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Myanmar Refuses Aid Delivered by US Military, Fears Invasion

aol.com.au — Myanmar will not allow U.S. naval ships and helicopters poised off its shore to deliver aid to cyclone victims, according to state-controlled media Wednesday which cited fears of an American invasion aimed at grabbing the country's oil reserves. The New Light of Myanmar, a mouthpiece for Myanmar's ruling junta, said that such assistance "comes with

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  • ikesauto, on 05/21/2008, -40/+18Good! have the naval ships sending me all the rejected aid. I have an eBay store. I guaranty low prices.
  • psogle, on 05/21/2008, -117/+179Sad but true, we have put ourselves in the postiion of not being trusted by the rest of the world. I wouldn't trust us
    • ender7074, on 05/21/2008, -19/+111*****. Those idiots wouldnt let us in there no matter the situation. They dont wany anyone in their country that they do not completely control.
      • bentman78, on 05/21/2008, -12/+49Yeah, because we really want to invade a piece of ***** country like Burma. Give me a break. Regardless of what you think, we still give more aid and donations than any other country...by a large amount.
        http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16638810/

        They're not receiving aid because they're asshats, not because they fear invasion.

        • fpaudon, on 05/21/2008, -27/+9"They're not receiving aid because they're asshats"

          Really? If the United States didn't have to station troops in a country every time it gives aid, I think the Myanmar government would be a lot more receptive
        • Troika37, on 05/21/2008, -7/+24You're right fpaudon - we still have battalions in Indonesia from the tsunami.

          Stop with the blanket statements. They only make you appear ignorant.
        • bentman78, on 05/21/2008, -6/+9Yeah because we do that to EVERY country we give aid to. sorry to inform you we do not.

          To add, a lot of times we are asked by the governments to stay in their country because we bring economy there.
          If you really think anyone wants to get stationed there you're being naive.
        • fluoro, on 05/21/2008, -5/+13This is why I love digg. One person says, "We do such-and-such" without any basis of reference. And then the best response anyone comes up with is, "No we don't." Again, without any reference.

          So the winner is whoever gets dugg up the most, and by definition that is the person who is actually right.
        • meeee, on 05/21/2008, -7/+12"Regardless of what you think, we still give more aid and donations than any other country...by a large amount."

          Actually, Norway seems to win per capita aid:
          http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0930884.html

          Also, check this map:
          http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/world-top ...

          US on the top, which is good, until you consider the number of inhabitants compared to the rest of the countries on the list.
        • StGhurka, on 05/21/2008, -1/+8@meeee

          "Actually, Norway seems to win per capita aid:"

          Norway is also a much wealthier country, with a per capita GDP almost twice as high as the US - #2 in the world behind Luxembourg (who's #3 on the per capita foreign aid list).

          Also, your statistics are from 2002. While 2007 data is still shameful, it IS better.
        • mem2, on 05/21/2008, -10/+4ahh a typical fat ignorant American spewing propaganda. Why cant we just put people such as yourself in a zoo exhibit.
        • Troika37, on 05/22/2008, -2/+2meeeee - USA’s aid, in terms of percentage of their GNP has almost always been lower than any other industrialized nation in the world, though paradoxically since 2000, their dollar amount has been the highest.
          http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAi ...
        • Akufen, on 05/22/2008, -4/+1Not to mention that most of that "aid" ends up in Israel...
        • Troika37, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3I'm not talking about foreign aid, I'm talking about unexpected relief efforts. US citizens voluntarily give more than any other country in the world (read: without being taxed) to peoples devestated by catastrophe.
        • Envenom, on 05/22/2008, -3/+1About time the states did something useful.
        • ryusen, on 05/23/2008, -3/+0Except that Rice and Bush have both put Burma on the list of countries they'd like to over throw the governments of.
      • familynight, on 05/21/2008, -4/+7true, but it sucks that our government has legitimized this excuse in the eyes of many more people and countries.
        • legendxx, on 05/21/2008, -3/+7I see. And what recent event would you cite where we used the cover of relief aid to covertly invade an unsuspecting nation?
        • Rusched, on 05/21/2008, -1/+4I've really got to agree with you here. I'm sorry, regardless of your stance on the U.S.'s intentions I don't think they would need to sneak troops in along with aid if they really wanted to invade. They seem pretty handy at doing that with no aid from aid. This is a really terrible excuse to not allow help in. Frankly if you consider the UN Charters that dictate humanitarian aid to be delivered by force if necessary officials in Myanmar are only increasing the threat of invasion by their actions.
        • mem2, on 05/21/2008, -4/+2Yes, let us help you or we will bloody well attack you. Then help you. Then pump your oil.
        • familynight, on 05/22/2008, -1/+3@legendxx you're missing my point. i agree that myanmar is making a baseless excuse. i'm talking about international opinion. whether or not anyone actually believes the usa would use relief aid as a cover for military action, the country's reputation is in the toilet and it's a lot less likely that other countries are going to call myanmar on this ***** on our behalf. the current administration's actions caused this loss of international support, which was completely foreseeable making it all the worse, and that sucks.
        • legendxx, on 05/22/2008, -1/+3@familynight

          You're comment said"legitimize this excuse..." - of which the excuse for this article was the US using foreign aid as a cover for invasion. Seems pretty straightforward to me that my response was spot on.

          As for other countries 'getting our back by calling Myanmar out on this *****'. Are you serious? Noone is going to take that explanation seriously.. not even Iran. Myanmar has about as much international credibility as the old PR guy for Iraq who said that the US was nowhere near them while you saw tanks rolling in behind him.

