First Lady Calls for U.N. Resolution Over Ongoing Strife in Burma

Washington Post ^ | September 6, 2007 | Michael Abramowitz

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During her recent vacation at the family ranch near Crawford, Tex., first lady Laura Bush was reading news articles about the ongoing strife in Burma, where the military government has been arresting dissidents and protesters in large numbers in recent weeks. When she returned to Washington last week, she did something unusual: She called the U.N. secretary-general to register her dismay and urged him to condemn "the brutal crackdown."

Yesterday, the first lady invited a small group of reporters to her office in the East Wing to explain her passion for the cause of Burmese freedom and called for a U.N. resolution expressing the world's concern over the deteriorating situation in one of the world's most isolated and repressive governments.

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The un....pfft.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Who elected her to anything?

[JerseyDvl]

Isn’t it Myanmar now??

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I guess she means Myanmar!

[Nathan Zachary]

We did. She’s the first Lady. Get a clue.

[Notary Sojac]

Big deal. When she calls the UN about the latest beheading in Saudi Arabia, THAT will be newsworthy.

[JimSEA]

Let’s see, 80% of the people here voted against the current government. The Generals threw the leader of the Democracy movement in jail where she essentially remains. The current government is strongly supported by the Chinese Communists. The American media is largely silent, preferring to concentrate on the crimes the Israelis and American soldiers commit.

[DoughtyOne]

A resolution... leftists sure are a strange lot. The UN issued resolution after resolution to Iraq. Did it help? Did it end the problem?

All this concern over Burma is laughable. These are the same types of things that were happening in Iraq. We went in to stop it and Hillary has had heart palpitations ever since.

What is it with Liberals? They see bad things all over the planet. They demand action. And yet when we do take action, they piss and moan constantly. “Okay, you went in, but when are you going to pull out? Well? Well?”

Remember Somalia? People were starving. The Liberals wrung their hands and moaned over the terrible situation. Then we tried to deliver food and make sure the whole populace had access to it. Not 24 hours later the Leftists in the US were demanding an early exit.

I don’t think there has been a more skitzoid group of people since the dawn of mankind, than today’s Leftists.

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As the First Lady she can stir things up. Look what se said about Russia.

"I don't know about Russia," she added. "You know, they seem that whatever we're for, they're against."

If she knows it, Bush knows it. Maybe he's eying Russia differently than he lets on.

[Xenalyte]

I didn’t elect Mrs. Bush to anything. As far as I know, she has never run for office.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

As First Lady she should pick out china, wear pretty dresses and throw nice dinner parties.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

"I don't know about Russia," she added. "You know, they seem that whatever we're for, they're against." If she knows it, Bush knows it. Maybe he's eying Russia differently than he lets

Maybe she just doesn't have her husband's ability to see inside people's hearts.

[Nathan Zachary]

Why would that be newsworthy?

At least Burma is something that can be dealt with, and like it or not, the first step is getting the UN off it’s butt and begin the process, slow and stupid as it is.

The USA cannot act unilaterally on it’s own with a resolution.
That’s how it works, like it or not.

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Just a misspeak probably.

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That’s my guess.

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Big deal. When she calls the UN about the latest beheading in Saudi Arabia, THAT will be newsworthy.

You're forgetting, the saudis are our friends.

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Excellent post.

[Nathan Zachary]

"The UN issued resolution after resolution to Iraq. Did it help? Did it end the problem?>/i>

Yes it did. Without those resolutions, Bush wouldn't have been able to act. That's exactly what stupid leftist accuse Bush of doing, acting without a resolution from the UN, but they, like some here, are clueless, because there was a resolution authorizing action from the UN re: res 1551.

All action begins with starting the process in the UN, like it or not. What Mrs. Bush is doing is jump starting that process.

Learn how the stupid system works.

[Nathan Zachary]

Mrs. Bush is part of the package, whether YOU like it or not. As first Lady, she has a lot of influence, whether YOU like it or not.
I don’t know why you’re tripping all over her for, she’sa decent first lady, or would you prefer Bill Clinton?

[Gurn]

I spent two weeks in Burma last year on a church trip. It's a hideously backward country. It's been ruled by a military junta since about 1964.

The people there are beautiful, and simple. Because of U.S. and international banking sanctions, you can't use credit cards there. It's such a contrast to Thailand, which is right next door, and a thriving, westernized country.

I don't know what's happened there in the last nine months, but I certainly didn't see any "dissidents and protestors." It's a sad and wonderful place, and I don't see things changing anytime soon, U.N. resolutions or not.