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

ARRH!

[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]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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/asiapc...mar/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]

Originally Posted by 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.

[Monica Lewinsky]

Originally Posted by Steel_Tomb

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