U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has just concluded a historic trip to Myanmar. Her visit heralds a breakthrough in relations between the two countries, and a shift in political dynamics in Southeast Asia could be anticipated. While optimism is warranted, it should be tempered by caution; Myanmar has a long way to go before relations between it and the United States — and indeed the world — can be normalized.
Myanmar's military rulers have long displayed indifference to the accepted norms of state behavior. When defeated in elections, they ignored the results, arresting the opposition (and rightful winners) and maintaining an iron grip on power. When ethnic groups demanded respect for their culture and some say in their future, the government waged war, committing horrific abuses of human rights in the process.
The country's leaders have allegedly enriched themselves, their families and friends, treating Myanmar's rich patrimony as their personal possessions, while remaining indifferent to the poverty of the overwhelming majority of the country's citizens. And they have embraced other like-minded governments, such as that of North Korea, engaging in dubious deals and questionable transactions.