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programme at Harvard Law School. Mr Kasit, who was also former foreign minister in the Abhisit Vejjajiva government between 2008 and 2011, believes the countries share a common vision of democratic aspirations and that Thailand still needs foreign and especially American support to nurture its fledgling andimperfect democracy.“The bilateral relationship mustbe redressed in cooperation because the current situation is no longer a question of crime and punishment, wrongdoing and finger pointing,” he said. “Concern and genuine care from a true friend must lead to a statement like what can the US do as friend and old ally to help Thailand overcome its democratic deficiencies, because Thais cannot do it all alone. This country needs friends.”Instead, the government was dismayed by the US stance. “What wedid see was not an offer or gesture of friendship, but a negative expression and demands that democracy must be reinstalled and pressure imposed by soft sanctions,” Mr Kasit said. “The question is whether it is fair. Whether it is justified. After all, what the military is trying to do is work on the country’s reformation.”The career diplomat believes it is time for the US to lend a hand, starting with heart-to-heart talks with the military. “Regardless of the political regime, Thailand has never been away in its pursuit of sustainable democracy.”Mr Lyman, who has lived in Thailand for 48 years, holds a similar view. “That old alliance and partnership does not fall apart just because of periodic public criticism,” he said.Having already been witness to 13 coups, Mr Lyman thinks the militarydid the right thing in staging a coup last May because Thailand was on the brink of civil war, not to mention economic standstill.Seen as an icon of Thailand’s American business community, Mr Lyman begs for understanding from vocal US officials. “The US, by its unappreciated and overbearing condemnations, is not acting out of spite or with malice. Some of its actions are dictated by US domestic laws. American foreign policy is obsessed with the concept of elections, though not so much with what happens after elections. The US’s long-standing guiding principle is that what is good for America is good for Thailand and good for the rest of the world. A little arrogant and naive, probably to some extent impractical, yet the hearts of vocal American officials, like those of well-meaning Thai officials, are in the right place.”16 Elite+