What, if anything, should the US do regarding Burma/Myanmar?

[oberliner]

Anyone with any insights into the situation?

[Hydra]

1. I say if we believe in freedom so much

we go invade and remove the military dictatorship. Do they have oil?

[Kelly Rupert]

2. Not much we can do, I believe.

A war would be disastrous, and we already politically support the regime's opponents.

[uppityperson]

3. I don't know if there is much we can do as individuals right now

Watch, read, contact congress critters, etc. Kicking for someone who may have an idea.

[OregonBlue]

4. Freeze all of the bank accounts of these dictators. They have been selling the vast resources of

the country (oil, teak, gems, natural gas, etc.) and putting the money into private bank accounts since they took over. Everyone knows it. It is not a secret. I have visited Burma many times beginning in 1972 and have seen the degeneration since this group of thugs took over. They are literally stealing the country blind and transferring the wealth out of the country.

Even Thailand which is a deeply religious country will not intervene because they have huge natural gas and illegal teak contracts with the Burmese Junta and are afraid to disrupt their supplies.

It is corruption at it's worst and the whole world has known about it all along.

For once, I agree with Bush. Their private bank accounts have to be frozen. The EU and US knows where the money is, that is why the president called for freezing the assets of 14 of the junta rulers yesterday. Unfortunately, China will not go along. By now they probably have vast sums stashed in China.

[PVnRT]

5. Complete embargo, cut off any and all aid

Most likely, any humanitarian aid to the country is misappropriated by their military anyhow, so why bother?

Unfortunately, Burma is too goody-goody with Russia and China (and, to be fair, Chevron and a French oil company) for the U.S. to have any real influence.

[Avalux]

6. I don't know, but it breaks my heart to see what's happening.

I was also wondering something....if this was happening in a country where the monks were Christian clergymen or preachers, how would the world react? How would the US react?

[EFerrari]

7. Wasn't there a story around here somewhere about people

in Tom Delay's circle having investments there? And remember, the 2004 Bush/Cheney campaign stuff, like hats and shirts, were made there.