21 May 2008

Ignore 'em

According to the Bangkok Post, "Burma announced on Wednesday it will not allow US naval ships to deliver emergency aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis - but will allow the World Food Programme to bring ten helicopters into the country to deliver emergency supplies." "The US is already flying supplies into Rangoon from Thailand on cargo aircraft, at a rate of about five flights a day. The US military also has several helicopters on standby on a warship off the Myanmar coast and in neighbouring Thailand. The UN said it had received permission from Burma to deploy nine helicopters to deliver emergency aid."

Rico says we got 'em, we should fly 'em; that's why they put machine guns on helicopters.
But let's remember that we might actually have to fight our way in. Though according to Jane's, the Burmese do have a gun or two, it's not like they're the Chinese military, or anything close:

The Burmese Army, for example, has reportedly taken delivery of around 80 Type 69 main battle tanks, more than 100 Type 63 light amphibious tanks, and 250 or more Type 85 armoured personnel carriers. It has also acquired new field and anti-aircraft artillery (including multiple rocket launchers and shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles), transport and construction vehicles, communications equipment, infantry weapons and ammunition. Most of these arms have come from China, and it is possible that more are still to be delivered.
The Burma Air Force has acquired more than 140 new combat aircraft, including at least three squadrons of F-7 fighter-interceptors, two squadrons of A-5 fighter-ground attack aircraft, one squadron of G-4 counter-insurgency aircraft, about one squadron of dual-seat jet trainers and at least one squadron of Y-8 turbo-prop transport aircraft. It has also taken delivery of about 50 transport and attack helicopters. There are reliable reports that the air force is actively pursuing orders of additional fighter-interceptors, assault helicopters, transports and training aircraft, mainly from China and Russia.
Since 1988 the Burmese Navy has taken delivery of nearly 30 naval vessels. This includes at least 16 Hainan-class coastal patrol boats and four Houxin guided missile fast-attack craft from China, and three PB-90 inshore patrol boats from Yugoslavia. It has also commissioned a number of smaller motor gunboats from local shipyards. More naval vessels are reportedly on order, including two or three Jianghu frigates, a small number of ocean minesweepers, and possibly additional patrol boats, all from China.

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