May 31 2008
US Accuses Myanmar – What’s That About People in Glass Houses?
The current statement by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates that the way in which the Myanmar officials handled the aid sent by other parts of the world has significantly increased the death toll of the people in the affected areas is somewhat ironic. Whilst on the face of it, there’s absolutely nothing out of place with what Mr Gates is saying. He’s absolutely right. The Myanmar government has acted in an irresponsible manner in an attempt to maintain its modesty. If a country has nothing to hide, then it won’t mind anyone coming in to take a peak. If a country has something to hide however, one can understand it wanting to keep the outside world away. In this instance, keeping everyone away has meant they are now responsible for the deaths of many of their people. So yes, the accusation is in my opinion correct.
However the fact that this particular condemnation has come from a US spokesman is nothing short of ironic. You’ve heard the saying “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones” right? I have two words to say: HURRICANE KATRINA! The Government agencies who ought to have been there took days to reach places within their own country. Aid sent from other countries was held up. People, including children, were dying, starving, injured, attacked and sick and even basic supplies of first aid equipment and drinking water couldn’t be sent in. This in the United States of America, the leader of the Western World. This wasn’t a willful act of neglect such as that which is happening in Myanmar, now was it a case of not wanting the world to see what was really happening – in fact I think the rest of the world had more idea of what was happening in New Orleans than the White House did courtesy of such reporters as CNN’s Anderson Cooper. Mr Gates needs to remember the beauractic red tape responsible for the atrocities and horror faced by the people of New Orleans and other affected areas when he gives such great sound bites as: “The US has the resources and desire to deal with all parts of the world at the same time.” Katrina showed that the resources and desire in the world are inadequate if your own government isn’t capable of making the right response immediately when a crisis occurs.
Whilst the reasons behind the people not receiving help immediately following these natural disasters were different in both countries, the fact is that in both situations, the respective Governments were responsible for the ultimate outcome as regards un-necessary human suffering.
10 Responses to “US Accuses Myanmar – What’s That About People in Glass Houses?”
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I think you may have missed an important point here. After Hurricane Katrina, the United States mustered help from anywhere it could be found. We even let the Mexican Army deploy on American soil when they brought in aid.
The United States was not equipped to evacuate and deal wth flooding in a major city, but accept aid from anyone who offered it. That’s why Secretary Gates is absolutely right in his comments.
The point I was trying to make is that the US made mistakes in handling Katrina, they took too long to get help where it was needed. Even the White House had to fess up to that. Anyone who watched the news knew what was heading towards New Orleans, and as much as you can cross your fingers and hope it goes away, you still get your ducks in a line just in case. They didn’t, and the people of the area paid dearly for it. Just as in Myanmar it’s the ordinary people who are paying for what their Government has done. I don’t think for one instant that what he said about the Myanmar Goverment was wrong.
The Pot calling the Kettle BLACK!
Even post Catrina, all the trailers and what not that were never used for housing. What good is accepting help and aid if it isn’t deployed properly.
The events that occurred pre and post Katrina fall directly on the shoulders of the residents, the Democrat Mayor Ray Nagin, and the former Democrat Governor Kathleen Blanco.
1. There were many that ignored the calls to leave New Orleans, days prior to the hurricane.
In Mynamar, the residents were given no warning and could not leave if they wanted to.
2. Did you not see the photos of hundreds of school buses under water after Katrina. Buses Nagin refused to use because his people should have had the luxury of Greyhound?
3. The federal government could not send in help, i.e. National Guard, without the Governor requesting it.
Mynamar’s dictators refused global relief efforts. When aide was allowed in it was stolen by the dictators - who in turn handed out televisions to individuals that had no electricity.
4. The Governor was non-functional. Do you recall the press conference after Katrina, and Blanco standing there, breaking down into tears, and saying “I can’t do this right now,” as she leaves the podium? There was no leadership.
IMO, Katrina is a perfect example of the consequences of a Democrat lead society. Mynamar is a perfect example of a dictatorship - their way of controlling the population.
To compare the Dictators refusal of aide from around the globe, to the events that occurred after Katrina is apple and oranges.
And let me add- no one was stuck on any bridge. They could have walked out of that city on the same road in which relief was driven in.
Thanks Stormy for the long comment. I appreciate you stopping by - as the Conversative Politics blogger you will have more insight into the technical US info about what happened in New Orleans than I have. I just watched Anderson Cooper day after day trying to help people who for whatever reason decided not to evacuate, and with the rest of the world couldn’t understand why the US of all places couldn’t even air drop water supplies immediately into the area. We are judged by how people see us, and not necessarily how we are.
On the last point you’re absolutely right. Some could have walked out, but they didn’t, they expected US help would get to them as efficiently as it gets to other parts of the world when crisis hits. Apparently New Orleans is harder to reach than parts of Asia. Who knew?
Thanks again for offering such a great debate comment. Appreciate it.
You’re right Writer28. Thanks for your comment. You learn from mistakes and you can comment on them to help others not make the same ones. What you shouldn’t do is condemn in such a way that looks as if you’d never make such a mistake yourself and that’s how I viewed the language of the comments he made as reported on both the CNN and BBC news. That’s what got my pen ink in a twist.
As to why people didn’t leave, I don’t know. That wasn’t the topic of this blog. There were many reasons, some I thought valid, others I’m not so sure on. I didn’t stand in their shoes so I don’t want to judge them as I can’t say for sure what I would have done in the same circumstances, just what I think I would have done which isn’t quite the same. However I doubt any of them would have expected how things were handled in the first 48 hours after Katrina hit.
Violette, thanks for the comment. That’s one of the things that I remember most, 6 months, 12 months after the disaster and people were living in tent villages with communal amenities whilst the powers that be allowed the trailers to sit whilst they figured out how to deal with red tape. Who cares about red tape when children were in that mess. I remember a one-year anniversary where some of the evacuees showed their tent, and it wasn’t that much better than what the people of Myanmar have now, and it was 12 months later. There weren’t enough mobile homes for everyone, but those that they had should have been occupied and not standing vacant awaiting some rule or regulation being approved. Usually the US is on the ball in a disaster, but on that occasion they dropped it and it was on home turf. That’s what sticks out about it. And that’s how this was the story I chose today.
Thanks, and Stormy thanks for reminding of the state politics too. They certainly could have represented America better by taking the lead.