Quite some time after I noted Russian bomber incursions into US airspace (Guam), the US media have at last decided to start reporting these events.
What was quite amusing was the stating by Fox News that Europe had beeen facing this for several months, with increasing levels of Russia sabre-rattling (which was correct), yet felt it unecessary to mention the events over Guam. Why?
I would have thought that more Americans would have had a greater interest in what was happening in their particular spheres of control, rather than what was happening on the fringes of Europe. I'm sure that there would be even more concern if it were known that their government and media had kept these events quiet.
The fact that it was felt necessary to broadcast pictures of Bears over Atlaska surely shows a mounting concern felt by the White House and Pentagon. Perhaps the US government and military should have been more vocal about Guam, then the stand-off in Alaskan airspace need not have happened. However, it will be interesting to see how the Russians now choose to react.
Wednesday 3 October 2007
Monday 1 October 2007
Burma and a History of Massacres
As the bloodshed continues in Burma, I am minded by a section in 'Pirate King - Coxinga and the Fall of the Ming Dynasty', by Jonathan Clements. In it, he recounts the end of the Ming dynasty as told by "eunuch servant" Yang Deze. This was not in China, but in Burma.
Having spent almost 15 years on the run from the Mongolian Manchus, the last of the Ming had fled westwards, and by June 1659 had reached Sagaing in Burma. When King Bintale was murdered by his brother Pye Min, the Ming were doomed. In the following massacre of the Ming, Duke Mu and several thousand supporters were killed. With a late change of plan, the Emperor, his mother, wife, concubine, son, and Yang Deze were spared. However, these survivors were soon handed over to the Manchus who swiftly executed the Emperor and his young son. The wife committed suicide before she could be prevented.
As a footnote, Yang survived the massacre and wote an eyewitness account of the last days of the Ming Dynasty.
Having spent almost 15 years on the run from the Mongolian Manchus, the last of the Ming had fled westwards, and by June 1659 had reached Sagaing in Burma. When King Bintale was murdered by his brother Pye Min, the Ming were doomed. In the following massacre of the Ming, Duke Mu and several thousand supporters were killed. With a late change of plan, the Emperor, his mother, wife, concubine, son, and Yang Deze were spared. However, these survivors were soon handed over to the Manchus who swiftly executed the Emperor and his young son. The wife committed suicide before she could be prevented.
As a footnote, Yang survived the massacre and wote an eyewitness account of the last days of the Ming Dynasty.
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