          Stop looking for ways to bash the US's international reputation via this story.. cause there are none.
        • familynight, on 05/23/2008, -0/+1@legendxx i'll be honest. i have no idea if other countries think myanmar is full of ***** or not, but i don't think that you do either. if another country has made some sort of statement putting pressure on myanmar to accept our aid and saying that their excuse is full of *****, i don't know about it.

          and no, you weren't "spot on" in replying to my comment. there's a difference between "legitimize this excuse" and "legitimize this excuse in the eyes of many more people and countries." it's subtle. i'll give you a second to spot it. ... ... got it, yet? no? it's that part "in the eyes of many more people and countries." see, when you read sentences, you have to read all the way to the end to get the full meaning. difficult, i know, but that little phrase is crucial to the meaning of the sentence. i wasn't talking about whether or not our government has done anything to legitimize the excuse. i was talking about whether or not our government has done anything to make people believe that the excuse is legitimate. i was talking about international opinion, not making a case for the nonsense myanmar spews.

          i'm definitely not trying to bash our international reputation. i would love for our international reputation to improve. that doesn't mean that i'm going to ignore reality and believe that the world loves and trusts us right now.
    • drmangrum, on 05/21/2008, -12/+44What a load of *****. The US gives a LOT of foreign aid. This ignorance on an unbelievable scale. I'm betting the vast majority of their people have no clue this is even happening.

      Of course, 5 years from now, many of their people will hate the US for not coming to their aid.
      • DaPaki1, on 05/21/2008, -15/+3Yeah, you're right, they give a lot of foreign aid......to Israel!!
        • drmangrum, on 05/21/2008, -3/+7You didn't hurt yourself trying to come up with that did you?
      • mem2, on 05/21/2008, -6/+5The country is hardly known for peace and diplomacy, dont cry at the rest of the world for how you have made yourselves look.
        • drmangrum, on 05/22/2008, -0/+4Maybe you should investigate the true reasons instead of fixating on hatred for America. A little research goes a long way.
        • Akufen, on 05/22/2008, -2/+1The true reasons? Here are some of them:
          http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/intervent ...

          This isn't about "hatred for America", that's another ***** line from a ***** pundit. Criticism about the US is long overdue. The reality is that the media wont touch it because the US doesn't only throw their weight around militarily but also through various institutes and official organisations who, in an Orwellian disguise, are mainly interested in expanding the empire. These same institutions have a tight grip on the media, so they would be quite dumb to speak up about their own bussiness. So you and I are not aware of this if we don't look for it ourselves. The media has no interest in telling us, so we are left with a majority of people who seem to be very surprised when the real reasons for being the worlds 'superpower' are brought to light.
          Some are even under the impression that the US is still helping the world because they're handing out so much money. What we don't get to see is all the time spent negotiating favors to keep that money flowing. At the same time, all this "aid" is meant to keep people looking the other way as all these atrocities happen. Nobody opens their mouth because it's bad for business. That's the case with the media, but also with entire countries who receive "aid".
    • legendxx, on 05/21/2008, -5/+37Of course the 2nd comment on this story cites America's recent 'aggressive foreign policy' to blame. This country didn't allow genuine non-government-affiliated relief effort from any country for some time (The food may still be sitting at the airport, I haven't kept up with the story). The fact of the matter is that the Myanmar government is extremely paranoid of all outside influence regardless of the source.

      Stop digging anti-US comments without thinking about the situation a little bit. This is how sensationalist articles get dugg up in the first place.
    • mike17032, on 05/21/2008, -14/+51Glad to see the diggiots buying into Burma propaganda so easily. If its anti-US, you pack of ***** monkeys are right on board without a second thought it seems.
      • legendxx, on 05/21/2008, -3/+10Bullseye
      • jasonuher, on 05/21/2008, -5/+10That must be why there are so many pro-obama stories
      • StGhurka, on 05/21/2008, -1/+7Allow me to fix that for you mike17043:

        "Glad to see the diggiots buying into Burma propaganda so easily..."

        It's unfortunate the sentiment on digg is so unreasonably biased in favor of Burma's side of the story. It seems people here are willing to suspend critical thinking when the story displays a negative reflection of the United States.

        More flies with honey, dude.
      • mem2, on 05/21/2008, -5/+1Its because we are anti US.
    • Alexandru25, on 05/21/2008, -5/+322nd the *****. They don't want us there because they are a ***** up dictatorship that is crazy and paranoid. The L.A. times reported yesterday that French ships loaded with supplies were also denied.
      • RxDaniel, on 05/21/2008, -2/+11We all know how the French like invading other countries. Napoleon, anybody?
    • executorzz, on 05/21/2008, -4/+16US didn't invade any countries involved in the tsunami in 2004 or many other countries that receive american aid...This is just some paranoid old men who want to hold power at all costs. Even if it means they have no one left to rule over.
      • MattB123, on 05/21/2008, -3/+2True, but recent events (Iraq) probably didn't help and does lend a legitimate argument to their paranoia.
      • philz, on 05/21/2008, -4/+3Wow - 4 years without an invasion!
    • ferrariman60, on 05/21/2008, -4/+11They just want all the supplies for themselves, so that they can control the distribution, and they know that we won't just turn over relief supplies. I mean, *****..... look at Iraq. We clearly aren't capable of a decent invasion. And speaking of Iraq, we're all tied up there. No one to invade with! This isn't because they're afraid of us. Remember, they also wouldn't let the UN in at first. This is because we would want to be in control of where the supplies go, to ensure that needy people actually get it. Rather than just go to the Junta.
    • tharju, on 05/21/2008, -2/+11Don't be naive. Burmese regime don't trust any Western countries because they are the only countries constantly criticizing for Burmese regime human right abuse records, that include, Britain, France, as well as the rest of the European countries and US. Meanwhile, China, India and the rest of the South East Asian countries are sucking out it natural resources dirt cheap. Burmese ordinary people would like to see US military led by UN to invade Burma (sad but true). They have been living under this oppressive regime for more than four decades and they have nothing to loose and they are desperate for outside intervention. Regardless of how shallow the US and its citizens care for Burmese people, western countries must uphold the moral high ground by criticizing this oppressive regime. After all, the word Democracy, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, etc. are invented in the West.
    • rblancarte, on 05/21/2008, -2/+14Keep up with your facts. Myanmar doesn't trust ANYONE. They want to put some Oil spin on it, whatever, it means nothing.
      The ruling junta don't want direct outside help because then they couldn't raid the supplies first. If the US Military (or any other military) came in with aid, it would be distributed by our troops. We know better than to give the aid to their country, knowing the junta will pick through it and take it away.
      Plus if our troops gave the aid, then their people would see the actual level of what has been given, and the jig would be up that the junta are taking aid away from them. There is a reason why aid that has gone in has been re-branded to be from them.
      http://www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/inte ...
      I get that it is popular to bash the US, but get the facts.
    • pixelguru, on 05/21/2008, -7/+3The dictators of Myanmar may be crazy paranoid sadistic lunatics, but the foreign policy of the US for the past 7 years has done nothing but throw gasoline on the fire. Both are at fault.
    • sk11, on 05/21/2008, -5/+3Remember kids, if you're naughty, America will invade your room and steal your toys!
    • Sogui, on 05/21/2008, -3/+12"I wouldn't trust us either"

      Well at least we make a habit of delivering at least 12 months of rhetoric before invading.

