Without threats from West, junta would be more repressive
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The carrot-and-stick approach that Western nations are taking toward Thailand seems to be working.
The “carrot” is improved relations to prevent Thailand becoming too repressive and to encourage it to move in the “right” direction. The “stick” is economic and diplomatic retribution, to be used if Thailand backslides.
If America had unconditionally embraced the coup-makers – as several letter-writers demanded – the Thai leaders might have taken more repressive measures, confident that America would not protest.
Although I’ve often been highly critical of American foreign policy, the letter-writing America-bashers who automatically condemn everything the US does are more interested in hating America than in helping Thailand. Thank God President Obama didn’t listen to them.
Eric Bahrt
