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Adenoid_Hynkel

(14,093 posts)
Mon Nov 19, 2012, 11:51 AM Nov 2012

Obama to people of Myanmar: America 'is with you'

Source: AP, via Yahoo


YANGON, Myanmar — In a historic breakthrough, President Barack Obama on Monday stepped onto the soil of long-shunned Myanmar and into the flag-waving embrace of its once repressed people. "You gave us hope," he declared, the first U.S. president to visit what not long ago had been an international outcast.

Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets to welcome Obama to a place still learning its basic freedoms.

Speaking to a national audience from the University of Yangon, Obama offered a "hand of friendship" and a lasting U.S. commitment, yet a warning as well. He said the new civilian government must nurture democracy or watch it, and U.S. support, disappear.

The visit to Myanmar was the centerpiece of a four-day trip to Southeast Asia that began in Bangkok and will end Tuesday in Cambodia, where Obama will attend an East Asia Summit.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-people-myanmar-america-083759312--politics.html?bcmt=1353320075270-2d5d6e86-4bc0-43dc-b93d-a86925d8352c_00027s000000000000000000000000-3c432b86-d83c-4685-8705-79023a134187&bcmt_s=u#ugccmt-container-b



Now there's a photo to make you proud of your president!
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dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
1. btw - don't into the trap of believing everything is hunky dory out there
Mon Nov 19, 2012, 12:22 PM
Nov 2012

following the token release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

On UK TV news this afternoon an opposition member in the UK was interviewed. Its far from fine - at least half the country is still subject to rapes by the military and farmers being shot.

ancianita

(36,161 posts)
3. Hope he can work out some useful trade agreements that dislocate them from the India/China hegemony.
Mon Nov 19, 2012, 12:42 PM
Nov 2012

The US could use another good Asian trade partner that we haven't fucked over in the past.

starroute

(12,977 posts)
8. Which may be to our advantage
Mon Nov 19, 2012, 05:10 PM
Nov 2012

Small countries would often rather ally with a distant power in preference to the one that's breathing down their neck.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
9. I'm not sure that China breathes down their neck
Mon Nov 19, 2012, 05:30 PM
Nov 2012

but it comes back to investment and China's got the dough.

They are also looking at forming links with Japan who needs their cheap labour.

pampango

(24,692 posts)
7. Indeed a good idea. That's the same reason that Mexico wanted a trade agreement with the EU
Mon Nov 19, 2012, 01:18 PM
Nov 2012

so that their economy is more diversified in terms of its markets.

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)
6. Damn, with a president like this how are we going to start any wars!
Mon Nov 19, 2012, 01:15 PM
Nov 2012

Look guy, the economy depends on getting that ammo pumping. Get with the program!

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