      But seriously, you'd have to be pretty out of touch with reality (Diggers and the Junta) if you think that a bunch of ships filled with relief aid are actually going to invade a country.

      It's kind of funny that Diggers are more willing to belief the Junta than our own long history of relief efforts.
    • aclockwork3, on 05/21/2008, -1/+4Exactly what I was thinking.
    • futureisours, on 05/21/2008, -7/+5Hey moron. If you don't trust the US. Why don't you get the hell out of our country? This includes most anti-american Diggers. Why don't you see what the rest of the world really is like.
    • JointVenture, on 05/22/2008, -6/+2*****.
    • SwedishNinja, on 05/22/2008, -2/+5They don't want aid because they're isolationist as *****. Like North Korea on steroids.
    • seshomarusamma, on 05/22/2008, -5/+1They refuse aid from anyone
      they only accept cash
      this has nothing to do with american foreign policy

      on a side notice - america does give a lot of aid but that is because it is the richest country in the world
      in terms of percentage of GDP ,scandinavian countries or the UK give much more
      • Katerinag, on 06/20/2008, -0/+0That is not what counts. Look at what those countries private citizens give! Hardly anything because they think their government does it for them. Look at us. The US gave in private donations from us, the people, we gave over 300 billion dollars in charity just in ONE YEAR! Not one of those countries can top that. And that is because we have a capitalist country. If we were socialist, I guarantee you would not be giving all that money!
    • Katerinag, on 06/20/2008, -0/+0I can not believe you are so ignorant to make such a statement. Don't you study any current events? How dare you say you wouldn't trust us either, why don't you just move and join your friends the Junta and see how well they treat you there! One poor man dying there told a reporter that the police are there in a minute to stop a protest against their human rights violations but they were no where to be found when the people needed them after the cyclone! Please get a life! The Junta did not accept aid from anyone! They want us to give them all the food and the clothing so they can use it for themselves and not give it to their own people! The Burma situation is horrific. Why don't you go there for a while and then right one of these comments about how bad the US is, when you get back from there, you will kiss the ground of America!
  • gdha, on 05/21/2008, -65/+55That's horrible that people won't even accept help from us in fear because of our ruthlessness for taking over the world....so sad. I agree with psogle, I wouldn't trust us either.
    • ender7074, on 05/21/2008, -12/+10Then starve. You people never ceace to amaze me. If we sent nothing we are horrible. If we send all the aid in the world we're untrustworthy. Screw em then. I feel bad for the people that actually need the aid, not the scumbag government which you liberals seem to be oh so in line with.
      • chuckDontSurf, on 05/21/2008, -2/+3Almost dugg you into I saw the "liberals" blanket label.
      • daines88, on 05/21/2008, -1/+4So you consider invading a country and toppling their government as equal aid to sending a bunch of ships with supplies and clean drinking water? You sir are an idiot.
    • mike17032, on 05/21/2008, -4/+18Then that makes you both god damn fools.

      You really think the US would need some kind of trick to invade Burma? Really? They prolly couldnt even buy 1 stealth bomber with their military budget.
      • zazzalicious, on 05/21/2008, -0/+5i think china might object tho....
      • musikmann, on 05/21/2008, -2/+3The militants in Iraq don't have stealth bombers, but they sure as hell aren't a walk over...
    • charm803, on 05/21/2008, -2/+5No kidding! Talk about our reputation preceding us!
    • RX9735, on 05/21/2008, -1/+3It could be that they see the U.S. Military as a bad uncle such as the kind you can never seem to make leave. Russia use to be like this to some of those in Eastern Europe.
  • maxwillson, on 05/21/2008, -44/+30It reflects US horrible international policy. US should change its policy.
    • mike17032, on 05/21/2008, -8/+7Yes, I agree. We piss away far to much money giving away food.

      We should build more bombs, at least we get our moneys worth out of those.
      • sandman979, on 05/21/2008, -3/+2No dude that's not the problem. They do know that everything USA do comes with strings attached.
    • Shawn4168, on 05/21/2008, -4/+14The problem isn't US policy. You can try to pass it off as that, but it ultimately boils down to an irrational, fearful, corrupt government. You can't blame US policy for their government trying to control the media, to keep its own people from knowing about the impending disaster, and from failing to take any sort of humanitarian action itself. And fear of US policy still doesn't explain why they reject aid from dozens of other countries as well.
      • CrazedLeper, on 05/21/2008, -5/+1The US will not change it's policy until 1 of 2 things occurs: 1) there remain only 50 million Aryans remain on the planet or 2) divine intervention interrupts their plan.
    • isaactwito, on 05/21/2008, -9/+6maxwillson is absolutely right. This is the what we get when we do ***** like invading Iraq. We are a colonialist power, like it or not, it's just a plain fact. We've brought this upon ourselves, and it's shameful.
      • chuckDontSurf, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2FFS, read a little more. We're not the only country they're turning away. It has nothing to do with US foreign policy and everything to do with them being a paranoid dictatorship.
        • isaactwito, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1The paranoia stems from something, and that is the terrible policies that we have, among other things. I'm not defending their regime or ignoring the fact that other nations are being turned away. I just happen to see how our actions are reflected in the ways people see us.
    • devophl, on 05/21/2008, -6/+6Until someone stands up to the military industrial complex, our foreign policy is unlikely to change. Their corporate profits are skyrocketing thanks to Bush's wars. And the sky seems to be the limit in terms of military spending... even if it bankrupts the country.

