Peter Symonds
Member of the WSWS International Editorial Board.

For all its claims to be promoting democracy and human rights, the Obama administration’s mooted talks with the Burmese generals aim to counter China’s footing in the country. As part of a broad diplomatic offensive being waged by the Obama administration throughout Asia, Hillary Clinton’s recent visit was not to bring Myanmar in from the cold, but to shake up the battle for global clout right on China’s doorstep.

If fully enforced, the new U.S. sanctions against Iran will potentially destroy the country’s economy. Killing several birds with one stone, the punitive measures will also impact some of Washington’s other rivals and are likely to pinch some of its allies as well. Whereas the Obama Administration calmly portrays economic sanctions as “peaceful” solutions to political problems, they are tantamount to an act of war ... an option which the U.S. has also been actively pursuing.
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