You can't always tell a military dictatorship by it's cover.

It's been 12 days since the cyclone ravaged Burma. Presently the Burmese authorities are reporting that 28,458 are dead and 33,416 missing. The West has responded as it always has - by sending aid. But the Burmese government has been quite surprising in the way it has dealt with the aid.

Many are criticizing the local government's refusal to allow all the aid planes to land. The refusal to accept all aid "ad hock" seems an odd response to the tragedy that continues to unfold. I personally believe that there are at least 2 good reasons for the response.

First, one must remember that the world is forever changed as a result of 911. Security is a primary concern for all countries - not just the West. Could you imagine the problems that Al-Qaeda could cause in a country like Burma? Changing a country's system of government from the current Military Dictatorship to a Theocratic Military Dictatorship would be costly and time consuming. The amount of paperwork required to switch munition suppliers alone would amount to weeks of paper shuffling. How would a government find the manpower to subjugate the people, slow aid distribution and file all the necessary paperwork at the same time? Clearly, it would be all but impossible.

The second point is even more obvious. The Burmese government is taking it's environmental responsibilities seriously. More seriously than the West in fact. Sure, we can read "The 100 Mile Diet". But no sooner have we finished the last page than we start shipping food half way across the globe. You have to stand in awe of the Burmese government's "stick to it" mentality. No wonder the same government has been in power since 1962!

Doubtless, there will be those readers who will throw caution to the wind and, subconsciously hoping for beach front property everywhere, will insist on "helping" with the aid effort. For you, I include these addresses to a few NGOs. But I wash my hands of any responsibility.

http://www.wvi.org

http://www.redcross.org/

http://www.oxfam.org/