Coalition of Mercy Sponsored by ASEAN
May 22nd, 2008
_ LIONEL ROSENBLATT
Under Asean’s aegis there may be viable emergency responses acceptable to Burma, which can deliver large-scale, life-saving aid with the speed required.
Time is the enemy and speed is the antidote. But direct delivery flights by US Navy and Air Force choppers and fixed-wing aircraft will probably not be welcomed by the Burmese junta.
However, if such aid goes into Burma under the aegis of Asean’s Coalition of Mercy which would take responsibility for obtaining Burmese assent to the relief operation, it could be acceptable.
To enhance a quick green light from the ruling generals, they could be assured that the Americans would play virtually no role on the ground. Asean troops and civilian experts would handle the distribution and assistance roles on the ground. So, for example, a US C-130 would come in under the Asean umbrella with Asean emergency response teams. The same arrangements could also be made for the big cargo helicopters. The US choppers could deliver military engineer units from Asean countries to clear or build roads, repair or build new fixed-wing landing sites.
Plainly put, the US would provide the airborne trucks and drivers with Asean military and civilian personnel playing virtually all the ground roles.
If Burmese soldiers wish to participate or observe, that should be welcomed but with the understanding that Asean makes the rules.
Another key mission will be for the aircraft to spot the isolated pockets of people cut off from the rest who are beginning to die already.
This would provide the means for Asean troops to assist them in place or rescue them. Often, the most isolated and hence most vulnerable populations are left for last and mostly perish when they could have been saved in the earlier days of the emergency.
What a great real-life disaster response exercise this would be: Asean’s Coalition of Mercy supported by US and other Western militaries would save perhaps 100,000 lives and Asean could proudly say that their coalition is the cutting edge for a new kind of multilateral disaster response, and the US image will be burnished worldwide.
[Lionel Rosenblatt has over 30 years' experience with humanitarian emergencies, and is President Emeritus of Refugees International.]
THIS IS AN EXTRACT FROM A BANGKOK POST ARTICLE; READ FULL ARTICLE ON http://bangkokpost.net/News/21May2008_news24.php
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Mr. Rosenblatt presents an innovative idea. While I doubt the Junta, so long threatened by a US invasion in a steady drumbeat from Congress and various expatriate Burmese organizations, will accept the aircraft with US markings—the notion of ASEAN soldiers handling the material and cooperating with tatmadaw at landing sites–is appealing. The USS Essex-led task force has major lethal capacity, that it might be defused in this situation seems doubtful from the junta’s vantage. But…it is worth negotiating. Good luck.