Friday, June 13, 2014

Myanmar, A Success for U.S. Foreign Policy?

In September and October of 2012 I wrote about Myanmar.  I questioned then the real freedom and liberty being touted by the Obama administration (particularly by secretary of state Hillary Clinton) as driven by U.S. engagement with the authoritarian regime of Myanmar.  I was hopeful of change in March of 2011 when discussions about open elections began, and hopeful of real change in Myanmar when somewhat open elections did take place in 2011.  But my hope was gone by fall of 2012.

Now comes Hillary's new memoir and Obama's speech at West Point.  In both of Obama's speech and Hillary's memoir the opening up of Myanmar is touted as a success story.  For my two cents, a fair assessment needs to be made before touting success.

Positives:
--restoration of diplomatic connections with the government of Myanmar

Negatives:
--no real movement toward individual liberties and freedoms
--continued sectarian violence toward Muslims, ethnic Kachin and Karin populations
--continued government strict control of information flows to public
--continued purchase of weapons from China
--continued human rights abuses by police and military

Ok, so what is the success again?  Sorry, If Myanmar is the success story of the Obama era foreign policy in Asia, then what is the failure?


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