Seven years into her husband’s presidency, First Lady Laura Bush quickly took the opportunity presented by the catastrophic cyclone that hit Myanmar on Saturday to urge the military junta there to accept international aid.

No doubt they can use it. On Sunday, reports feared 350 people were dead. Today, three days after the storm, reports say over 22,500 dead and over 41,000 still missing. These figures are expected to grow.

Laura Bush has been the administration’s voice on human rights in Myanmar since leading a UN roundtable on the country in September of 2006.

If there’s any confusion as to where it is we’re talking about, it could be because the current administration still refers to the country as Burma—like the shaving cream—mainly for sentimental reasons. The military leaders there changed the name to Myanmar in 1989, along with the name of the capital city, formerly Rangoon, now Yangon. (more…)

WE WANT TO REMIND everyone that it was FIVE YEARS AGO today that W. told the world that combat operation in Iraq were over and that for the U.S. it was “mission accomplished.” While we’re at it might as well also remind you of a few other things W. said:

“I’m the commander — see, I don’t need to explain — I do not need to explain why I say things. That’s the interesting thing about being president.”

“We spent a lot of time talking about Africa. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease.”

“I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in Washington. And I’m sorry it’s the case, and I’ll work hard to try to elevate it.”

“I think - tide turning - see, as I remember - I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of - it’s easy to see a tide turn - did I say those words?”

“I think that the vice president is a person reflecting a half-glass-full mentality.”

“I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what’s moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves.”

“You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.”
“And let me say, thanks for the kids. I learned an awful lot about bathtub toys - about how to work the telephone. One kid knows - several of them know their own phone numbers - preparation to go to the dentist. A lot of things I’d forgotten.