There is no progress with Burma.

Despite news reports extolling the greatness of Our Leader Lord Obama, and how He is doing everything different in foreign policy…there is no progress with Burma.

And even though the stories relate how SecState Hillary Clinton is meeting with Burmese leaders, and how sanctions and diplomacy can work together, there is no progress with Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi praises the Secretary’s mission, as does the spokesman for Burma’s government in exile, who concur that there is hope for all the countries of the world if the United States wields carrots and sticks even-handedly.

Notice who has not weighed in? You got it! The Burmese dictators in charge. Not a single word from them about how wonderful the Obama adminstration is, or how they view Madame Secretary’s visit as a promising breakthrough in the Burmese political quagmire, or how relations might soon thaw between Burma and the rest of the world.

There has been no progress with Burma. That is all you need to know, and all the news reports should have said.

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.