Burma helpless to help itself

The government has spent the bulk of its money on building the 400,000-strong military and lacks even the most basic equipment for a relief effort.

Andrew Brookes, an aerospace specialist at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, an independent think tank, estimates the country has only 15 transport planes and fewer than 40 helicopters. The planes, he said, are not able to transport tons of food and many of the helicopters are not operational.

"Even if they (the helicopters) were all serviceable, it's not even a drop in the ocean," Brookes said. "The task is so awesome. It would faze even a sophisticated force like the British, French or Germans."

IHT reports on the scale and scope of international expertise and material support on standby. It's criminal.