U.S. suspends nearly $24 million aid to Thailand

Yahoo News (Reuters) ^ | September 28, 2006 | Staff

[John Carey]

The United States said on Thursday it had suspended nearly $24 million in aid to Thailand because of its military coup.

"In response to the military coup ... in Thailand the United States has suspended almost $24 million of assistance to the Thai government," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters, saying this money included funding for military training, peace-keeping operations and arms purchases. Funding for humanitarian purposes will continue, he said.

[snowrip]

Good. Spend the money on The Fence instead.

[John Carey]

Well, it took a week and a half but the giant awakens and takes some action to make a statement against coups and for democracy!
http://johnib.wordpress.com/2006/09/27/thailand-democracy-removed-by-military-coup-2/

[TChris]

Funding for humanitarian purposes will continue, he said.

...and we know that money will actually be used for humanitarian purposes...how? We all know how well "humanitarian aid" works in other countries. (Africa anyone?)

[Froufrou]

Thailand?

[American in Singapore]

I love my government and I love my country but:
What a stupid blind ignorant kneejerk decision to make. Let me repeat: completely fu*king stupid.

Maybe the folks making that decision could get a passport and travel a bit.

I can't believe it. It's like all the cliches about stupid Americans becoming true.

[VOA]

"Thailand?"

I suppose aid is being halted because of a non-democratic coup.
And/or the leader of the coup is a general that is a Muslim and is
advocating going soft on the Islamic terrorist in southern provinces.

Who knows? Maybe there are other factors, but here are some recent threads
where the main factors got discussed.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1707159/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1704739/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1704301/posts

Myself, I hope the coup wasn't "about religion".
But can't help wondering if Thailand is on the path of letting
"New Baluchistan" be formed in their southern provinces.
(Like those lawless Islamic areas of western Pakistan)

[Froufrou]

Thanks for the insight. Very likely you are correct. Sux.

[sandbar]

Woo Hoo!! Common sense in Free World Money Lottery AKA United States of America.

[John Carey]

This is how the State Department makes a statement. It is a very mall amount of money. A slap on the wrists....

This is how international signals are sent by the superpower. Get used to it. You don't have to love it.

[sandbar]

>>>What a stupid blind ignorant kneejerk decision to make. Let me repeat: completely fu*king stupid.


I would say the same about you since you believe we should be giving money to governments Islamic Extremist Governments that take over countries by terrorism.

Yeah, are you even awake?

[VOA]

Very likely you are correct.

I VERY much hope I'm wrong.
And that some of our fellow Freepers with lots of knowledge about
Thailand are right.

But when the MSM mostly was mum about the leader of the coup...
when I heard it was a Muslim guy, I got concerned.

But time will tell what will happen.
And I'll keep my mind open.

[what's up]

Why so upset?

[buffyt]

I am SICK TO DEATH OF U.S. GIVING HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS TO OTHER COUNTRIES!

[American in Singapore]

to governments Islamic Extremist Governments that take over countries by terrorism.

I have no clue what you are talking about and trust me you have no clue what you are talking about.

[starbase]

I'm living in Thailand right now. As far as the religious component, I posted this a while ago, it might help explain why this is NOT a "Muslim takeover". Whether there is plain old "civil war" type violence, I don't know, but the "Muslim attack" angle is a non-starter, IMO:
--------------------
Many posters are unfamiliar with the religious component here in Thailand. Thailand is, in fact, 100% Buddhist. There is no real Muslim population in Thailand proper. 100 years ago Thailand seized a very small area to the south that is ethnic Malay (as in Malaysia, same people same language, further to the south) and was 100% Muslim (now it's like 20% Buddhist).

Thailand imposed its language on the region, but other than that, has simply owned the real estate for 100 years. There are numerous groups behind the killings, and they have numerous reasons for acting (religious, criminal, ethnic, Islamist).

In fact, if Thailand wants to hold the area, then that's what will happen. Thailand's power dwarfs anything that might actually be brought up against it in that region. As a result, the ENTIRE separatist problem is restricted to the south. The north (as in 95% of the country) is 100% Buddhist. Therefore a Muslim general being behind the coup means that he has been ACCEPTED by the Buddhist Thais, not that he is somehow dominating them. Imagine yourself being in a minority of one, surrounded by people who are 100% united. Then imagine that you are "taking over" their culture. Isn't that kind of funny? How could you, by yourself, dominate so many people who are so different from you and united as well? Well that's the case here.

The WHOLE population in the powerful part of the country (like 95% of it), are Buddhists and Thais. So there is 0% chance that anything religious will happen here, and a -0% chance that Muslims will be pushing anyone around in Thailand. That is mathematically impossible. This is pure politics, and if people understand how the populations are dispersed then maybe they can understand more clearly that this it is all about politics.

[BillM]

Thailand is a BUDDHIST country. The government and army are > 95% BUDDHIST!

You are an ignorant person. Learn at least a little bit about a country before declaring yourself relevant.

[bill1952]

Umm, we have no idea what you are talking about other than a string of invectives and insults.

This is how I might write if I was drunk. - So, what is your point, other than we are all stupid Americans?

[American in Singapore]

Why so upset?

Because of no attempt to understand the situation and dynamics in Thailand. Damn, even my mom in Kansas gets it and she's a lifelong Democrat.

I'm shaking my head side-to-side. I guess Free Republic is not exempt from .