Uncle Sam doing the right thing in Myanmar

Well, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Uncle Sam has started intervening in the political affairs of Myanmar, as suggested by Sophie's World earlier.

According to Singapore's The Straits Times today, the United States has stepped up pressure on Myanmar's military regime, with President George W. Bush imposing new sanctions and signalling that more could follow.

Mr Bush on Friday issued orders intended to secure the release of political prisoners in Myanmar and force the junta to open negotiations with the opposition. He ordered the Treasury Department to freeze the US assets of 11 senior junta members.

President Bush also issued an executive order expanding the sanctions to those who assist the blacklisted officials, starting with 12 individuals and entities. Three companies either based or linked to Singapore - Pavo Trading, Air Bagan Holdings and Htoo Wood Products - were among those blacklisted, reported Agence France-Presse.

The newspaper quoted an academic as saying that the targeted sanction works better than sweeping restrictions and brought North Korea to the negotiating table.

The US has definitely done the right thing to force the dumb generals to the negotiating table. But it's sad that the bully is now seen to be doing the right thing, while other parties such as Asean and the United Nations have been crippled by relative inertia.

It's sad that China, which is a backer of Myanmar, has failed to secure the moral victory by forcing Myanmar's military government to do the right thing instead of killing its own people.

Instead, President Bush the war criminal, who ordered the unprovoked invasion of Iraq that resulted in the death of 650,000 Iraqis, is now seen as the hero.

*sigh*