IT IS difficult to understand how a man of such enormous energy, charisma and personal magnetism as Barack Obama, billed as “the most powerful man in the world”, is unable to overcome the malign forces pitted against him in his own country.

I WISH to draw the attention of your readers to what is going on in Burma these times. Many will remember the scenes beamed into their living rooms in autumn 2007 when thousands of Buddhist monks took to the streets in a brave and peaceful protest in support of their oppressed fellow countrymen and women.

WHAT an utter contradiction it is that the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize has been given to US President Barack Obama who recently made a much criticised decision to send a further 30,000 human beings to kill or be killed in an increasingly futile war in Afghanistan.

Irish campaigners for democracy in Burma today urged the Foreign Affairs Minister to raise the issue at a United Nations summit on Monday.

Irish campaigners for democracy in Burma today urged the Foreign Affairs Minister to raise the issue at a United Nations summit on Monday.