It is a surreal experience to leave Rangoon and land 45 minutes later in Bangkok. It is like flying out of 1935 and landing in 2015.
The two cultures have immense similarities, at least outside of the cities. The traditions, food, and values are essentially identical - not surprising since the political boundaries are fairly recent but the area has 4000 years of shared history.
I will be visiting Burma this fall. I wish every American could visit just to appreciate what we have in our own country. The Burmese people are so excited to have contacts with outsiders, to share their culture and language.
Sanctions never work because the dictator will always be able to get his luxury items from corrupt countries like France who sell them stuff "under the table."
If the peasants are starving due to the sanctions, who cares?
Plus, you can use the pictures of starving peasants as a club against the United States - "Look at how the evil USA is killing our poor, poor brown people!"
Sanctions are a win-win situation for a dictator.