I'm getting very suspicious about this Myanmar aid

[malaise]

This is looking more like an invasion by the minute.
Sp.

[uppityperson]

1. What do you mean?

[LeftishBrit]

2. Huh? Invasion by who?

[TomInTib]

3. Did I miss something?

Damn, I hope we don't pull any boneheaded stunt.

Myanmar is just now beginning to reach out to the West. I have friends there who have been taking Burmese Art to shows in the States for the first time in decades.

[malaise]

6. There are four war ships in the sea off Myanmar as well as a destroyer

but the Burmese government, despots thought they be, have not given the US permission to provide assistance. Others countries have permission.

[uppityperson]

7. Thanks for the info.

MSR (doctors without borders) has been denied access due to being French based also.

[malaise]

9. Report here

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-05-07-burma-aid_N.htm

[uppityperson]

11. Thanks. Here is a bit about it...

France argued the Security Council has the power to intervene to help civilians because world leaders agreed at a 2005 summit that the U.N. has a "responsibility to protect" people when a government fails to do so. That agreement, however, did not mention natural disasters, referring only to genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

"We think it is time for the U.N. to intervene," French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert told reporters. "If we don't do anything, people will continue to die, epidemics will spread out and it will be a catastrophe."

Holmes, the U.N. humanitarian chief, questioned whether "a confrontational path" would help cyclone victims. "Would it actually get aid to the people who are really suffering on the ground any quicker? Personally, I doubt it," he said.

[malaise]

12. The French have killed more people in Asia

than all the tsunamis and cyclones combined.
Aid is one thing; the return of imperialism is another.

[uppityperson]

13. I understand their issue, be nice if humanitarian stuff could be seperate.

[malaise]

15. It should be in an honest world

but that rarely happens.

[TomInTib]

18. They may be despots, but they are not idiots.

They know that once we're in, they would have a hard time getting rid of us.

[MercutioATC]

4. Agreed. Pickles decries the government there for not allowing foreign aid workers in...

...but how many Visas did we grant to foreign aid workers after Katrina?

[malaise]

10. None

Bushco turned down Cuban doctors, help from Canada; water from fellow citizens and several others.


Watching the spin this time is priceless.

[notesdev]

5. A paranoid military junta

which Burma/Myanmar has, is going to see invasions in its breakfast cereal.

[SpiralHawk]

8. That's right. We all know we can trust the BushCo republicon chickenhawk cabal.

They have been so honest, forthright and open about everything up till now, that surely they are playing square and honest this time.

Right?

[malaise]

14. Check this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3260532

[spanone]

19. yep, those iraqis are grateful as hell we invaded them

[seemslikeadream]

16. yea and Laura chiming in, making that statement

[seemslikeadream]

17. This tragedy happens coincident with a major exercise --

http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4225



Q Mr. Secretary, Admiral Mullen, can you bring us up to date on preparations for possible humanitarian aid to Myanmar? And could you address the possibility that some action could be taken even without the consent of the government of Myanmar?

SEC. GATES: Well, again, I'll comment and invite the admiral.

We have the Essex Group -- I think there are three or four ships -- either has or is offloading some helicopters to be available in Thailand, because they could reach Myanmar in a very short -- in a matter of hours from Thailand with relief supplies. There are also, I think, six C-130s available.

The ships then will begin steaming around to the area off of Myanmar to be available. I cannot imagine us going in without the permission of the Myanmar government.

ADM. MULLEN: Admiral Keating is very focused on this. In addition to moving the ships and the C-130s, there's a JTF commander, General Goodman, who is out there and positioned again in Thailand.

This tragedy happens coincident with a major exercise -- international exercise called Cobra Gold, and so there are resources not too far away, and very focused on this, and the question really becomes whether we can -- whether can gain entry, and at this point that hasn't happened.

[malaise]

20. I'm watching PBS

interesting coverage - the US rep was on.
These people need help but the only agenda the West have in that area is surrounding China. Bush does not give a flying fuck about some yellow people or we might have seen some humanitarian aid for the four million Iraqi refuges. How can the head of an invading and occupying power tell me he cares about humanity when nearly a million Iraqis are dead and over 4,000 of his own.

Sorry Bush - I don't trust you.

Let UNICEF, the UN and AID agencies deal with this.

[libodem]

21. More disaster Capitalism

Lovely