Congress Investigates Starlink, Ignores Its Own Myanmar Ties
A bipartisan US Congressional committee is heroically probing Elon Musk's Starlink for allegedly providing internet to Myanmar's 'scam centers,' according to The Guardian. The committee is deeply concerned about billions 'swindled from victims.' It's a touching display of congressional vigilance, especially after reports of Starlink dishes popping up post-February crackdowns. One might almost
forget that decades of US foreign policy, including sanctions and Cold War interventions, significantly shaped Myanmar's tumultuous political landscape, creating exactly the kind of instability where such criminal enterprises thrive. This sudden concern about 'scam centers' feels a lot like crying foul about a leaky faucet while ignoring the burst pipes in the basement. Where was this bipartisan
fervor when US companies were investing heavily under previous military regimes, or when policy decisions indirectly fueled regional instability? The focus on a singular tech provider risks whitewashing the broader, more complex narrative of how Myanmar became fertile ground for such illicit activity in the first place.