OPINION: Has The U.S. Lost Its Compass?
Timothy Hinemann
The 75th Anniversary of D-Day reminds us who we once were:
Soon after our first beginnings on battlefields of Lexington and Concord, we would need to be reminded of our high standard. This came from former-President John Quincy Adams in the case of the slave ship Amistad on the matter of human liberty by these words spoken before the highest court in the land: “Who we are, is who we once were.”
It would seem today that we have fallen from the high standard of 6 June 1944 when the entire freedom-seeking world had its strongest allegiance to America and its most cherished ideals.
Strategic Issue: USA, as the acknowledged defender of the free world, has been involved in massive death and devastation of forgotten allies in Burma.
Bottom Line: After many strong stands for liberty for over two centuries, Burma, America’s best hope for a successful democracy today, is going down hard. At issue is how freedom-seeking peoples around the world will judge USA based on what America has both done and allowed to be done in Burma. Details are addressed in the attached summarized report, as well as at this link: http://bit.ly/2WpMnQN
So why bring this up now? Answer: Ten color photos
When a US Government agency a month ago asked for ethnics’ perspectives on the impacts of “Infrastructure Development”, an all-call went out to pro-democracy ethnic sources across Burma. The first feedback showed the grassroots impacts in ten photos (included in the attached report). The images were so horrific as to bring into question what America actually stands for in “democratic Burma”.
How So? Consider these points from oppressed ethnics’ point of view, many of whom were US allies in World War II – Arakan, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Shan who perished too in the cause of Liberty.
* US Government has diplomatically dithered in Burma for decades in the face of some of the worst human rights violations on the planet by a militarized mafia masquerading as government. It remains in power. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-worlds-enduring-dictators-than-shwe-myanmar-burma/
* Specifically, US Congress gave UNOCAL / CHEVRON special exemptions to keep drilling for oil in Burma. Billions in profits then fueled Burma’s dictatorship and its generals in their profit-driven atrocities against ethnic nationalities holding lands rich in natural resources. This was a tacit US green light to Burmese generals that US decision makers favored business profits over human rights’ imperatives.
* Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State in tandem with the Podesta Group (DC lobbyist) promoted the virtues of a “reforming Burma”, in spite of Burmese generals openly attacked ethnic populations. https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/Backchannels/2015/0417/Myanmar-hires-DC-lobbying-group-with-ties-to-Obama-and-Hillary-Clinton
* Then President Obama lifted USS sanctions in 2016 and effectively pardoned Burma’s dictator and top generals after they had amassed human rights violations that put them in Top 10 rankings worldwide for decades.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/02/us/politics/obama-lifts-sanctions-myanmar.html
* US Chamber of Commerce then promoted Burma as “good for business” in the face of Burmese generals using air-ground attacks against ethnic communities, especially America’s old Kachin allies , as well as waging genocide presently in Western Burma. https://www.uschamber.com/press-release/us-chamber-calls-normalization-us-myanmar-relations
Consequence: Ethnics’ general conclusion about America today is that “Facts don’t matter”.
The attached report is for Americans. A one-and-half page summary of dark facts with weblinks to details hidden from most Americans stockholders and consumers who have no idea of the impacts they are making across Burma. The weblink at the paragraph entitled “The Real Costs” provides 10 images representative of thousands more.
More Death. Two more deaths will eventually follow the death of ethnic civilizations of Burma at the hands of unrepentant Burmese generals. This will be accomplished by forced infrastructure development enabling unrestricted economic exploitation by foreign profiteers of which Americans are a part:
* The death of America’s best chance for a successful democracy for the freedom-seeking world
* The death of America’s stature as Leader of the Free World
Two Questions:
* If Burma 2019 is a demonstration of American resolve, then what allegiances should we expect to retain, let alone gain in this century?
* Can we realistically get to where we need to be in the 21st Century if “USA back again in Burma” is an American precedent setter?
Author’s opinions are his and not those of SOF
Tim Heinemann
Worldwide Impact Now (WIN)
www.worldwide-impact-now.org<http://www.worldwide-impact-now.org