Two years after seizing power, Myanmar's ruling junta faces a stalemate on the battlefield that is preventing it from transitioning to a legitimizing civilian government -- portending a continuation of the country's civil war, economic malaise and international isolation. On Feb. 1, Myanmar's military government extended the state of emergency it imposed two years ago to overthrow the country's civilian government. The state of emergency expired on Jan. 31. Many expected the junta to use the occasion to establish a transitional council that would then pave the way for controlled elections in August that would likely lead to the ascension of a military-backed civilian government, which could have somewhat improved the war-torn country's foreign relationships and investment climate. But instead, Myanmar's National Defense and Security Council announced a third extension of the measure, this time for six months, citing the need to restore public order before elections can occur. Coup...
