US to resume full Burma relations (BBC Banner)

[eppur_se_muova]

US to exchange ambassadors with Burma
13 January 2012 Last updated at 13:11 ET

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced that Washington will start the process of exchanging ambassadors with Burma.

The announcement came hours after the country's most prominent political dissidents were released from jail.

US President Barack Obama described the move as a "substantial step forward".

The move is seen as one of the key demands of Western nations before international sanctions can be eased. The US stopped short of lifting them.

Mr Obama said he had asked officials to take "additional steps to build confidence" with Burma.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16554415

Remarks by Clinton: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/01/180667.htm

[demosincebirth]

1. Another feather in Obama's cap, I'd say. Now let hear from the nay-sayers.

[ellisonz]

2. We shouldn't hesitate to back out if they don't carry through with reforms.

[alp227]

3. NY Times: U.S. Restores Full Ties to Myanmar After Rapid Reforms

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/14/world/asia/united-states-resumes-diplomatic-relations-with-myanmar.html?pagewanted=all

[Odin2005]

6. The actual Burmese prefer their country called Burma.

"Myanmar" was a creation of the military regime.

[psychopomp]

4. Why "Burma?"

Is not the official name of the state still Myanmar?

[eppur_se_muova]

5. That's the name chosen by the coup leaders.

Sticking with "Burma" is a way of denying the legitimacy of the regime. Note that the WH and SOS used Burma in their statements; the policy of the BBC is to acquiesce in such matters. Neither the US or the UK has recognized the official name change.

Interestingly, there's an entire BBC article on that :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16000467

[Poll_Blind]

7. IMO, we've tossed them goodies to stop their nuclear program.

Just like Clinton did with the North Koreans and their nuclear program and just like the Obama (apparently) did with the North Koreans as well- before Kim Jong-il died.

More:
HuffPo:WikiLeaks: Burma Nuclear Sites Being Secretly Built
WaPo:WikiLeaks suggests N. Korean, Burmese nuclear cooperation

You can find a lot more on the topic but those are decent starts. This information came from the leaked diplomatic cables. "Cablegate"

PB