"World leaders agree to delay deadline on warming pact" by Jennifer Loven, Associated Press | November 15, 2009
SINGAPORE - Obama planned another milestone: joining a larger meeting that includes the leader of military-ruled Myanmar. Obama is sure to face criticism at home, particularly from conservatives, for doing so - a significant step up in his administration's new policy of "pragmatic engagement" that is a shift from years of US isolation and sanctions.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a member of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, and Obama is sitting in on their meeting. A US president has never met with a leader of the Burmese junta, one of the world's worst human-rights offenders.
Hey, at least they ain't war criminals like USrael's leaders!
Despite the new engagement, the Obama administration has said that sanctions will not be lifted unless Myanmar's rulers make democratic progress, such as releasing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and democracy icon who has been under house arrest for most of the last two decades.
Another CIA asset?
Also see: Slow Saturday Special: The Globe's Asian Triple Play
He mispronounced her name?
Obama aides as well as outside Asia experts have defended the administration's new gamble on Myanmar, even while admitting it may not succeed.
--more--"And is it just me, or does the man look starstruck?
President Obama wore a traditional tunic at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation dinner yesterday. With him (from left) were Yukio Hatoyama of Japan, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, Lee Hsien loong of Singapore, and Hu Jintao of China (Associated Press).
Yes, he has a nice, telegenic smile, but it troubles me.
He looks like he's just happy as hell to be hobknobbing and rubbing elbows on vacation when we have really serious problems.
And taxpayers are picking up the tab, too!
