The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2013

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2013 13 In a telling sign of the dramatic improvement in relations, during remarks following their meeting Pres. Obama repeatedly referred to the trou-bled Asian nation as Myanmar, its name since 1989, instead of Burma, State’s official designation (which, notwithstan ding recent developments, sta nds). Washington has already lifted a 1996 ban on U.S. visas for most Burmese officials, including President Thein Sein. Pres. Obama used the visit to signal the potential restoration of USAID projects designed to improve agricultural pro- ductivity, and the two countries signed a trade and investment framework agree- ment the next day. There has been mixed reaction to these fast-paced developments. Jim Della-Giacoma, of the Global Obser- vatory , praised the removal of most sanctions on Burma: “The U.S. will have to stand by Myanmar as it takes steps forward—and back—for years to come.” In a Washington Post op-ed, former Rep- resentative Lee Hamilton and David Wil- liams hail the TIFA but call for making further trade deals contingent on major constitutional and political reform. In the Huffington Post, contribu- tor Nehginpao Kipgen advocates an approach that maximizes Washington’s economic, political and strategic inter- ests in the region. As Naypyidaw pursues reform, he says, the United States can step up investment and political ties and exert geopolitical pressure on China. Still, some worry that the U.S. is mov- ing too fast to fully normalize relations, citing brutal attacks in recent months by Buddhists against Muslimminorities and signs that Myanmar’s military is not yet on board with democratization. Joshua Kurlantzick, writing for Foreign Policy , urges the international community to “slow the torrent of aid and investment until ethnic tensions have calmed.” The displacement and disenfran- chisement of the country’s minority populations, and a poorly trained and equipped police force, he points out, are not problems that can be solved by diplomacy and international investment. In fact, they are likely to worsen unless Washington and its allies press for mean- ingful reform. While the Obama administration’s outreach to Myanmar has already proven beneficial to both nations, there is still a long way to go before it becomes a dependable U.S. ally. —Jesse Smith, Editorial Intern Global Press Freedom at 10-Year Low S eparate reports fro m Freedom House and the Committee to Protect Jour- nalists paint a grim portrait of the threa ts journalists face all over the world. The criteria the two organizations considered when evaluating the state of press freedom include restrictive laws, censorship, imprisonment, impunity and murders. Surprisingly, while many of the worst culprits have been plagued by politi-cal violence or are known to regularly impose press suppression, others are largely conflict-free and at least nomi- nally democratic. In Brazil, Russia and India, for instance, incidents in which journalists are murdered with impunity are markedly higher in comparison to other developing and developed nations. News organizations have also noted that as press coverage increases and becomes more accessible with advances in communications technology, many governments are improving their methods of censorship to counter these developments. Several Asian govern- ments methodically monitor blog activity and social media; some South American states block electoral coverage; and Euro- SITE OF THE MONTH: Long War Journal S peaking at the National Defense University on May 23, President Barack Obama suggested that the United States has returned to the state of affairs that existed before al-Qaida toppled the World Trade Center, when ter- rorism was a persistent but not existential danger. “Our systematic effort to dismantle terrorist organizations must continue,” Pres. Obama declared. “But this war, like all wars, must end. That’s what his- tory advises. It’s what our democracy demands.” For a more pessimistic view, check ou t Long War Journal, a website that describes its mission as “providing original and accurate reporting and analysis of the Long War (also known as the Global War on Terror).” The site’s content draws on contributions from embedded reporters, staff writers, guest commentators and news reports, incorporating maps, podcasts and other multimedia formats. A project of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a nonpartisan institution founded by a group of former U.S. officials and supporters shortly after 9/11, the Long War Journal publishes five sections daily: Featured Articles, Threat Matrix, Today In, News Links and News Videos. —Steven Alan Honley, Editor