Did Criticism of the Burmese Junta Slow Cyclone Relief?
One day after a White House ceremony honoring Burmese pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, the Bush administration criticized Myanmar s (Burma s) ruling junta for obstructing humanitarian aid in the wake of the country s deadly cyclone. Unfortunately, the administration s harsh words, voiced by first lady Laura Bush, may have hindered the junta s cooperation with foreign relief workers and therefore may have cost lives, according to Independent Institute Senior Fellow Ivan Eland. In his latest op-ed, Eland observes that exiled Burmese political analyst Aung Naign Oo and Burmese historian and former United Nations official Thant Myint-U have denounced the White House s remarks, which they said unnecessarily politicized the cyclone disaster and further alienated Myanmar s leaders. Furthermore, contrary to Mrs. Bush s criticisms, a Burmese government spokesman claims that the Burmese government issued public warnings two days before the storm, Eland reports. Do the administration s cl