You could not make it up.
Xi Jinping. Vladimir Putin. Myanmar generals.
Covid is now providing cover for every villain on the planet to do his worst (they do all seem to be men).
The generals in Myanmar, having been crushed in a free election, and then saying they wouldn’t do a coup, have done one.
What a mess. The key observations in the linked article come from the venerable Thant Myint-U:
<The author and historian Thant Myint-U wrote on on Twitter: “The doors just opened to a very different future. I have a sinking feeling that no one will really be able to control what comes next. And remember Myanmar’s a country awash in weapons, with deep divisions across ethnic & religious lines, where millions can barely feed themselves.”>
I should say that I am not a big fan of Aung San Suu Kyi. She seems to me to be a hippy and hippies don’t make good leaders if you want economic development and an end to poverty (remember Ghandi?).
About three years ago I was asked by a foundation that works on land reform to go to Myanmar and I met some of Ms Aung’s advisers and ministers. I was appalled by the non-quality and intellectual laziness of much of what I saw. (It was like I imagine having dinner with George Osborne or Boris Johnson would be.)
Still, none of this justifies putting the lunatics back in charge of the asylum.
I should also say that, although I have twice been in the same room as her, I have never actually spoken to the little lady, so there is some room for doubt about my opinion of her.
I also wonder if the Communist Party of China is meddling in this coup. It wouldn’t be a big surprise.