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At Large
Flickers of Progress
Obama wants all credit for Hillary’s mission to Burma — whose president has his own anti-Beijing reasons for playing nicer.
The first attempt at a breakthrough in Burmese/U.S. relations was reported in classified State Department cables in 2009, according to Wikileaks’ document release. A well-connected “Burmese businessman” was used as an informal and confidential intermediary by the Burmese government to initiate behind-the-scenes discussions to counteract a review in progress in Washington aimed at tightening economic sanctions. Only one month before the businessman’s contact, U.S. Senator James Webb had been impressed during his Burmese trip by the local view that the existing sanctions had effectively “handed over” Burma to Beijing.
The Burmese government now headed by the retired general Thein Sein has edged towards a reconciliation with the West and particularly the United States for the past year. That President Barack Obama saw fit to telephone “the lady,” Aung San Suu Kyi, before deciding to send Hillary Clinton to Rangoon this week may have appeared an unusual courtesy. It was in fact a display of a lack of confidence in his own diplomatic and intelligence services that recommended the trip. Obama’s call to Suu Kyi was once again an attempt — oddly not unlike Richard Nixon and other insecure leaders — to inject himself on a personal basis rather than utilize normal chain-of-command governmental exchanges in foreign affairs.
The image of the knight, Sir Barack, riding to the rescue of the distressed damsel, Suu Kyi, perhaps accompanied a White House desire to avoid presenting Mrs. Clinton with the chance to be credited with the breakthrough on the long blocked Burma/U.S. relations. Of course the fact that the Obama flacks are actively burnishing the president’s foreign policy credentials also cannot be ruled out. In any case, the American president seeking reelection at a time when his Middle East non-policy is prominently displayed finds it very convenient to adjust White House focus to the highly dramatic plight of Burma and the long suffering heroine, Aung San Suu Kyi.
The appointed Burmese president, Thein Sein, who is being credited with the new direction of Burmese politics, is definitely one of the “insiders” in the military-controlled government. He was the prime minister for four years in an earlier administration. For that reason, his statements during the past year that emphasized a reorientation of internal priorities and a willingness to work with others who “hold different ideas and concepts” (his words) has given a new tone to the governance of his country.
The reason for the changed focus is less altruistic than it might appear. Thein Sein wants Burma to take major steps toward regaining international status and, most importantly, to have existing sanctions removed. For the moment his willingness to loosen domestic police constraints appears to have the support of key generals of the junta. It may be that the latter finally have recognized that they face either national stagnation or forced reliance on their big brother — The Peoples’ Republic of China. This latter issue already has become a problem. Burma’s northeastern border with China is booming with Chinese commerce to the point that the renminbi has become the currency of choice.
In addition to being a captured market for Chinese goods and services, Burma with its deposits of natural gas has become a nearby source for China’s energy import requirements and thus a target of attempts at Chinese monopoly. China had initiated work on one of the seven dams planned for the Irrawaddy River, requiring the relocation of thousands of people. The Chinese plan for hydro-power development was presented as virtually non-negotiable. To the surprise of Beijing, the Thein Sein government has halted the investment project for the Myitsone Dam and work on the dam itself has stopped. As could be expected, this action by Burma has caused considerable unease in Sino-Burma relations.
Thein Sein initiated this effort to reduce Burma’s economic ties to China about the same time as feelers were being put out for improvement in relations with Washington. Not only does Burma’s new government want to take steps toward reducing Western sanctions, but it has become fairly obvious that it is moving diplomatically to be named to chair the 2014 meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
To gain the active support of the now no longer incarcerated Aung San Suu Kyi, several hundred political prisoners have been released as part of an announced program of freeing a total of two thousand. Suu Kyi is key to improved U.S. relations, and she has so far held up her end of the bargain with Thein Sein of non-disruptive politics. She has told the BBC that she perceives Thein Sein as committed to change — at least as can be determined presently. This statement preceded the announcement that the United States’ Secretary of State would visit Burma.
The White House views the adjustment in U.S. relations with Burma as part of the “peace-maker” image for Obama during his run for re-election. As is true on the domestic scene, everything in foreign affairs accomplished by the sitting president during 2012 must be patterned in such a way as to redound to Obama’s benefit as a friend of world peace. Somehow that seems a harder sell to Beijing, with the White House deciding to jump into the Burmese political stew at this time.
About the Author
George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.
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Jack in Wi| 12.2.11 @ 6:36AM
Why are we trying to encase China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia, with surogates and allies? This is a sure fire way to get us into a world ending, world war. Who is supposed to finance all this nonsense? China is our banker and now we are sticking our finger in China's eyes. Lets get the hell out of there. Let these people figure it out for themselves. We can't come close to figure out the best path for this country, much less the world.
This essay also makes some great points on Presidential diplomacy. Ever since Wilson decided he was a beter diplomat then the professionals most Presidents think that they have to be personal pals with every thug and criminal who runs some rotten country. A good executive depends on his underlings to do the heavy lifting while he directs the whole policy back home. Obama is just one of many in a long line of incompetent Presidents.
