October 03, 2007 (the date of publication in Russian)
Alexander Rudakov
THE ANACONDA STRETCHES OUT TO BURMA
The United States are beleaguering China with a circle of hostile regimes
The "anaconda" strategy, destined to beleaguer the potential adversary with a chain of hostile political regimes, is used by the United States not only against Russia. For instance, Germany, which was recently quite secure on the European political scene, is today surrounded from three sides by an unfriendly environment. In Poland, the Kaczynski brothers are waging a real propagandist war against Germany; in the neighboring Czech Republic, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek greets deployments of US missiles; in Paris, the Chancellor of Germany is strongly urged to follow the guidelines of Washington policies.
The same goals of "divide and impera", implemented in Europe by moderate means of election manipulations and domestic corruption scandals, are pursued in Asia much more brutally. Quite recently, China, as well as Germany, could enjoy most favorable relations with its neighbor countries, initiate joint projects of transport corridors with the equally friendly Thailand and Myanmar, and boost cooperation with Central Asia through partnership with Pakistan.
Today, there is nothing left of this idyll except nostalgia. The military coup in Thailand overthrew the pragmatic and perfectly educated Prime Minister Shinawatra, who was subsequently labeled in the US as a Chinese agent. The Talibs, reviving its activity in Pakistan, terrorize not the US military but – for some reason – Chinese workers and engineers, involved in bilateral projects. Two other neighbor countries, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal, exist in the conditions of a permanent political chaos.
Until summer 2007, the only reliable rear was provided by Myanmar, ruled by a strong military leadership. However, this country underwent a new series of destabilizing operations, culminating in late September when the military forces opened fire against huge crowds of demonstrators.
In case all the major administrative offices were still located in Yangon (Rangoon), the opposition could be today celebrating its victory. However, yet in 2005 Than Shwe, the military leader of Myanmar, ruled to transfer the country’s capital to a small town of Pyinmana, 485 km away from Yangon, renamed into Naypyidaw (Royal Capital). Officially, this intention was explained with a convenient geographical position of the small town, the capital now being easier accessible from remote northern districts. In fact, the new capital is designed rather for the security of the military establishment. The new residence of Myanmar's leadership represents a closed "bunker city", enabling the powers to feel secure from any "street revolutions".
The absence of major monasteries in the new capital's vicinity is also favorable for the military. The current political crisis in Myanmar was initiated by the Buddhist clergy, greatly respected in Burmese society. In Yangon and Mandalay, the spiritual center of the country, dozens of thousands Buddhist monks demanded resignation of the military government.
Until today, the alliance between the military authorities and the Buddhist sangha served as a guarantee of political stability in Myanmar. It enabled the country to overcome the crisis of "one-party socialism" in late 1980s, to protect national integrity, suppressing secessionist riots in northern provinces, and to impede expansion of US interests both in politics and culture. The successful effort for stability, involving a lot of human sacrifice, is now going to be reversed.
Addressing the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly, US President George W. Bush was expected to dwell upon the situation in the Middle East, and particularly, on new measures against Iran. Instead, Bush concentrated on Myanmar. Providing a touching picture of human suffering from a military dictatorship, Bush demanded UN member states to use all the available diplomatic and economic levers to "help the Burmese people to win back its liberty". In order to stimulate the Burmese people even more, Bush urged to introduce economic sanctions against the regime of Yangon and "its financial backers". This practically suggests an economic siege of the country.
Lacking sufficient resources for a large-scale operation against Iran, Mr. Bush selected Myanmar as an object of a "small victorious war". In the nearest months, the military regime will be faced with a new challenge of organized sabotage under the guise of "peaceful disobedience". In case General Than Shwe is ousted, the Asiatic board of the Washington Politburo will be able to compete with colleagues, specialized in building a "sanitary cordon" along the borders of Russia. Meanwhile, China is supposed to give up its plans of transport corridors, connecting its territory with the coastline of the Indian Ocean.
Number of shows: 1338
ENG 
