there is another issue on which America's moral leadership is desperately needed, and here, it must be acknowledged, President Bush was on the side of the angels: the struggle for human rights and justice in Burma. Full Story »
Posted by Derek Hawkins
This is a thoughtful and persuasive piece from an esteemed authority on human rights. It urges the Obama administration to address the crisis in Burma immediately through specific actions, rather than spending precious time formulating a position and putting together a comprehensive plan. The writing is excellent and compelling, places the situation in context, and conveys a sense of urgency. Tutu thinks immediate action is more important than formulating a careful plan which might delay action. He is a bit vague about what immediate actions are possible, but if his piece is intended to garner attention for this particular human rights problem in the midst of all the major problems Obama faces, one cannot help but acknowledge the quality of his effort.
I appreciate Tutu's insights as to how various actions on our part might be interpreted by Burmese officials. Where I find fault is that Tutu says we should "support carefully monitored humanitarian aid" while he urges immediate action. Carefully monitoring efforts of this sort requires thought, planning and accountability; and it takes TIME.