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President Bush on Tuesday said the U.S. would like to do more to help Burma, which has been hit by a devastating cyclone that killed thousands. However, Bush noted that additional aid depends on whether the Burmese military junta would allow the U.S. to do more. “The United States has made an initial aid contribution, but we want to do a lot more,” Bush said. “We’re prepared to move U.S. Navy assets to help find those who’ve lost their lives, to help find the missing, to help stabilize the situation. But in order to do so, the military junta must allow our disaster assessment teams into the country.” Bush made the remarks during a White House signing ceremony of a measure that awarded Burmese pro-Democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi the Congressional Gold Medal. “So our message is to the military rulers: Let the United States come to help you, help the people. Our hearts go out to the people of Burma,” Bush said. “We want to help them deal with this terrible disaster. At the same time, of course, we want them to live in a free society.” Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, said he supports the administration’s plan and also urged the junta “to allow our team access so that we can move quickly and expeditiously in coordination with others in the international community to get help to those who most need it. “Although the regime in Burma is one whose repressive rule deserves our condemnation, I also strongly believe that humanitarian assistance should not be used as a political tool against those in need,” Obama added. |
