100K

[Skybird]

I wonder that it has not been mentioned so far.

After the cyclone in Birma (Myanmar), a "US diplomat" now is referred to in German media of having said there could be at least 100.000 dead. A member of the army leadership in Birma - you know: those happy guys in their funny parade uniforms who are so busy to serve their interests and take care of themselves - admitted there could be 80.000 killed in one district alone.

This seems to be much more dramatic than the Tsunami.

It's also a look at things to come more frequently in the future, whereas climate sceptics currently try to make a big fuss of the - since years predicted! - paradox effect of global warming eventually causing a 10-20 years long phase of relative minor cooling in certain western hemispheres, after one IPCC scientist and leading head now went to public pointing finger at exactly this temporary effect (that is caused by global warming like the increasing of the ice in one half of the antarctic also is, due to increased moisture levels in the atmosphere, and thus: increased condensation) - the IPCC report did not mention this scenario, although the possibility of this temporary paradox effect is discussed since years. It's not that atmospheric changes go totally linear.

For some countries like Bangladesh, the future does not really look bright. I wonder if a military invasion in Birma would be justified to get rid of the incompetent Junta that excels in just one thing: to hinder and harass international aid wanting to get into the country. By the logic of political arguments of wars in recent years, the survival and the death of so many effected people must be considered a valid argument as well!?

[bookworm_020]

The Biggest problem is getting an accurate figure from Burma, as the Junta doesn't want to reveal anything. The people giving the most help to survivors has been the monks, not the bullfrogs in uniforms!

[iambecomelife]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I wonder if a military invasion in Birma would be justified ... By the logic of political arguments of wars in recent years, the survival and the death of so many effected people must be considered a valid argument as well!?

Get involved in another foreign war, so that six months from now we can have people chanting "US imperialism", & "no blood for coconuts?" No thanks.

Oh, and the death toll is shocking, BTW. The military clique needs to take the lead or at least keep out of the way (which they probably won't).

[Catfish]

Hello,
letting foreign people into Birma to help the population.
That has certainly helped the major part the chinese people a lot.
When the then Afghan prime minister asked the US for help after the soviets left the scene he was answered with "do you have any natural resources ? No ? Sorry."
Does Birma have anything?
Greetings,
Catfish

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I wonder if a military invasion in Birma would be justified to get rid of the incompetent Junta that excels in just one thing: to hinder and harass international aid wanting to get into the country.

They do not go as far as removing the junta, but the French plan to send a carrier from whoich they deliver goods even against the will of the Junta. the americans plan to transport goods via helicopter - again even against the will of the Junta. and Germany takes action in the security council to get a mandate for enforcing transports of goods into the country - even against the will of the junta.

On TV, yesterday, they showed a film by a german crew, that rpeorted on two trucks being allowed to cross the border, with UN drivers, and under UN flag. Two or three kilometers behind the border, they stopped, were taken over by the military, and a major explained that now they plan to distribute the goods to different army trucks that will eventually transport them the rest of the trip - and will start moving not before the next day.

Im am sure that much of the goods will never reach their target, but will end up in some hidden army depot.

I stick with it. Even just a dedicated 12-hour bombing campaign against private villas of army generals and army installations may sent a message that permission to deliver goods under the control of the help organisations is not politely asked for anymore, but is ultimately demanded, else... Or is the world taking some perverse pleasure from watching debacles like Darfhur, Screbrenica, Mogadishu, and so many other names?

Have you seen the reports? Those people over there seem to be and are said to be so extremely friendly and patiently. both are qualities that do not seem to pay off in man's world as long as the many accept the few to intentionally screw up the match.

[bradclark1]

Originally Posted by iambecomelife

[Get involved in another foreign war, so that six months from now we can have people chanting "US imperialism", & "no blood for coconuts?" No thanks.

I don't remember Skybird saying anything about the U.S.

[MothBalls]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I wonder if a military invasion in Birma would be justified to get rid of the incompetent Junta

Funny you said this, after I just read:

Is It Time to Invade Burma? Recent Article in Time

[Officerpuppy]

Originally Posted by bradclark1

I don't remember Skybird saying anything about the U.S.

That's because it's the US that is the first one to speak about such things, not the EU, not Russia, not China.

I think the idea of air drops like what was done with East Germany after WWII would be a good idea. The Soviets never gave the US permission to drop food from the sky, why now use that excuse that the Myanmar goverment won't give permission.

[bradclark1]

Originally Posted by Officerpuppy

That's because it's the US that is the first one to speak about such things, not the EU, not Russia, not China.

I think the idea of air drops like what was done with East Germany after WWII would be a good idea. The Soviets never gave the US permission to drop food from the sky, why now use that excuse that the Myanmar goverment won't give permission.

I think you are talking the Berlin airlift and we were in West Berlin.

[Iceman]

We...America and her ...."Allies"...should just do a massive overfly of the affected area like "Empire of the Sun" and drop thousands of canisters full of life giving goodies and medicines and damn what anyone thinks about it...."act" before it's too late.

From what I see they have no airforce to speak of and the possibilites of any of our aircraft being shot down is minimal...besides I think lots of pilots would volunteer...maybe I'm wrong. ?

http://www.390th.org/chowhound/ChowW...iles/frame.htm - Manna

[PeriscopeDepth]

Originally Posted by Iceman

From what I see they have no airforce to speak of and the possibilites of any of our aircraft being shot down is minimal...

While certainly nothing that would stop them from being rolled in the long term, you'd be surprised what a country that can't feed or care for its people can afford:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar...orce#Equipment

Also, I believe the Chinese have recently upgraded their Air Defence system to be a truely integrated system. Which basically means a few SA-2s and other older SAMs sharing information.

PD

[Steel_Tomb]

For such a small country they have some good tech, Fulcrums are no push overs by any standard. What kind of air defences do they have?

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I wonder if a military invasion in Birma would be justified to get rid of the incompetent Junta that excels in just one thing: to hinder and harass international aid wanting to get into the country.

Well lets just see if America would be justified in invading Burma...

Boot up the laptop and access the internet.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma#Modern_economy

"Other industries include agricultural goods, textiles, wood products, construction materials, gems, metals, OIL and natural gas."

Yup. Those poor people deserve to be rescued.

[PeriscopeDepth]

Originally Posted by Steel_Tomb

For such a small country they have some good tech, Fulcrums are no push overs by any standard. What kind of air defences do they have?

Actually, they surely are by today's standard. It isn't just the airplane, it's the system behind it. I am not concerned at all about the dozen or so Fulcrums they have. Assuming they even get into the air, they would be meat.

And there isn't that much info on their AD out there. From various open source google earth projects, SA-2s seem to be all they have. Plus I'm sure all sorts of AAA, MANPADS. Likely integrated in a semi-modern network courtesy of the Chinese.

PD

[PeriscopeDepth]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Well lets just see if America would be justified in invading Burma...

Boot up the laptop and access the internet.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma#Modern_economy

"Other industries include agricultural goods, textiles, wood products, construction materials, gems, metals, OIL and natural gas."

Yup. Those poor people deserve to be rescued.

Not even a full on invasion, IMO. Just axing the leadership and a few army barracks through aerial assassination should do the trick. I mean, if there's ever been a regime who's "had it comin'"...

PD