Another Blame America Moment (Courtesy Of Paul Richter and The LA Times)

For days now, the Myanmar government was silent on whether it would even accept aid in the aftermath of the recent deadly cyclone that many believe caused the deaths of over 100,000 people. And when they did accept aid, the military government immediately seized the first shipments. The reason they did this was initially unclear, until this morning's news hit cyberspace.

Myanmar's military regime distributed international aid Saturday but plastered the boxes with the names of top generals in an apparent effort to turn the relief effort for last week's devastating cyclone into a propaganda exercise.

Not surprising in the least, this is a good chance for the otherwise worthless junta's leadership to look like it has some minimal value. But if that doesn't take the cake, this next little tidbit from the LA Times will.

As Myanmar's aid crisis deepens, the Bush administration is facing criticism that its denunciations of the military regime may have contributed to its resistance to allowing foreign aid workers to enter the storm-ravaged country.

After Tropical Cyclone Nargis pounded Myanmar, First Lady Laura Bush and administration officials condemned the government Monday as illegitimate, blasted its human rights record, and charged that it had failed to give its residents adequate warning of the storm's approach.

Germany's Chancellor has been critical and even wanted the UN to force the Myanmar government to accept aid, as did the French Foreign Minister. But ironically, no mention of this in the LAT article.

So, if the Myanmar leaders were displeased with the criticism from the US Government to the point they were willing to reject badly needed aid in a deep crisis, why did they turn their noses up at help from the rest of the world? Why were other nations becoming frustrated with their insolence, not the object of Mr. Richter's extrapolation?

Why do organizations like the LAT (like many other newspapers that are in deep financial trouble) want to paint the US in the worst possible light? I suspect they will soon be missing their days of taking potshots at the Bush Administration, very soon. They have to strike while the iron is still hot because if Obama gets elected in November, the US will once again, do no wrong.