China: 100,000 soldiers 16,000 police rescuers

The enormous rescue efforts in the most incredibly difficult conditions continue. Soldiers have had to march on foot carrying packs of supplies up quake destroyed roads into mountainous areas. Elite troops parachuted in bad weather into mountain areas with no landmarks or ground support crew. I think they are doing an incredible job saving victims and recovering the lost under such harsh conditions and tragedy.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-05/15/content_6685857.htm

***
I'm not ignoring the situation in Myanmar (aka Burma) but like everyone else all I can really do is wring my hands over how poorly and wickedly the cyclone disaster has been handled. I blame the military junta in control, of course, but I also have disapproved of the political role of the monks. People, you must understand that when the religious become involved in political rebellion there is no faith between parties and so when disaster falls a vital channel for aid is broken. So there is no way that fresh after the marching monks rebellion that paranoid junta members would utilize such channels for aid. This is why I wish religious would stay out of activism against governments no matter what the circumstances because ministering to the flock and a life of prayer, especially within oppressive circumstances, must be the first priority. If religious refuse to be political then they have integrity that might be useful in reaching the hearts of even the most oppressive regime.