Myanmar swimmer John Yettaw lacks regrets, sense

Question to John Yettaw, the Breast-stroker of Burma: So, what did you learn?

Answer: Not one thing.

Interviewed at O’Hare International Airport by the Associated Press, John Yettaw, the 53-year-old veteran from Falcon, Missouri, spoke for the first time since being imprisoned in Myanmar for thinking he could single-handedly change the fortunes of a democratic leader in one of the world’s oppression super-powers acting like an American. The gist: He’d do it all again “a hundred times” over.

Yettaw swam a mile in homemade flippers and swimmies to the home of Ang San Suu Kyi, who has been on house arrest for 14 of the last 20 years. The stunt, which Yettaw claims was necessary after he had a “vision” that Suu Kyi would be assassinated, has drawn intense criticism, especially from members of Suu Kyi’s party.

As a result of the illegal swim and trespass, Suu Kyi violated the terms of her house arrest and was sentenced to additional time; Yettaw got some jail time, too. (The Newsweek screen shot above shows authorities arresting him).

The stunt effectively cost her the opportunity to run in Myanmar’s upcoming elections.

No regrets, though.