Experts say that Myanmar's leaders, described by one U.S. official last week as "paranoid," are concerned only about their survival and view aid workers as a potential first wave of invaders.
"As soon as our work there is done, we will leave," Keating said he told officials in Myanmar. "They will see nothing remaining of the United States military when this operation is over."
Given the regime's reluctance to allow aid workers and supplies into the country, some have suggested the international community should send aid in, even without permission, in order to relieve the growing humanitarian crisis.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner suggested the international community invoke a clause in a 2005 United Nations document saying countries have a "responsibility to protect" their citizens, and calling on the international community to act if they fail to do so.
Legal experts say it may be hard to use that clause as pretext for air dropping or otherwise sending in aid without government approval, pointing out that the effort would instead get bogged down in legal debate and face stiff opposition from countries like China and Russia that hold vetoes in the U.N. Security Council.
Keating told ABC News, "We have no intention of, quote, invading their country or penetrating their airspace -- I mean, anything of that, landing any ships or any arrangement without the explicit approval of the government of Burma."
Keating was optimistic, however, saying he thinks approval to send in more help will soon come from Myanmar's shadowy leadership.
"I would not be surprised if, in a day or two, we don't start sling loading, putting H-46s with cargo nets underneath them, and get permission to carry those relief supplies to where they're needed. I think we'll get permission," he said.
Privately, however, other U.S. officials admit they're frustrated by the slow response of Myanmar's leaders and say that it is "sickening" that, two weeks after the cyclone, aid is still awaiting transport -- and that while the storm's survivors face disease or starvation, the country's military leaders seem most concerned about their own survival.
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