      As a result, we've become the bully on the corner who most don't trust to do much of anything right now. We want war and international instability. We play both sides against the middle and hope to clean up in the chaos.

      In addition, once we enter a country, we never leave. I suspect their are about 100 countries in this world that wished we'd stop trying to manipulate their countries.

      But we also must consider that the junta in Myanmar is holding an unsteady peace in their country by use of isolation and military force. It wouldn't take much of a presence by our military or CIA to cause them real trouble. I suspect the CIA would love to overthrow that government. For their own preservation, they pretty much have to keep the US out.
  • diggboss, on 05/21/2008, -15/+4why?
    • hairypothead, on 05/21/2008, -5/+4this whole thing boils down to the overspread oil wars
      - which in turn boils down to our over-dependency on fuel.
      • whodat807, on 05/22/2008, -1/+1no, it boils down to an insane, xenophobic junta that doesn't want anybody - not the americans, not the french, not even the red cross - in their country.
  • hairypothead, on 05/21/2008, -25/+13This clearly could have been avoided if you schmucks started using public transportation, you know?
    • DiggWalker, on 05/21/2008, -4/+11I live in LA. One time I saw a lady who OD'd and puked all over a bum. He didn't move or wipe it off, he just sat there and stared at me. This is the last time I ever took the public transportation in LA.
      • heliox, on 05/21/2008, -0/+8What could I do? I was tired and it felt warm and tingly. Leave me alone.
    • TheThirdLevel, on 05/21/2008, -1/+1The 6 AM tsunami is almost here, hurry up.
    • h3llscaper, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2Nobody walks in LA.
    • Okari, on 05/21/2008, -2/+4Because somehow us driving cars makes the Government corrupt.
  • jamesparmis, on 05/21/2008, -22/+0Thanks for adding me also :-)

    I digg your latest entry.

    God bless you my friend.

    James
    • SpillReviews, on 05/21/2008, -1/+6your supposed to put comments like that in the shout section
    • GeekyGerge, on 05/21/2008, -0/+5Every time you trade Diggs, an angel has its wings set on fire and then doused with kerosine.

      The More You Know.
  • Surferess, on 05/21/2008, -15/+75Oh for God sakes! Just take the fricking food you idiots, people are dying!
    • DavidS9, on 05/21/2008, -0/+26I think the Leadership class is still trying to kill off those they don't want and this is the best way to look like a good guy to the people and still do put forward their evil agenda.
      • DalamarArgent, on 05/21/2008, -6/+2US should invade and "liberate" the populous. The army would be warmly greeted by the general population.... right?
        • DavidS9, on 05/21/2008, -3/+3Gee aren't you an ass. I never mentioned anything of the kind so stick it, you limp wristed moron
    • aladrin, on 05/21/2008, -12/+5"He who gives up freedom for safety deserves neither."
      • Iztikeit, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3That doesn't apply in this situation.
      • kgool, on 05/21/2008, -0/+4Give me a break. You cannot answer everything with a pithy little misquote of Benjamin Franklin.
    • delmar14, on 05/21/2008, -0/+13There is no plan to invade Myanmar. Those of you who are blaming the U.S. for this must be insane. The Junta has a pretty solid track record when it comes to suppressing human rights so while the U.S. may be doing some incredibly stupid things throughout the world right now, to blame the county that just wants to help for the fact that Myanmar's government won't let us is pathetic.
    • stinger666, on 05/22/2008, -1/+1I think the U.S. left a permanent military base in every country they stepped in.
  • Fangsinmybeard, on 05/21/2008, -10/+107Doesn't anyone understand? The junta wants the people to die off. That way there will be no one that opposes them. Pretty cruel logic on their part.
  • wynja, on 05/21/2008, -30/+73OMFG, what the hell are these people smoking. We only invade countries that have natural resources to plunder.
  • ozymandias2012, on 05/21/2008, -11/+58I bet they wounldn't have any problem if we just offered them cash. No one wants Americans around but they seem to like all those billions of yankee dollars we piss away every year in foreign food, energy, medical, and every other type of aid there is.
    • ender7074, on 05/21/2008, -1/+18Damn right they do. They can spend it on themselves while people in our country bust their asses to pay the taxes to give foregin tinpot dictators all the porn and booze they want. Its a wonderful system isnt it?
    • fluoro, on 05/21/2008, -4/+5You forgot military aid. Our government likes to send lots of military aid to oppressive regimes too, which is of course paid for using our tax dollars.
      • delmar14, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2***** them! If the Junta won't accept our help, then may the deaths of their people be on their hands and not ours.
    • HanSolo69, on 05/21/2008, -6/+3You mean our increasingly worthless dollar?
      • ender7074, on 05/21/2008, -3/+4If their so worthless, Ill take yours.
        • HanSolo69, on 05/22/2008, -1/+1I've got $5. if you need it that bad it's yours.
    • relic180, on 05/21/2008, -3/+4Why would they decide to let the US Gov in their country for a handful of what will soon be nothing but Monopoly money?
    • stonewaljacksn, on 05/21/2008, -2/+3exactly. the world hates us?
      ok. then lets stop spending out money on this *****. that hippie utopia help the world stuff is great to dream about but ***** this
    • N00F, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1The Junta are already ass deep in World Bank Loans. Countries are not offering them money because it will not go to where it is needed.
  • h0ser, on 05/21/2008, -14/+18Easy solution would be to give all the aid to a neutral country and let them give the aid to myanmar. That way it won't be coming from the USA and poeple will get fed.
    • Coffeedemon, on 05/21/2008, -0/+17Thought that was the point of the UN. They won't let those guys in either.
    • bentman78, on 05/21/2008, -3/+6screw that. If they're to good to receive aid from us let the UN deal with it. That's what they're there for right?
    • ender7074, on 05/21/2008, -0/+6No the easiest way would be for the ***** leaders of that country to get their heads out of their asses and let our aid go to the people that need it instead of making up some ***** about America and keeping the aid we send for themselves. Wake up.
    • serif69, on 05/21/2008, -0/+10Myanmar refused to let the UN distribute aid. What makes you think they'd let an individual country distribute it?
    • Shawn4168, on 05/21/2008, -0/+9Neutral countries are offering aid. They're also not being allowed in.
    • medieval, on 05/21/2008, -0/+4But, a critical component of the aid is the personnel and naval equipment. You can't really hand over a US warship or helicopter to a neutral country.
    • TheSpook, on 05/21/2008, -0/+5Pffft, if they don't want our free aid, let them eat their oil.

