The catastrophe wrought by Cyclone Nargis on the Burmese people has provoked an extraordinary campaign by the US and allied powers, and in the international media, demanding that the military junta open its borders to aid and aid officials as well as to American military aircraft, troops and warships. Once again an attempt is being made to stampede public opinion with heartrending images of desperate survivors and devastated towns, accompanied by an incessant drumbeat condemning the Burmese regime for its inadequate aid efforts, its insularity, and its failure to accept international, especially American, aid.
One should immediately pause and recall the outcome of similar “humanitarian” exercises. In 1999, the plight of Kosovan refugees was exploited by the US and its allies to wage war against Serbia and transform the province into a NATO protectorate largely “cleansed” of its Serbian minority. In the same year, Australia, with the backing of the US, used the violence of Indonesian-backed militias to justify a military intervention into East Timor to install a regime sympathetic to Canberra’s economic and strategic interests. After nearly a decade the local populations in both countries continue to live in appalling conditions, with none of their fundamental needs having been met.
Read more at the World Socialist Web Site: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/may2008/burm-m10.shtml
oops....can't be lined up at dawn soon enough.
Tilo Reber:
The point is this is "THE POLITICAL AND EVIRONMENT BLOG"
Burma is about as political as things go, attracting even the attention of the ManBearPig (thanks Ian Mott) himself.
Like how dare these poor souls attempt to scratch out a living forever under the benevolent gaze of a dictatorship that cares nothing but their own hides!
My take is these goons can't lined at dawn soon enough.
"THE POLITICAL AND ENVIRONMENT BLOG"
I think there are too many political blogs. An evironmental blog that includes how politics effects the environmental debate may be appropriate, however.
Tilo Reder: I think the point of this article is that it falls within the headline banner:
THE POLITICAL AND ENVIRONMENT BLOG
Burma is a perfect example of a corrupt dictatorship riding roughshod over the populace.
My take on the situation is, has there ever there were a bunch of generals and their cronies more deserving of being lined up at dawn than this lot.
But that's only my opinion!
I have two questions.
1. What was the point that Jennifer was trying to make in posting this article.
2. I see a post from a Jennifer B. Do we have more than one Jennifer here?