more so than they are now.

Burmas military isnt that weak and Chinese support would be massive.
No point in fighting if the opponent has more reason and will to fight, and because of that, win.

[Venatore]

Whats the government playing at?

I think you mean; "what's the military dictatorship playing at"?

[Schroeder]

The people of Burma are doing a referendum on a new constitution today. You bet the they aren't supposed to vote "no".

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/10/myanmar.vote/index.html

As if the people of Burma had no other problems right now.:damn::nope:

[Platapus]

What good would it do.

In 1990 Burma had free and open elections. The only problem was that the ruling Junta refused to recognize the vote.

The Burma constitution is not worth the paper it is written on unless the Junta is willing to be governed by it. And by governed, I mean restricted. That's what federal constitutions do, they put restrictions on government not the people.

The Junta is not willing to accept any restrictions on their power.

The best thing they can do with their constitution is to print up a few million copies, perhaps the citizens can use the paper to keep warm. Does not seem to be good for anything else.
:nope:

[iambecomelife]

I just read that the Burmese government is actually EXPORTING rice, despite the shortage in the affected areas. Also, in at least some cases they won't permit food to be distributed until it's placed into boxes plastered with the ruling generals' portraits. Propaganda comes first.

[Jimbuna]

I just read that the Burmese government is actually EXPORTING rice, despite the shortage in the affected areas. Also, in at least some cases they won't permit food to be distributed until it's placed into boxes plastered with the ruling generals' portraits. Propaganda comes first.

How very reminiscent of so many dictatorships over previous years :nope:

[TheSatyr]

Didn't Iran do that too back in the 90s after a major earthquake? Taking all the crates and boxes from USA relief organizations removing USA stickers and replacing them with Red Crescent (spelling?) stickers so the people wouldn't know that the USA was sending help? (Not that it worked,the college aged kids in Iran back then used to listen to the BBC radio broadcasts so they knew what was going on.).