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May 06, 2008
Yesterday It Was 4,000
...today it's more than 22,000 dead
YANGON, Myanmar (CNN) -- A Myanmar government radio station said Tuesday that more than 22,000 people are dead and the U.N. estimates up to a million could be homeless after the catastrophic cyclone that battered the country.A news broadcast on the state-run station said Tuesday that 22,464 people had been confirmed dead from Cyclone Nargis. The broadcast added that thousands more were missing.
How awful. And how awful that the military dictatorship there evidently was rather slow in getting storm warnings out to people.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at May 6, 2008 08:18 AM
Comments
Not only slow in giving storm warnings, slow in accepting aid.
The last thing I want to do is pour cash into the unaccountable hands of that junta.
Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at May 6, 2008 02:50 PM
Population control the old fashioned way.
Posted by: Ebola at May 6, 2008 05:54 PM
Sad but true. And mostly avoidable. That government is disgusting.
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at May 6, 2008 07:28 PM
The ruling classes since the dawn of civilization have always had the same standard of living. Presidents Bush and Clinton live just as well as the Great King of Persia in 500BC. They all have others to do their every bidding and eat the best of food. As did Henry VIII, Adolf Hitler, the Pharoahs, and the ruling class of Myanmar.
The only difference between the Great King and an American president is that in our country even the common people live well.
The dictator of Myanmar doesn't care if others eat well. He'll still do fine. He won't go hungry. He will always have his air conditioning. He will be comfortable -- or else.
The Great Leader of North Korea can starve all his people and himself feast every night. Their deaths are significant only in that they allow him to be more powerful over the remainder that live. He has little incentive to help them, and every incentive to make them suffer.
I don't know a lot about Myanmar, but it would appear that they are in the same situation.
Posted by: Skyler at May 6, 2008 11:46 PM