      By the way, if they're an oil-producing country, why not pay for it themselves.
  • protogenxl, on 05/21/2008, -7/+11This government is out of there minds. Have they learned nothing from the French revolution?
  • GeauxLSU, on 05/21/2008, -4/+41Who is running this show.....Former Louisiana Gov Blanco?
    • serif69, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3If he were in charge, they'd have built a casino with that food by now.
    • GeauxLSU, on 05/21/2008, -1/+5Blanco is a she!
  • leerayIG88, on 05/21/2008, -22/+4ww3 :-D

    ---woot woot
  • MISking, on 05/21/2008, -49/+13Can we blame them? Smart folks
    • Egoist, on 05/21/2008, -2/+8The logic of the anti-American crowd:

      The bad guys: The country who has literally hundreds of tons of food and medical supplies sitting off the coast, ready to help without asking anything in return.

      The good guys: The country who is run by a paranoid xenophobic military dictator whose favorite past time is slaughtering Buddhist monks and watching his people slowly starve to death so that he can save his precious oil.
      • PolishLogic, on 05/21/2008, -1/+3self-hatred makes people very irrational.
      • ryusen, on 05/23/2008, -0/+0i don't think anyone so far has tried to call the Junta "good guys" at any time. Face it, the Bush Administration has talked endlessly about how the Burmese gov is bad and needs to be put down. IF you heard that, would YOU let that foreign military into your country?
    • LukasSmith, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3Egoist is right. Besides think about this. If Burma is so against the US merely because they think we will invade them why are they turning down aid from other parts of the world as well? All kinds of European countries have offered aid and been rebuffed or told to drop the food at the dictators door and go away. As usual a countries dictator fueling anti-America sentiment to explain why he cares so little about his people and why aid from many many countries around the world are being turned away or accepted ungraciously.
  • stutimandal, on 05/21/2008, -16/+52Don't blame this on American reputation. Myanmar is a communist country. They want to monitor aid given by outside world to make money by black-marketing. As a child I've seen enough of such activities in socialist India. On paper everything is free, and in reality everything would be twice the market-price. I did a human rights project with the title "Food and Africa." Many articles suggested that aid was not a solution since African tribal leaders or kings would control the aid, thereby misusing it.

    Don't forget that Myanmar recently killed thousands of peace-loving Buddhist monks without a reason.
    • ender7074, on 05/21/2008, -9/+15Yes but in the eyes of liberals over here they are the heros saving their people from the ruthless American's. Doesn't matter that they all die off as long as the horrible Americans and their devil food never step foot on their shores.
    • chenyu768, on 05/21/2008, -14/+3uh oh, i hear a reason to invade already. BRING DEMOCRACY TO THE GODLESS MYANMAR COMMUNISTS!!!!!
      oh and cue the "Mission Accomplished" banner a year later.
    • relic180, on 05/21/2008, -2/+14I know stupid ***** don't really know or care about the difference between Communism and a Military Dictatorship.. but trust me.. there's a difference.
      • flashingcurser, on 05/21/2008, -1/+3Just curious, where can you find communism without a dictator?

        I can think of 2, both moving towards capitalism.
      • Katerinag, on 06/20/2008, -0/+0Well, not that much of a difference! Stalin was a communist and he also murdered and starved more people than Hitler and all other dictators combined but yet he was a marxist. Hmmm, somehow, they seem to go hand in hand. Just by different labels. Fidel is a dictator but Cuba is a communist country. Same with Chavez. I know, all the lefties, raise your hands, you are free to go to Cuba and to Venezuela and lets see how you are greeted with open arms by them! We will help you pack.
    • claralyn, on 05/21/2008, -2/+12Burma/Myanmar is not communist. It's headed by a military dictatorship. The junta's not communist just because it's committing human rights abuses, though I don't blame misperceptions because 1) it's practically a proxy of China 2) Ne Win headed the disastrous Burmese Way to Socialism.
      • ender7074, on 05/21/2008, -6/+4Please, so you would define communism as a dictatorship that doesnt commit human rights violations. So what are China, former Soviet Union, former Soviet Bloc countries, N. Korea, and a whole slew of other communist governments. Communism breeds this type of action.
        • claralyn, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3No, I wouldn't. Just because a regime commits human rights abuses doesn't mean it's communist (obviously, when you look at regimes such as U.S. and Guantanamo Bay, and numerous democracies with the death penalty); being a regime of a certain type doesn't automatically bring human rights abuses with it. The impetus for abuse lies with the rulers and the dynamic of power itself. My point was to avoid the "communism bad" debate regarding an article that has nothing to do with it.
      • Egoist, on 05/21/2008, -2/+3You have to admire the mindless communist activists who've never read any of Marx's or Lenin's writings, yet stammer on about its advantages over capitalism.

        Here's your homework, claralyn: Learn what the process that Marx and Trotsky planned to convert a non-communist country into a communist country.



        Answer: Install a dictatorship to remove all vestiges of capitalism and only then switch over power to the people. Unfortunately no communist country has ever been able to move past step #2.
        • claralyn, on 05/21/2008, -1/+3Thanks for generalizing me as a "communist activist," Egoist. If I generalize you as someone who doesn't know Burmese history, I would probably be right. Your homework is to learn to classify countries into their proper regime types. The Communist Party of Burma has been outlawed since 1953; you think the junta would reflect any vestige of communism in their economic policies by now.
        • Egoist, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2Your argument was that it was not communist simply because it is currently ruled by a military dictator, which is incorrect. What did Ne Win do upon gaining power?

