[Zankou]

It takes two to make a military dictatorship: A brutal cadre of military thugs, and a bunch of thugs who require a brutal cadre of military thugs to rule them.

People always forget about the second part. Convince me that the Burmese people are a free, liberty-loving, tolerant, democratic people, and then I'll say we have an interest in freeing them. But in all likelihood, they're just Iraq -- Part II. Do they want freedom? Do they deserve freedom? Where's the evidence of that? To me, they seem like Vietnam/Cambodia from 20 years ago. You want to march into that?

If we are to intervene, it should be to rescue a free democratic society from momentary oppression by outsiders, not to attack a sovereign nations with dreams of turning the unfree, fragmented, volatile hellhole into a free society. All that gets you is ingratitude, a huge body count, immense expense, and failure. See Sudan, Somalia, etc.

[Sanin]

Originally Posted by Sir Burton

Do they have anything we want?

Rice. Before the Junta Burma was one of the leading rice producers in the world. Remember guys rice is a major commodity now, it's even being rationed in American Costcos.

Being serious for a moment, it doesn't matter if we should, (because not only should we, but they already have a competent democratic leader and we wouldn't need to station troops to maintain peace), we won't. The US military is already sending soldiers deemed physically unable to fight into combat zones in Iraq, so who here honestly believes that the Bush regime would have any interest in a humanitarian mission?

[Saith]

Originally Posted by Sanin

Rice. Before the Junta Burma was one of the leading rice producers in the world. Remember guys rice is a major commodity now, it's even being rationed in American Costcos.

Being serious for a moment, it doesn't matter if we should, (because not only should we, but they already have a competent democratic leader and we wouldn't need to station troops to maintain peace), we won't. The US military is already sending soldiers deemed physically unable to fight into combat zones in Iraq, so who here honestly believes that the Bush regime would have any interest in a humanitarian mission?

+1

We need to find an inefficient way to turn rice into fuel so that we can give rice farmers billions in subsidies to drive up the cost of food for an artificially inflated crop price.

[Sanin]

Originally Posted by Zankou

It takes two to make a military dictatorship: A brutal cadre of military thugs, and a bunch of thugs who require a brutal cadre of military thugs to rule them.

People always forget about the second part. Convince me that the Burmese people are a free, liberty-loving, tolerant, democratic people, and then I'll say we have an interest in freeing them. But in all likelihood, they're just Iraq -- Part II. Do they want freedom? Do they deserve freedom? Where's the evidence of that?

The Junta took power 1960 overthrowing a democratic government. In 1990 the Burmese people voted Aung San Suu Kyi President in a democratic election the Junta foolishly believed they would win in 1990. Of course the Junta didn't give up power and has held Suu Kyi under house arrest for almost the entire time since. SHe is often asked if she wants to leave and always says no. Because once out of the country the Junta will never let her back in. Every day she climbs up on the wall surrounding her house and addresses the gathered crowd numbering in the hundreds. I would be willing to guess she has the most popular support of any leader in the world.

[chardog]

Originally Posted by Zankou

It takes two to make a military dictatorship: A brutal cadre of military thugs, and a bunch of thugs who require a brutal cadre of military thugs to rule them.

People always forget about the second part. Convince me that the Burmese people are a free, liberty-loving, tolerant, democratic people, and then I'll say we have an interest in freeing them. But in all likelihood, they're just Iraq -- Part II. Do they want freedom? Do they deserve freedom? Where's the evidence of that? To me, they seem like Vietnam/Cambodia from 20 years ago. You want to march into that?

If we are to intervene, it should be to rescue a free democratic society from momentary oppression by outsiders, not to attack a sovereign nations with dreams of turning the unfree, fragmented, volatile hellhole into a free society. All that gets you is ingratitude, a huge body count, immense expense, and failure. See Sudan, Somalia, etc.

I'm not saying we need to democratize them, just start dropping food and medical aid.

[Muhannad Barazi]

Originally Posted by citywithout****

If their own government doesn't care if they die, why should we? <puts on flame suit>

Umm, yeah, but somehow we cared enough to liberate Iraq? I don't agree with the thread starter and we enough problems here at home so we should mind our f***ing business.

[Zankou]

The "democratic gov't" only lasted 12 years or so. Burma wasn't ready for democracy, and is chock full of violent ethnic groups at each others' throats. They hate their gov't, no doubt, but once it's thrown out you have the "Saddam" effect about to kick in.

[Saith]

The problem with most governments is that there's so much of them.

[Mekong Delta]

What is it with American chickenhawks lately? Keep on asking do we invade this? Attack that?

I am getting the feeling some Americans are developing an addiction for war. It seems to me that War in Iraq, War on Drugs, War on Terror and War on crime simply can't satisfy their junkie fix anymore.

[Sanin]

Originally Posted by Zankou

The "democratic gov't" only lasted 12 years or so. Burma wasn't ready for democracy, and is chock full of violent ethnic groups at each others' throats. They hate their gov't, no doubt, but once it's thrown out you have the "Saddam" effect about to kick in.

Obviously the only way to know for sure is to let them, but as long as Suu Kyi is head of the government I see no reason why everyone couldn't play nice. The Saddam effect was also exacerbated by us, unlike Iraq we wouldn't need to stay as they already have an educated expatriot community and an idolized leader who has given her life to the promise of a democratic Burma. And obviously its not an exact comparison, but African slaves often came from rival warring tribes, but once under the yoke of American or French slave states they had a common cause to unite behind.