Burma and Aid

I have written previously on this blog about the United States' glowing record of humanitarian assistance in disasters, regardless of the country in which the disaster occurs. However, according to the USA Today, Burma (currently known as Myanmar) is refusing US military assistance. Their excuse? According to USA Today,

Burma's state-controlled media said that U.S. helicopters or naval ships were not welcome to join the relief effort.

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said accepting military assistance "comes with strings attached" that are "not acceptable to the people of Myanmar."

The report cited fears of an American invasion aimed at grabbing the country's oil reserves.

An American invasion? Really? Somehow I doubt that the UNited States has any interest in Burma, other than the natural humanitarian interest in seeing Burma's people released from the tyranny of the junta's heavy-handed and disastrous policies. Captain Ed Morrissey chimes in with a brilliant demolition of the junta's claims, writing today at Hot Air,

The junta fears a collapse of its credibility more than anything else. If they are seen as so weak that the US has to step in and rescue the Burmese from the incompetence of the military dictatorship, then they risk a popular uprising when the country recovers. The junta already put down one round of demonstrations in the streets a few months ago, and now the people of Burma have even more motivation to put the dictators up against the wall.

I agree. Burma is certainly not a high priority on the United States' list of THings To Do, and I seriously doubt whether any US President would commit resources to overthrow the government in Burma. If any President did so, it would be due to a credible threat from Burma- a threat I simply do not see. But refusing to allow US military assistance into the country is simply ridiculous- especially on the heels of the US Navy's assistance in Bangladesh in 2007.

If Burma wishes to let their people die rather than allow the United States military to help, then I agree with Captain Ed's analysis- they may end up convincing their people that a change in government is better than allowing the incompetent and xenophobic 'leadership' currently in power to let the people die.