          All political parties, including communist political parties have been banned since the junta took power. That is what a dictatorship is -- the rule of one. That does not mean they aren't working towards a communist society.

          Typically when you overthrow a democratic government and then immediately nationalize all economic and social aspects of the country, there are communist aspirations.

          Ask yourself this: Would China be so protective of Burma if it was not a burgeoning communist society?
        • seshomarusamma, on 05/22/2008, -2/+1china is protective of burma to protect its trade with it
          china doesnt care if burma is socialist or capitalist or whatever
  • bobsworth, on 05/21/2008, -20/+5I dont blame them for thinking that we'd invade them. Our politicians would probably find an excuse to do it.
  • Equinox1, on 05/21/2008, -20/+6Very double edged sword, they don't take what we have to offer and people will die. On the other hand, we are a country with completely ***** credibility and them not trusting us is completely justified. Guess this is one of the long term effects of our stupid ***** country leader. I don't blame them in the least.
  • mike17032, on 05/21/2008, -23/+20Good. If they are to stupid to accept help, let em starve to death.

    Like the US would need to use some kind of trick to invade that little ***** box. If we wanted to invade, we would.
    • chenyu768, on 05/21/2008, -3/+4well there is a thing called public opinion, not that we care about that kind of stuff.
      • philipl411, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1So we don't invade because we care about public opinion, even if we don't care about public opinion? OK, you win the stupid statement award
    • Shawn4168, on 05/21/2008, -0/+13You really don't get it, do you? The people actually affected by the disaster aren't refusing aid. It's the communist government and military that are refusing it.
      • Metasquares, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2"If there is any hope, it lies in the proles".

        At some point, the people must rise up and shout "We will not tolerate this!"

        Until they do that, they're going to keep getting the short end of the stick, because their government is demonstrating that it *does not care* whether they live or die.
        • Shawn4168, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2Yes, try standing up to an oppressive fascist military regime when half of your family is dead, almost everybody you know is either sick or dying, and for all you know (due to a controlled media), the rest of the world doesn't give a damn about you either.
    • dbre2, on 05/21/2008, -0/+15I'm pretty sure the people that are starving to death aren't the ones making the decision
    • relic180, on 05/21/2008, -0/+4That's definitely not a knee-jerk statement.
    • TheSpook, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3> "If they are to [sic] stupid to accept help"

      I like it when people make fun of others.
    • tolgafiratoglu, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1"them"?
      Do you really think all nation is against?
  • Berkana, on 05/21/2008, -12/+35They're afraid we're going to "bring democracy" to them.
    • aladrin, on 05/21/2008, -2/+11Yeah, we probably would. We'd get there and see the 'horrors that communism produces' and create a media campaign, and then decide to stay and help until they get a democracy set up.

      Democracy at gunpoint is not democracy! You can't force it on people and have it stick. They have to want it.
      • delmar14, on 05/21/2008, -0/+2I agree, if the people of Myanmar are too scared to care about freedom, then they really don't deserve it in the first place. True democracy is not given, its taken.
    • ender7074, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1Because their life is oh so happy now? Yah nice call. I'm sure they'd hate having a say in their government. I'm sure that voting is nothing they would want. I'm sure they just love being under the heel of an oppressive dictatorship. Why do you liberals fear freedom so much? I can answer. Guess its too much of people not giving a ***** what you think and being able to determine their lives for themselves without some elitist pig of a lib telling them how they "should" be living.
    • tschau, on 05/21/2008, -0/+2You probably would have said the same thing about Vietnam, I'm guessing.
  • usgovterrorists, on 05/21/2008, -39/+3It's wise to fear the world's greatest terrorists better known as the United States Government!

    United States Government are terrorists, war criminals, and horrific liars.

    Where's the evidence that kerosene fires melted steel?
    How did the huge molten pools of metal get under the twin towers and building 7?
    9-11 was an inside job! 9-11 official story was a lie! What happened to building 7?

    Depleted uranium is a weapon of mass destruction!

    Play Wall Street like a PONZI SCHEME!

    The elections are rigged, unsecure voting machines & ballots!

    Terrorist United States Government mandated a fivefold increase in the use of biofuels.
    • cesclaveria, on 05/21/2008, -3/+6and the only truth is the time cube right?
      • inobla, on 05/22/2008, -1/+2YES! GENE RAY IS THE WORLDS WISEST MAN!!@! THE WORLD IS EDUCATED STUPID!
    • DalamarArgent, on 05/21/2008, -1/+6...and only usgovterrorists brand tinfoil hats can protect you from them, only $49.99. Call now!
    • usgovterrorists, on 05/21/2008, -6/+2Did you ever notice these neocons aren't able to answer my questions?
      Did you ever notice these neocons pretend they have the high ground?
      Neocons are horrific liars, and have nothing to lose by lying!
      These neocons know they can't debate me because the truth is NOT on their side!
      I dare you neocons to answers the questions, debate if you can, and try to pretend the truth is on your side.
      Behold, I will show you how phony these neocons are!
      • MattNF, on 05/21/2008, -1/+4You need help.
      • ender7074, on 05/21/2008, -1/+3Nobody answers your questions because they are inane and asinine to begin with.
      • inobla, on 05/22/2008, -1/+3Wielding this 911 "truther" ***** around like a religion is going to get you laughed at. When you find some intelligent questions to ask, somebody might make an effort to answer you.
      • txchica, on 05/22/2008, -1/+3What you need to do is go to an appropriate submission about 9-11 and then look at all the posts that not only answer all your questions, but debunk all those statements you made. And what's with the overuse of the word "neocon", use a thesaurus and mix it up a little. Keeps us "neocons" from getting bored from the repetition. And debating you would be a waste of time, since it's obvious you wouldn't know the truth if it was kicking you in the butt, really this hatred is bad for you, raises the blood pressure and can cause heart attacks if not treated appropriately.
    • drastik21, on 05/22/2008, -1/+3I think you've been hearing to much Immortal Technique. These are all quotes from his songs, you should at least be original.
  • budgetguitar, on 05/21/2008, -8/+3Kids and their juntas these days...
  • marthaphoebe, on 05/21/2008, -11/+4A few words from Obama could change this.
    • PolishLogic, on 05/21/2008, -1/+1Thank you for giving me the best laugh I've had on Digg today.
  • JESUSREAM, on 05/21/2008, -9/+16their a bunch of idiots. our foreign policy sucks. but we do actually help people from time to time. if they dont want help, too bad.
    • d03boy, on 05/21/2008, -4/+1their a bunch of morans!
    • tschau, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2"their a bunch of idiots."

