Bush renews sanctions on Myanmar, says no effect on storm aid

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Saturday extended for another year economic sanctions on Myanmar's military junta, but stressed the move did not affect aid bound for the cyclone-ravaged nation.

Bush said he ordered the extension of sanctions beyond the anniversary date of May 20, 2008, in part because the junta is still "engaging in large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Burma," and other policies that pose "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to US national security.

"For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Burma and maintain in force the sanctions against Burma to respond to this threat," he said in a statement, using Myanmar's former name.

"This action does not inhibit any efforts on the part of the United States to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080517/wl_asia_afp/usmyanmarsanctionscyclone;_

[dipsydoodle]

1. still "engaging in large-scale repression of the democratic opposition

Pot, kettle,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[jwirr]

2. They are now saying 78,000 died. What is he trying to do with these

sanctions and is this justified at this time?

[Robbien]

3. Sure, freezing all Burmese banks accounts will have no bad effect on citizens

Of course not.

Even though the Junta are evil, who can blame them when they believe we have something bad up our sleeve? Sanctioning a nation in the middle of a national disaster. How more evil can this Bush Admin be.

[Auggie]

4. BushCo would love to remove the Junta and replace it with their own.

[Joanne98]

5. Myanmar has oil

[Robbien]

6. Sort of related

is this story today in the BBSNews site

White House and CIA lawyers claim that . . .the ban on political assassinations doesn't apply in wartime. Hey presto! The right sort of finding puts everything on a war footing. They also say that the prohibition won't prevent the US taking action against terrorists. And in the wake of 9-11 it won't stop the United States acting in self-defence. So... all the US has to do is invent or manufacture a 'finding', label the folk who stand in their way 'terrorists' and claim the murder was an act of self-defence in a war situation, and they're home and dry.

http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20080517133134894

The whole article relates to the Middle East, but this paragraph could relate to all our foreign policy, including Burma and Latin America.

Legal political assassinations.