US Leadership MIA on Burma
On June 12, 1987, Ronald Reagan went to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and uttered these famous words: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” The phrase cemented Reagan’s reputation as a strong world leader and helped bring an end to the Cold War. It became a defining moment of his presidency. President Reagan used that speech to apply political pressure to the old Soviet Union and its leader, Mikhail Gorbachev.
Mr. Reagan’s speech reminded many of when John F. Kennedy went to Berlin on June 26, 1963. President Kennedy wanted to express American solidarity with the free citizens of Western Europe. His speech included these words: “Ich bin ein Berliner.” In English this means “I am a Berliner.” By making US resolve clear in the face of ongoing communist threats, President Kennedy showed the world that America would not be intimidated by Soviet imperialism. Reagan and Kennedy both understood the power of political persuasion. When the US President speaks clearly and forcefully about world events, people listen.
In contrast, President Bush has been timid and disinterested when it comes to the ongoing genocide in Burma. He speaks incessantly about the “global war on terror”, but says nothing about the terrorist Burmese military junta. We’ve all heard Mr. Bush drone on and on about spreading democracy around the world, but he won’t lift a finger in support of the pro-democracy movement in Burma.
President Reagan and President Kennedy were world leaders. George W. Bush is the leader of the US Republican party. He treats Democrats as the enemy rather than as fellow Americans. He has an opportunity to lead this country in a cause that we can all rally around, but it’s clear that he’s not up to the task. Perhaps someone should tell Bush that the Burmese military supports John Kerry and MoveOn.org. Maybe that will wake him from his slumber.
Burma, Myanmar, Burmese military, democracy, Burmese revolution, global war on terror, President Bush, George W. Bush, President Reagan, President Kennedy, Cold War, Berlin
October 8th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
[...] by the thousands, (or, for the lucky few, simply detained and tortured … for now), while George Bush continues to turn a blind eye). On the other hand, at least he is not calling the kettle black. You have to give the pot credit [...]