True enough, dropping food into the Irrawaddy Delta won't help.
What is required in that area is medical treatment, and clean water. Maybe we can drop bottles of Ice-mountain, but medical treatment can only be provided by doctors on the ground.
If a military option is to be exercised, there will be boots on the ground to maintain some form of perimeter security.
To me, the softening of stance by the Burmese Govt is merely trying to avoid possible unilateral military intervention by world powers. If the US decides to intervene, it will probably see it through to a regime change.
The US would not take unilateral action not with election and iraq is going on. Asean member would be extremely reluctant to take action. Aus would need Asean helps if they want to go alone.
I was hopping that Ex Cobra would be use as the platform to launch relief aid to Myanmar.