      come on, dude... honestly?
    • TheSpook, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2> "their a bunch of idiots"

      Ha ha, if that was on purpose, it was funny.
    • ph1sh55, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1get a brane moran
  • Falldog, on 05/21/2008, -4/+4Please, it'd be easier to invade and take over now that they hate the Junta more.
  • andretii, on 05/21/2008, -10/+4what is a myanmar?
  • diggit08, on 05/21/2008, -3/+5when people say "cut your nose to spite your face" i know what they mean now.
  • chenyu768, on 05/21/2008, -11/+7Hey we helped Iraq, and it wasn't for the oil. It was Democracy ;)
    The same for Burma..mm Myanmar, they need democracy. oil is just a by product of democracy
    • flashingcurser, on 05/21/2008, -2/+2The supply of oil we are getting from Iraq is causing a glut, the prices at the pumps are spiraling down. What ever will we do with so much cheap gas?
      • chenyu768, on 05/22/2008, -2/+1demand is down, production is up. It's not following the rule of supply and demand. Could this mean that the oil companies figured out that oil is inelastic product? considering that they've made record profits, i'd say yes. And who got the first shipment of oil from Iraq 3month after the invasion? Chevron.
        So it's not the lack of supply, it's greed.
        And yes it was for the oil.
  • vexingmodstwo, on 05/21/2008, -8/+10Dumb *****.
  • adml_shake, on 05/21/2008, -2/+53This has nothing to do with fear of invasion. What it is, is that the leaders don't want the people seeing that supplies came from anyone but them. Thats why they took all the stuff the UN and other countries sent and put their names on the box before they handed them out.
    • nbrntrt, on 05/21/2008, -2/+7Yep your right. The U.S. has a policy of putting a flag on every box/bag and a message of "A gift from the American people" so everyone knows where the aid comes from. This was one of the main reasons North Korea wouldn't accept our donations either (in the past). Eventually they gave in though as famine was imminent. There is a good Nat Geo documentary about North Korea and the people are bad mouthing the U.S. while they are carrying a bag of rice with a U.S. flag on it.
      • Foot56, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1Ya because if they don't they are killed. You know how many political camps North Korea operates or let alone the amount of people that have died because they mouthed off or protested the government. What I’m saying is people may act or do certain things in those countries does not mean they truly believe them. Ask anyone in China about the Tiananmen Square protests they look like you are on crack. They might know exactly what you are talking about or inclined to even express their true opinion, but they knowing if they do they will never been see from again.
    • mfc5200, on 05/21/2008, -0/+6Bingo, that's what I think too. They accept foreign aid and money, but not workers. They don't want their people realizing that their government totally sucks.
    • delmar14, on 05/21/2008, -0/+6Thank you for using logic on this one. I couldn't believe how many people were actually so naive as to believe something the Junta said just because it blamed the U.S. for something else.
  • digitallysick, on 05/21/2008, -17/+11Isn't this sad? this what the outlook of our country has become. We cant even be trusted anymore
  • MacintoshSauce, on 05/21/2008, -6/+6What a bunch of bloody fools!
  • monkeyrun, on 05/21/2008, -19/+11Look at the last place we "helped".... can you blame them for being afraid of us?
    • GreatSunJester, on 05/21/2008, -3/+6You are so right. I am already on the waiting list for that beachfront property we took over after the tsunami.
      OH -- I get it, you were being clever and implying Iraq!

      American EMERGENCY aid has never come at a price. American MILITARY ACTION does. See the difference? Ah, I did not think you would.
      • relic180, on 05/21/2008, -1/+1American EMERGENCY aid does come at a cost. Hit that ***** once and your hooked.
        The US government knows this and offers aid readily, to build political rapport and leverage so when the time comes to "call in a favor" they'll be much more inclined to behave themselves.
        • PolishLogic, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1The US government isn't the only country in the world that offers aid readily, you know.
  • drmangrum, on 05/21/2008, -1/+28Be sure to read the article.

    French and British ships are blocked too. Supplies are allowed to be flown in to only select locations by plane. Only EXTREMELY controlled locations are receiving the aid, which goes directly to the ruling caste, who then disperses it. This is obviously a ploy by the ruling caste to stop aid from reaching where it needs to go while keeping the powerful in power.

    Also, the author mentions several times how Myanmar is a very poor country, but then makes reference to their "vast oil reserves". If the oil reserves were so vast, they wouldn't be a poor country.
    • claralyn, on 05/21/2008, -0/+4Burma has oil, and the reason the country is still poor is because of economic mismanagement by the junta. Rather than distributing wealth across the country and 'modernizing,' the junta has chosen to build itself a shiny new capital in Naypyidaw, and build up its army to make war on ethnic minorities.
    • PolishLogic, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1I also think that part of it has to do with the junta wanting the people to believe that they are solely responsible for helping them. If the people only see Myanmar soldiers distributing the relief, and the control on information is as tight as we've seen proof of it being, in the end, those that survive will only be looking to praise the junta. Not any of the dozens of countries that did the bulk of the work.

      Granted, it appears that the people already hate the junta, but when your logic is ***** enough to do things like this, it's definitely ***** enough to think your people will praise you in the end.
    • larissa13, on 05/22/2008, -0/+0Thats right, Myanmar will accept supplies as long as they control how and who the supplies are distributed. A very sad situation that politics plays a higher hand than life of the people.
  • crazyjake, on 05/21/2008, -5/+8damn right we will!!! that's exactly why i joined!!

