Hey, if they don’t want it…

why beg them to take it?

The WFP’s regional director, Tony Banbury, directly appealed to Myanmar’s military leaders in an interview with Associated Press Television News.

“Please, this food is going to people who need it very much. You and I, we have the same interests,” Banbury said. “Please release it.”

And why trust them to deliver it themselves, when they’ve already shown they won’t.

Myanmar’s military leaders seized aid shipments headed for cyclone survivors and told the top U.S. diplomat there Friday that they’re not ready to let in American aid workers despite warnings the country is on the verge of a medical catastrophe.

Myanmar says it will accept aid from all countries, but prohibits the entry of foreign workers who would deliver and manage the operations. The junta is not ready to change that position….

Hey, it’s their country.

PNG PM to step down after 40 year career

I touch on this because I lived in the country off and on for 21 years.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare celebrates an extraordinary career of 40 years in politics today.

Somare, who is affectionately known as the “Father of the Nation”, was PNG’s first PM at independence in September 1975, but he has also been in opposition several times throughout his career.

It is also unusual because a third world country such as Papua New Guinea rarely sees longevity such as this.

Mr. Somare was the PM when I first arrived in the country in 1978 and set the example for future politicians by peacefully leaving the government when his party was defeated in an election.

5 Cuban soccer players disappear

Perhaps they suspect Raul will be no better than Fidel

From the St. Petersburg Times

Five Cuban soccer players went missing Tuesday night after playing the United States in an Olympic qualifier at Raymond James Stadium, a team official said Wednesday.The missing players had not yet reported to authorities late Wednesday, but speculation circulated that they had defected and were headed to Miami.

Hugo Chavez

The Week Magazine takes a look at the president of Venezuela.

If he’d only been a better baseball player, ….