Crisis in Burma

<p>Since 1962 the state of Burma (or Myanmar) has fallen victim to defunct military rule that has driven the country into economic crisis aggravated by widespread poverty and disease reliance on the illicit drug trade massive corruption and grave human rights violations. In 1988 the crisis manifested in large-scale internal protests for democratic reform resulting in the killing of over 3000 civilians at the hands of the junta-led military. Since then the democratic opposition party in Burma has struggled to overcome extreme measures of isolation and suppression by the junta to stimulate a transition to democratic governance. As the world's superpower and beacon of light for democratic processes and ideals the US has an important leadership role to play in this political drama. Aside from its moral obligations however US strategic interests are at stake as they are increasingly compromised by the economic and political instability caused by rogue governments. Therefore it is not enough to limit the promotion of freedom that has yielded stability and prosperity within US borders alone. So how should the US respond to the crisis in Burma? For the past two decades US foreign policy has relied heavily on economic pressure to coerce political change. In light of worsening conditions in Burma and significant changes in global power politics since the turn of the millennia a change in strategy is needed. Using the Problem/Solution method of research this paper examines the full spectrum of strategic options and recommends a course of action that respects the current dynamics of the geopolitical environment as well as current US capabilities and limitations. This paper contends that to protect its national security interests the US should implement a strategic blend of all four major instruments of power--economic military information and diplomacy--placing the greatest emphasis on diplomacy in the Southeast Asia region and with China to promote political</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>