The stomach-turning Reuters report on Myanmar/Burma tells us that China opposes UN involvement because the massacre of the monks is an internal affair. How can we respond to that? Beijing Olympics anyone?
The Russians, no surprise, are right there with the Chinese. It seems as if the Russians had their democratic moment. In a homage to Warhol, it lasted about fifteen minutes.








So using neocon logic that lack of democracy leads to terrorism does that mean Russia should be invaded lest its democracy deprived people become frustrated and turn to international terrorism?
Burma has oil.
China supports the military junta to keep the oil flowing to China.
Russia’s major source of income is the oil it sells. Keeping things unsettled in Burma makes the markets nervous and keeps the price of oil higher thsn it would otherwise be.
Neither government has ever been democratic in more than appearance, and would treat their own populations the same as the monks, if the people challenged their authority. Tianamen Square ring any bells?
Where are all the protestors in the streets of the West? I’m guessing that since it’s obvious that the junta will ignore them, it’s not worth their time. Besides, it’s not the U.S. doing the oppressing.
It’s also in China’s interests to make sure that the international community doesn’t meddle in internal affairs of countries, no matter how grave the situation, because China refuses to allow its own actions to be questioned.
It can’t afford to set a precedent in Burma.