Monday May 28, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Myanmar OKs some cyclone aid flights, but Americans still barred

World May. 10, 2008 - 02:31AM JST ( 8 )

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8 Comments

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Everton2May. 10, 2008 - 08:32AM JST

The Juntas' refusal to allow any meaningful relief effort is an act of genocide. If this is not a case for the use of force then I don't know what else is
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some14someMay. 10, 2008 - 08:44AM JST

If this is not a case for the use of force then I don't know what else is

Use of force had devastating effect in Iraq and Afghanistan, so China's diplomatic leverage may be needed in this case.
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AlphaapeMay. 10, 2008 - 10:29AM JST

NO to sound too cynical, but the US is in a no win situation here. They do not want our support. So if we just turn the blind eye, then the anti-US crowd will begin to sing the song that "Bush doesn't care since there is no oil there" or how Americans are selfish and not caring. But, when we try to respect the borders of the country and not go into without their approval, we get the same rhetoric that we are bad people.

I feel sorry for the vicitims who are caught in the middle of this travesty. If the junta is so "benevolent" then a little outside influence will not bother it since the people obviously have made their choice and want to be under that type of rule.

Let the aid flow, and relieve the people's suffering. The average American doesn't care what system they are governed under in Burma, only that relief for their suffering is given.
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nucularMay. 10, 2008 - 11:43AM JST

"Use of force had devastating effect in Iraq and Afghanistan, so China's diplomatic leverage may be needed in this case."

Is that the Tibetan angle?
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skipthesongMay. 10, 2008 - 12:08PM JST

Its pretty sick not accepting any help or being selective whose help you accept for people you are supposedly representing. I recall the US even helping Iran during their last big earthquake...
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TPOJMay. 10, 2008 - 12:41PM JST

So if we just turn the blind eye, then the anti-US crowd will begin to sing the song that "Bush doesn't care since there is no oil there" or how Americans are selfish and not caring.

I know there's a handful of people who always do this, but I'm still extremely doubtful that there's any significant group that would take this tack, especially since Myanmar has explicitly excluded us.

But, when we try to respect the borders of the country and not go into without their approval, we get the same rhetoric that we are bad people.

Really? There's a group criticizing The US for not forcing our way into Myanmar? Really? Where are they?

Sorry, I just don't think there's any substance to this complaint. People have criticized Bush with the "no oil" tack in situations where there is a clear reason to invade (if you believe the "rescuing Iraq from Saddaam" schtick.)

So far as the "if we respect their borders, people say we don't care" complaint...well, one, it's not like we have a clear track record of respecting borders in the last few years, and two...can you source that? Are you sure that's not mostly in your head?

Not trying to threadjack, I've just had enough of the "poor, misunderstood US" thing. As an American, I do agree we get a bad rap for many things. Dreaming up more won't help.
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SuperLibMay. 10, 2008 - 01:11PM JST

Use of force had devastating effect in Iraq and Afghanistan

We're probably going to watch more people die in Burma in the next 2-3 months than have been killed in Iraq in the last 2-3 years. Sometimes inaction has a much higher cost than action. The only difference is that some would prefer to not be involved for their own peace of mind.
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AlphaapeMay. 10, 2008 - 01:51PM JST

TPOJ, Not trying to pass on the "poor misunderstood American" argument at all. I am just going on what I saw and read while I was working the tsunami relief back in 2004. The popular press was "Bush and America only sent a small amount of money compared to other nations." But when you look at the cost of keeping an aircraft carrier in Indonesian waters to fly helos to various sites, other ships to bring medical supplies, and the cost of fueling and upkeep on those vessels, the US gave more than just a dollar figure.

Maybe part of it is in my head, but let's just see how this plays out. I have read that some in the UN want to go with the emergency method of delivering food anyway, without country approval since this is a massive case. I want to see if the UN will really do this, and what forces they will use to carry out this. This, mind you, was not brought up by the US in the UN but by other nations.