Well, I fail to see what some people running races, throwing heavy balls and swimming laps has to do with man's continuing inhumanity to their fellows. But then, I don't understand the concept of UN sanctions, either.

I think a better strategy would be to increase import tariffs and/or lower yields to international bond customers. Who else would buy their goods (in quantity) and who else has a quality investment vehicle available? I don't see anyone rushing to buy the Somalian treasury's paper or anywhere else for that matter.

So, let's run our races and wave our flag and, meanwhile, squeeze them where it hurts. That might see a change of heart and some better behavior.

The most important thing to China then is saving face. How in the world can they save face when that face is bloodied with the brutality in Burma and Darfur which they've aided? Boycott the Olympics in China. It's the right thing to do and in this world where there's so much wrong, including our own government's reckless war in Iraq, people arond the world need to know that the United States is starting to get its conscience back; China isn't the only country that needs some face saving. If our government doesn't declare a boycott of the China Olympics, the American people can individually decide not to attend these games, and that's all the Oylmpics are--games--that are held at the expense of Burma and Darfur. If the Chinese people are incensed by this, it's about time they got incensed about something. It just might wake them up to the rot at the heart of their government.

If a tyrant can get American support by having an America-friendly policy, then there are likely to be more tyrants in the world, not less, although they will be America-friendly tyrants.

American support (with weapons and money) for the tyrants in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as well as in Pakistan, makes it hard to believe there is any genuine American caring about tyranny in Burma. Some tyrannies are supported, while others are undermined, according to self-interest.

China isn't the Buremese junta's only friend -- Russia is too. Russia has promised to provide the junta with a nuclear power station, just as it is doing in Iran, and it has opposed the international effort to impose sanction on Burma.

Interestingly, Russia has just recently been awarded the Winter Olympics for 2014. It's one thing to say the world shouldn't drop out of games that have already been awarded, but where was Mr. Fallows when Russia was being considered for the games. And for that matter, China?

Even if Fallows is right, far more should have been done to prevent these two rogue states from getting the games in the first place.

The only serious step he can suggest to deal with the current problem is bribing the junta to leave the country. Telling the Chinese, or the Russians, they're going to "look bad" if they don't do the right thing is hardly likely to be effective.

There is a fine line between prudence and cowardice. I'm afraid Mr. Fallows has crossed it.

Excellent points, James! If the last six years has taught the U.S. anything, it's that boycotts, sanctions, threats and other general-purpose bullying accomplishes next to nothing, and makes us look weak and ineffective in the process. I'm not sure why this topic came up to begin with. Has our fine Bush Administration been proposing boycotts? Maybe they'll follow that up with sanctions threats against China, and if that doesn't work, it's time for trash talking! Won't that be fun.

Don't get me wrong ... I have nothing buy sympathy for the demonstrators in Mayanmar who are getting gunned down by their own government. If there was a magic wand we could wave to make it stop, we would. However, boycotts are not a magic wand. They will do nothing to change the situation on the ground in that troubled country, and they will not help our relations with China. It's time to start using our heads for a change...

So, we should allow one repressive, human-rights abusing country that holds sway over another even more repressive, human-rights abusing country to go on doing what they are doing with no pressure or repercussions?

China should never have been awarded the Olympics in the first place.

Sure, let Than Shwe and his evil cronies escape to Singapore with their ill-gotten gains. Then have the ICC issue an arrest warrant for their crimes against humanity and extradite them.

But none of that will help the thousands who have already been murdered and maimed at their hands and the thousands more who will be during the continuation of their crack-down. I don't suppose threatening China will have much success, but what else are we to do?

Is it time for a surgical strike on Naypyidaw? Is it time for the Singapore government to put their money where their mouth is and stop allowing these murderers into their country on the sly for medical treatments and to visit their real estate bought with the blood of their citizens?

I am frustrated that the world is powerless and can only stand by and watch while all of those poor people are being crushed.

Wait, Jim, there's an inconsistency in your argument. On the one hand you say we should not take any serious public steps, like an olympic boycott, to make it clear to the chinese government that we find their support of the Burmese junta disgusting. But then at the bottom you say that our diplomats should make it clear to those same leaders that they will look bad in everyone's eyes, and have their long drive toward respect etc. damaged, if they keep this up. Really? Won't their leaders just laugh that off and tell our diplomats that hey, we're Walmart, we own your bond market, and you don't have the courage or the means to criticize us? Won't they just hand them a James Fallows editorial to prove their point?