Outrage - the Sichuan earthquake & Bush
Wed May 14, 2008 at 07:34:39 AM PDT
The Washington Post is rightfully attacking China's refusal to allow international experts into Sichuan to help in relief experts, arguing correctly that such refusal not only endangers its own citizens, but provides ideological shelter for the Burmese Junta's similar approach to Monsoon relief:
Yet China is contributing to the mounting man-made disaster in Burma even as it rescues its own citizens. The communist government has adopted the position that it will welcome international aid for earthquake victims, but not foreign aid workers -- the same xenophobic stance that Burma's military junta has taken...
More below the fold...
Yes, please, take China to task for refusing entry of experts to critical regions in a crisis where minutes and hours can make the difference between life and death for thousands. But, as long as we're pointing fingers, let's remember who set the stage for this kind of "xenophobia":
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco said today she is "disappointed and frustrated" by the refusal of the federal government to accept millions of dollars in aid and other assistance offered by U.S. allies in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The Bush administration turned down multiple offers of aid and support from U.S. allies, according to more than 10,000 pages of cables, telegraphs and emails from U.S. diplomats obtained by a nonprofit watchdog group under the Freedom of Information Act.
Again, from the Post:
While indirectly bolstering the junta's resistance to foreign assistance, China is also shielding Burma from pressure to open up. It has led the opposition at the U.N. Security Council to proposals that humanitarian aid be authorized for Burma without the regime's consent, under the U.N. doctrine known as "responsibility to protect." Beijing also resists a milder proposal for a U.N. resolution ordering Burma to accept relief and allow rescue efforts...
Almost certainly it will not do so unless compelled. The U.S. and European forces have the option to act unilaterally -- and they should not rule it out, though such an operation would be fraught with obstacles and risks. The Bush administration and its allies must meanwhile insist that the Security Council formally debate a resolution mandating that Burma immediately accept a U.N.-coordinated relief and rescue operation. China must understand that its refusal to cooperate with such an effort will make it complicit in the loss of Burmese lives and in the crime against humanity that Burma's generals are committing-- and that the offense will not be forgotten before the opening of the Beijing Olympics.
I'm not exculpating the Junta or PRC here, I'm just pointing out a fact. In its approach to the Katrina disaster, Bush administration has once again set a dangerous standard that third-world dictators can cling to.
And no mention of the hypocrisy in the US media. No call backs to the Bush administration's refusal to accept international aid while chaos and death visited New Orleans. Instead, we take at face value the US efforts in the security counsel to compel Burma to accept international aid. Can you imagine the reaction of the Bush administration if the US had been compelled to accept the (much-needed) help of the international community in 2005?
Un-fucking-believable.
Again, I'm not saying that we shouldn't have accepted aid, I'm saying that only petty tyrants find that saving face is more important than saving lives.
I will give the dictators in Burma and Beijing credit for this. None of them were stupid enough to be shown eating cake while their people were dying:
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