Korean Job Discussion Forums

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

this is the second article i've seen endorsing this idea:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1739053,00.html?xid=site-cnn-partner

i cant believe i say yes to this idea but given the humanitarian disaster going on there and the regime's inability or lack of desire to do something we need to go in there. there is precedent for this in somalia, dafur, and other areas.

yeah the chinese may not like it for a moment but f them

JMO · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Daegu

Would it not be easier to let the Chinese invade? I'm sure they'll leave.

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

mithridates · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 8:47 am Post subject:

Sounds good. Announce unilateral air drops of food supplies, any military aircraft that get in the way will be shot down. Give them 72 hours warning beforehand, and if they start letting in aid groups without limitations you can call off the operation.

But then again I don't know anything about multilateral military action. This is what I'd want to see though, something decisive.

Kuros · Joined: 27 Apr 2004

What country has the will and manpower to do this?

India is actually on decent terms with the Burmese gov't. So anyone who invades risks pissing off India as well.

Britain has some experience in the area, but they're not likely to come back now.

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

Apart from the Burmese and the United Nations, whose problem is this, again? If Somalia is a past example, I vote to keep the United States out of this. "Coercive humanitarianism" is a bad idea.

Let people deal with their own messes, including the United Nations. If they request American aid, and if ground conditions are favorable for a quick and safe intervention, great. If not, not.

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

10 years ago I would have thought invading was the right thing to do. Even a Myanmar friend of mine told me he wished the US would drop an atomic bomb on their capital.
Now, after Iraq, we have to remember that starting a war where one does not exist doesn't work out as envisioned.

No, I changed my mind already. This one would be different. Those people hate their inhuman government beyond all belief. Surely this invasion would truly be kind humanitarian mission.

Except behind the military generals is China. f- em.

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

All right. Suppose the American govt invades Burma, forces humanitarianism onto a xenophobic govt, and in the process, likely seriously undermines or outright overthrows said govt.

What would follow?

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

Non-intervention in ALL cases.

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

Actually, it wouldn't quite be all wine and roses is the current junta were overthrown. The county would divide.
Myanmar is 7 "divisions" which are Burmese majorities; and 7 "states" which have majorities of non-burmese (Shan, Kachin, Karen, Mon, Chin, Kayah, Rhakaine). If the military government were overthrown, certainly 3 or 4 of these states, which have been fighting for independence for years, would seperate. Could be civil war. Sounds too much like another recent invasion scenario.

Still, if the NLD rules; states that want to stay, stay; those that want to go, go. Sure sounds better than the inept, ruthless, China-backed military junta that they have now.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I say leave them alone and let the weak die off. Far less mouths to feed in an era of global warming and overpopulation!

peppermint · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 11:37 am Post subject:

The well intentioned interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan haven't gone very smoothly. Given that there's a lot of oil exploration going on in Burma these days, even if the US did get involved on humanitarian grounds, it would be misinterpreted. A foreign led invasion is not the solution here.

I'd fully support giving the people the tools and let them change the society from within. Start with aerial drops of food and medical supplies directly into hard hit areas, and cut out the Junta's middlemen. Make it easier for Burmese refugees to get citizenship in other countries. I met a few in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand (very near the border) and apparently their situation there is precarious at best.

If anyone's actually interested in donating, I've heard that Avaaz.org is getting money to the monks to provide aid, and World Vision already had a staff in place prior to the cyclone, and taking donations too.

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

VanIslander · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject:

http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=17501