The Thai Soccer Team Cave Rescue May Also Be A Big Political Win For The Country's Military Junta

Linh Pham/Getty Images The Thai cave rescue mission may help boost the popularity of Thailand's military junta. The military took power in 2014 and has since cracked down on human rights, banned public gatherings, censored media, and jailed critics. But the cave rescue mission helped show what the military, and thus the government, can accomplish ahead of potential elections next year. The successful mission may help the military if elections go ahead next year and, in the meantime, likely served as a "soft power" victory for all countries involved. The cave rescue mission in Thailand saved 12 soccer players and their coach, but it may also go some way in saving something else: the reputation of Thailand's military junta. Thailand elected an ordinary civilian government in 2011 but it was overthrown in a bloodless coup by the police and military in 2014.