    /sarcasm

    seriously Myanmar?? we have bases all around the world, why would we need your country??
    • roho76, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2Ha! You made a funny.

      America...***** Yeah...We're here to save the ***** day yeah.
    • jkerrigan, on 05/21/2008, -2/+0Are you serious? Burma was once one of the wealthiest nations in the area, thanks to its abundant natural resources. As much as I hate the current "government" and their insistence on using "Myanmar", were I in their position, I sure as hell wouldn't let the U.S. military in.
      • crazyjake, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1you said it yourself "Burma was ONCE one of the wealthiest nations in the area..."

  • statikuz, on 05/21/2008, -4/+26I don't think people are reading the article:

    "The New Light of Myanmar article thanked the United States for airlifting in aid, an apparent reference to continuing relief flights of cargo planes from Thailand to Yangon. The U.S. is sending about five such flights a day using C-130 cargo aircraft."

    "The news report gave no explanation why the regime was willing to accept aid flown on U.S. planes, with U.S. military personnel on board, but would not allow the warships and helicopters to deliver relief supplies."

    They're not refusing all U.S. aid - just the aid from warships poised off their coast for some reason.
    • HMTKSteve, on 05/21/2008, -0/+4It's because they do not want the people to be given aid supplies from anyone other than government loyalists.
  • nastronomical, on 05/21/2008, -15/+11of course blame the USA!! LOL


    Let them die...tough *****.
    • twiztidsinz, on 05/21/2008, -0/+4Yes.... Let the innocent people who desperately need the aid die because the Government (who I'm sure has more than enough food and supplies) says 'No'. Yeah.. good job.
  • psulion, on 05/21/2008, -2/+18Yeah just like we invaded Indonesia after the tsunami...It is really sad that the dictatorship in Myanmar would rather stick it to the US and watch its own people die
    • vexingmodstwo, on 05/21/2008, -0/+2.5 digg for being a Penn Stater
      .5 digg for the comment.
    • siszam, on 05/21/2008, -7/+2It's really sad the Chavez offered free heating fuel to poor Americans but Bush refused. It' sad that Bush sent four thousand of our sons and daughter to die in Iraq and he gets on the news and grins about it. When Katrina happened armed men guarded food for days instead of giving it out. They did this to see how the public would react. They used Katrina as a chance to violate the constitution and disarm citizens. See, our own leader isn't very sane either.
      • ender7074, on 05/21/2008, -0/+9May want to check your facts moron. The people that that tinpot dictator offered oil to declined it themselves. It had nothing to do with Bush. Again with the liberal selective memory. But hey, if you think that living in that type of country would be just so peachy, what are you waiting for. I would wager that it would be about a week before you came screaming home.
      • PolishLogic, on 05/22/2008, -0/+4"They used Katrina as a chance to violate the constitution and disarm citizens, maaaaaan."

        Fixed it for you.

        Now, I actually would have dug you up if you would have managed to throw something about Big Brother oppressing the people, thought police, fascist dictatorship, or some ***** like that. You'd have hit the trifecta with that. Unfortunately, much like everything else you've done in life, you fail here too.

        As ender7074 said, if the US is so goddamn evil, please feel free to roam Earth for your utopia. I have suggestions if you need them.
  • socketman, on 05/21/2008, -5/+6what a retarded government. And some of you thought ours was bad with hurricane katrina.
    lol!
  • roho76, on 05/21/2008, -13/+8Can't say I blame them. I mean if it looks like America and it smells like America then it must be there to ruthlessly take your oil and kill innocent civilians.
  • d03boy, on 05/21/2008, -9/+4i think they call this blowback?
    • chuckDontSurf, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3I don't think you understand what that term means.
  • krnldmp, on 05/21/2008, -8/+3How's that go? "You see yourself through the eyes of others." You know you've really done it when things like this start to happen.
  • FuckXboxx, on 05/21/2008, -9/+2Interesting...

    I had a theory that the cyclone was an experiment carried out by the US military using new hydrophobic particles dropped by the air force (it's documented that they are doing this in the "name of fighting global warming") to see just how much damage they could create.

    Now that I realize oil is involved it makes total sense.
    • chuckDontSurf, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3No, what makes total sense is you going on my Block User list, *****.
    • nickerbocker, on 05/21/2008, -0/+4Of course then this was all stopped by James Bond right?
  • relic180, on 05/21/2008, -12/+3I know a lot of people here are citing how the US gives so much aid to so many countries. It's a good thing on the surface, but the motives are not pure. It's offered at every chance, because US Gov knows that once countries start accepting aid, it will be very difficult for them to just stop taking it (a lot like a junky). This gives US Gov leverage against those countries for future use.

    It's a combination of buying them off, and getting them hooked. Don't think for one second that the US Gov flies foreign aid all over the world simply because it feels good.
  • DalamarArgent, on 05/21/2008, -7/+1Gotta solve $4 a barrel some how.
    • uahgekido, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3Where the hell did you find oil for $4 a barrel? Don't be stingy.
  • ssawyer06, on 05/21/2008, -0/+14oh please... they don't think we'd invade. the junta wants supplies or money delivered to THEM... not to the delta
  • vexingmodstwo, on 05/21/2008, -5/+9wow... other countries really know how to play the American left like a bunch of cheap fiddles, don't they?
    • krnldmp, on 05/21/2008, -6/+1only in your mind
      • vexingmodstwo, on 05/21/2008, -0/+4Really? All those comments up there are in my mind? Holy *****!
    • ender7074, on 05/21/2008, -0/+2Yup. America is truly damned if it does and damned if it doesnt. Sad part is the inferiority complex that so many of our people have being concerned with what this country or that country thinks about us. I say ***** em.
      • ph1sh55, on 05/21/2008, -1/+1yes, lets be isolationist. That worked out well
  • pintomp3, on 05/21/2008, -3/+7Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get invaded again
  • OffPiste, on 05/21/2008, -15/+5I blame Fauxbama and the hatred he is currently spreading.
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