Burma remains the world's second largest producer of illicit opium, with production estimated in 2008 at 340 tonnes (CIA, 2010). Our presence in Burma will free it from tyranny and promote effective democracy. The ability to communicate our strategy accurately to partners in this business ensures success. I will provide you with information on the background, government, strategic importance and future direction of the country of Burma. Background Information The earliest inhabitants of the Ayayarwady River basin were the Mon and Pyu civilizations (ProQuest, 2009). By the 11th century, these civilizations led to a unified Burmese kingdom in Bagan. Britain incorporated Burma into India in 1885, causing it to become a separate colony in 1937. During World War II, Japan occupied Burma until 1945. After the war, Burma became an independent nation in 1948. In 1962, General Ne Win led a military coup, abolishing the Burmese constitution and establishing a xenophobic military government with socialist economic policies (State, 2010). In September 1988, thanks to a military coup, the junta took power. Burma has since struggled to establish a stable government.GovernmentThe junta, known as the State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC, currently governs Burma. A committee of military leaders runs the SPDC. The government's stability is a departure from broad sanctions imposed for human rights violations and illicit drug trafficking. Burma opposes our national security strategy through the tyranny of its people, human trafficking and the illicit drug trade. Transnational Crime Transnational organized crime groups in Burma operate a multi-billion dollar criminal industry that extends across Southeast Asia (Wyler, 2008). However,...... middle of paper ...... Retrieved from CIA: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.htmlProQuest. (2009). “Myanmar.” Retrieved January 14, 2010 from CultureGrams Online Edition: http://online.culturegrams.com/secure/world/citations.php?cit_type=text&cit_title=MyanmarSeekins, DM (2005). The state and the city: 1988 and the transformation of Rangoon. Public Affairs, 257.Services, PR (January 14, 2009). Country forecasts. Retrieved from Ebsco Host: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tsh&jid=QH7&site=ehost-liveState, UD (2010). Deplomacy in action. Retrieved from US Department of State: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35910.htm Wyler, LS (April 4, 2008). Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved from Homeland Security Digital Library: https://www.hsdl.org/homesec/docs/crs/nps40-051208-01.pdf&code=c1ea3a768f88aec15843f678dd71e14b