Thus the international community faces another conundrum over Burma. A global arms embargo would help register the widespread concern felt over Naypyidaw’s behaviour, but is unlikely to have any real impact on the situation in the country. In fact, to launch a major initiative of this kind and have it fail – as seems most likely – would risk reminding the generals of the world’s limited ability to influence developments in Burma.

– Extracted from Andrew Selth, “Burma: Of arms and the man”,The Interpreter, 6 April 2010.