Occam's Tool| 12.2.11 @ 9:47PM
Uh, what happened to friendly discourse and trade with everybody, Jack? I thought you assclown Paulbots were non-interventionalist, not isolationist. Seems to me that Obama is just getting rid of sanctions here, no?
I mean, you don't support sanctions against Iran, what's wrong with getting wrong with sanctions against Burma? Why are we getting involved in this at the behest of China? You couldn't be a pro-Communist in addition to being a pro-jihadist, could you, Jack? Hmmmm, as your moron partner in crime might say?
Occam's Tool| 12.2.11 @ 9:48PM
Sorry---"getting rid," not "getting wrong."
Brian Mc| 12.2.11 @ 7:46AM
Ah...yes, Burma. Is this not the same country that has been warring with itself as long as Afghanistan, or any'Stan' for that matter? The same country that gave us John Rambo lock and loading a .50 caliber? Why must we send Hillary to waddle in the mud far below when we can barely maintain our shining beacon on a hill...where we can find nothing but bitter resentment from socialists battling our attempts to remove the mote from our own eye? This administration's arrogance knows no bounds.
hardcard| 12.2.11 @ 7:59AM
billary in Burma? Next stop Antartica, then Siberia, and then to Fiji. Anywhere but Washington. Is obamasoros firing up the space shuttle?
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 12.2.11 @ 8:35AM
When any country reaches out to us, they simply want money.
oldfart| 12.2.11 @ 10:44AM
Spot On!
Stormy| 12.2.11 @ 9:39AM
Ahem, it's Myanmar.
Quartermaster| 12.2.11 @ 6:10PM
We can call Burma what we want to call Burma. And, its real name is Burma.
Milpundit | 12.3.11 @ 7:12PM
And the Chicom capital is still Peking to me.
RCV| 12.2.11 @ 3:17PM
Once again, we wouldn't want to give credit to the administration for a sensible foreign policy move, would we? Your insistence with trying to find fault in everything the President does, even when it's right, is so obvious and so revealing of your lack of credibility, Mr. Wittman.
The Knife| 12.2.11 @ 5:27PM
I don't know if Whittman hates even good things that the President is associated with. I am doubtful. As usual this is being spouted by a stooge for the President who will make any excuse no matter how foolish. Liberals are always projecting on others their faults.
RCV| 12.2.11 @ 5:43PM
What "excuse" am I making? The President makes a wise move on Burma and sends the Secty of State there to encourage moves toward democracy. Whitman can't bring himself to just say, "smart move"; instead he has to scrounge around for a way to demean it.
Quartermaster| 12.2.11 @ 6:12PM
Once more the Obummer is wanting credit for something that another's policy caused. If this works out it will be, once more, something that someone else laid the foundation for. I can't think of one thing good the Obummer is actually responsible for. YMMV.
Occam's Tool| 12.2.11 @ 9:56PM
I dunno, RCV---I thought the whole purpose of the sanctions was to get the Burmese government to show more amnesty towards political prisoners. Now this is happening, and even the Nobelist Burmese human rights martyr says so, and we DON'T want to loosen sanctions?
Folks, when you do punitive actions, your expectations should be clearly laid out along with rewarding actions that will result from following expectations. When you welsh on this, people lose faith in you as a negotiating partner. May be Obama is doing something right this time, just as Madonna is right to support foreign adoptions. OK?
I mean, he's an asshole, and only Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich have a crazier view of foreign policy in general than he does, but just as Paul voted against the sale of AWACs to Saudi, Obama might be doing something right this time.
One becomes a better critic by not always demonizing one's enemy, even though both Paul and Obama are major league asshats.
Occam's Tool| 12.2.11 @ 9:57PM
Just to make my point clear, RCV--I agree with you on this issue, although not on your overall take on Obama. I'm tired.
RCV| 12.3.11 @ 12:16AM
Me too. But I'm off to Ann Arbor to see my son this weekend so all is well with the world. Best wishes, OR.
gary siebel| 12.2.11 @ 6:08PM
Filtered?
What's your point?
POST American| 12.2.11 @ 10:03PM
Tokenism and 'CON--cern' in a touchy
part of the world.
OF course, NO ONE who's studied history
is unaware of the FACT that, like Soviet
Russia and NAZI Germany, RED China was
entirely set up for the Globalist 'AGE-enda'.
Putting aside the betrayal and partition of
the KOREAN WAR, the BALK and run of
Vietnam, ----NOTICE, throughout, 'just by
coincidence', RED China's perimeter has been
neatly sealed, ALLL this time, from ANY
open geographic contact with the free world.
Seems even the Globalist instigated, US taxpayer
funded 'miracle' of RED China,
even now, demands CON-sealing.
With the IMF (--and HAARP?) takedown
of the no longer USURY-useful Japan,
it seems even that CON seal wants thickening.
---------------HUAC/ Nuremberg 2012----------------
wedding dresses | 12.6.11 @ 3:32AM
OF course, NO ONE who's studied history
is unaware of the FACT that, like Soviet
Russia and NAZI Germany, RED China was
entirely set up for the Globalist 'AGE-enda'.