News Buzz: Myanmar Aid, Clinton Goes on, and More
Relief supplies from the United Nations began arriving today in Myanmar, but U.S. military planes are still being denied access by the nation's isolationist regime. Governments throughout the world and the United Nations have offered to help after a devastating cyclone ripped through the Southeast Asian country on Saturday, but the military junta—generally fearful of foreign influence—has dragged its feet in approving visas for relief teams and allowing supply planes to enter. The United States is getting help from Thailand to negotiate with Myanmar's government to allow the U.S. planes to enter.
Despite calls for her to end her campaign after her loss in North Carolina and narrow win in Indiana, Hillary Clinton is vowing to press on in her quest for the Democratic presidential nomination. Clinton will visit three states today—West Virginia, South Dakota, and Oregon—while rival Barack Obama will be in Washington.
After a rocky journey around the globe, the Olympic torch today arrived at the top of the world with a Chinese mountaineering team taking the flame to the peak of Mount Everest. China's state broadcaster CCTV showed the event, spending heavily to build a television studio at a base camp on the mountain. The Everest relay had been criticized by some because of China's tumultuous relationship with Tibet, where the mountain is located. Protesters accused Beijing of using the climb to reassert its control of Tibet.
Reader Comments
They Are illegal
The ruling junta was actually robbed the power at gun point. And we, our selves no need to show loyality to them and respect at all. If there is nessesery to invade, just invade. I am so sure all the Burmese people will welcome them.
Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar Killed More Than 100,000 People.
Please recognize the following similarity: (1) Hurricane Joan 1987-88 during the Contra-Sandinistas era in Nicaragua killed 180,000 people. (2) The Christmas Tsunami 2004 in Aceh Indonesia killed 1,000,000 people. (3) Hurricane Katrina at Mississippi Delta killed 2000 Americans. (4) Cyclone Nargis in Myanamar May 3, 2008 killed more than 100,000 people. What are they in common? All four (4) recent record-breaking disasters involved the United States trying to stage
civil wars in those countries, and Katrina initiated a new racial civil war which will end the U. S. Those disasters are certainly supernatural. Either they are the works of God or the Devil. For God Sake, isn't it time for the United States to get, the hell, out of other countries and mind its own business?
Is it possible for US to send relief materials with civilian aircrafts?
Is it possible for US to send its aid in civilian aircraft instead of military ones? I don’t think Burmese government is going to allow any military aircrafts into the country right after France attempted to invoke UN’s responsibility-to-protect clause, which more or less mean invasion. I am sure that the Burmese government leaders want help and relief materials from anyone, even U.S. I am also sure that, in case of distrust, the Burmese government will accommodate any civilian mechanism to oversee the aid distribution. However, it appears that the Burmese government certainly doesn’t want any foreign military units (be it carrying relief supplies) into the country. Its concerns are justifiable. It is going to hold a constitutional referendum. It wants the draft constitution to be ratified. Its opponents want the draft constitution to be rejected and U.S (and many Western countries) supports its opponents. The U.S House of Representatives even went so far as passing a concurrent resolution calling the Bush Administration and UN not to reject the constitutional referendum (process) and the draft constitution (outcome). So, given the three factors – its historical stand of no foreign military units in the country, the France’s attempt to invoke UN’s responsibility-to-protect clause and the US’s regime change strategy, the Burmese military is not going to allow American military aircrafts, be it, carrying relief supplies into the country. Is it possible for US to send its aid in civilian aircraft instead of military ones?
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