Tao’s 2 Cents

As you may well be aware, the military regime of Burma(officially called “Union of Myanmar”) is in the process of crushing a popular democratic uprising led by the country’s Buddhist monks which was initially sparked by an increase in fuel prices and subsequent attack on monks protesting the drastic price increase. The military regime is Orwellianly known as the “State Peace and Development Council”.

In 1960, U(Mr.) Nu, was democratically elected for his third, non-consecutive term, as Prime Minister in a landslide victory. Two years later the head of the military, General Ne Win, led a coup d’etat and seized power. U Nu had been elected several times previously in the few elections the country had held since 1948, when Britain released them from colonial rule. U Nu had given up power before and was continually re-elected as a popular leader. His popularity stemmed from being head of the AFPFL which led the movement for independence from England…

It seems that George Bush will appear to give in to overwhelming public opinion and withdraw troops from Iraq. Of course, he won’t withdraw any more than he put in for his so called “surge”. It’s quite a trick. Send more troops in so you can bring them home and appear generous? sympathetic? human? I don’t know any more.

It would have been near impossible for him to give in and bring troops home if we weren’t “winning” in Iraq. Thats why General Patraeus had to at least have some smidgen of good news…