Two Items : US trains Irakian anti-

[maungt@xxxxxxxxxx]

Reply-To: "Maung Maung Than" <@one.net.au>
Subject: Re: Two Items : US trains Irakian anti-govt military leaders/ Sakharov peace prize

Dear DS,

Similar news appeared on Sydney Morning Herald ( See the article below) . I
think US Congress will not make any substantial  support toward Burmese
opposition apart from occassional statements because they think it is not
worth risking interests for Burma.  Saddam is such a thorny pain for White
house attracting 97 millions package . If US can train armed opposition
groups from a certain country they should not condemn Vigorous Burmese
Students Warriors as 'Terrorists' . No matter the trainning is in class or
on the ground a militant with an advance strategist knowledge could do any
sort of action once they are under pressure. Believing in struggle , trying
to bypass the cold-war effect I would not mind to take the course if
provided .

mmt


Non-Lethal AID
Military WILL TRAIN THE REBELS WHO WANT TO OUST SADDAM
BY STEVEN LEE MYERS IN WASHINGTON
The United State has authorised the first direct military training for
opponents of Iraq's President Saddam Hussein, senior US official  say .
 Starting next week , four iraqi rebel leaders, including two former
officers in Iraq armed forces , will attend a 10 day training course at air
forces special trainings headquarters , near Pensacola, florida where US
offical will schools them in how to organise a military in an emerging state
 . The US has also approved its first contribution of surplus aimed at
forstering Mr Saddam's overthrow offering the main Iraqi opposition groups
$US 2 million ( $3.1 million) worth of office supplies .
  While the initial help is modest - and the offial emphasised , '
non-lethal ' - its reflect the sharp shift in policy towards overt support
of what amounts to an insurgency agaisnt Mr Saddam' government.
 In that sence, it recalls US supports in the 80's for the Contra rebels in
Nicaragua and for the mujahideen  guerillas who resisted Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan.
  The training and equipment, which includes computers and fax machines,
represent the first portion of $US 97 miilions in aid authorised by the
Congress last year .
 A military official who has work closely with Iraqi opposition said:' The
notion here is to help people associated with opposition to think about the
plan for the country after Saddam Hussein .'
 Ever since four days of US and British air strikes agaisnt Iraq in
Decenmember, the US has openly stepped up contacts with Iraqi opposition
leaders.
 So far , those efforts appears to have little impact on dissent inside
Iraq, and offcials at the Pentagon , in particular , remain deeply sceptical
of the viability of Mr ' Saddam's opponents. But the admininstration has
been under increaing pressure from Republicans and even some Democrats to do
more to support the opposition .
 Mr Benjamin Gilman, the Republican Chair man  of the house Internation
Ralations Committee, called for more significance , saying :' I can't
imagine that Saddam Hussein would be worried about being overthrown by Iraqi
exiles trained in civilians affairs brandishing fax machines.'
Iraqi oppition leaders strongly welcome the support.
The New York Times , Friday October 29, 1999.

-----Original Message-----
To: burmanet2-l@xxxxxxxx <burmanet2-l@xxxxxxxx>; burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx
<burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tuesday, November 02, 1999 1:01 AM
Subject: Two Items : US trains Irakian anti-govt military leaders/ Sakharov
peace prize


>Afp, 30 october: The US government will provide military training to
>four irakian opposition leaders in their efforts to overthrow Saddam
>Hussein, announced the Pentagon. This initiative is meant "to help
>encourage the democratic forces for an evolution towards democracy in
>Irak", said a government spokesman, who added, the training was
>"classroom training, and not on the ground".
>
>What, are they training on airplanes? Why isnt the US government doing
>the same for burmese rebel exile leaders and fighters now in the field?
>
>Item two, Sakharov Prize.
>
>As many of youknow, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a former laureate of this
>world honor. This year, Nicole Fontaine, president of the European
>Parlement, announced the prize would go to XANANA GUSTAMO, leader of the
>independent East Timor movement, in a vote of 530 out of 626 votes.
>Award ceremony Dece 15, prize worth 15 000 euros, about 15 000 USD
>
>felicitations
>
>