The Foreign Service Journal, December 2007

ing partner, India also plans to build a road network through the country that would increase trade with the other Southeast Asian nations. Despite the lack of progress since Burma’s admission to ASEAN in 1997, and the negative publicity generated by the protests on its 40th anniversary, ASEAN, like India, con- tinues to oppose sanctions. The association is concerned it will lose access to Burma’s natural resources and push the regime further into China’s orbit. While Japan has cut economic assistance, and the U.S. and Euro- pean Union have imposed new sanc- tions on the junta, others see China as the key player. “This regime has survived to this day because of Chinese government support — fin- ancial, diplomatic and military,” says Aung Din, co-founder of the U.S. Campaign for Burma ( www.uscam paignforburma.org ), a grassroots organization that is calling for the world to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The E.U. countries are also calling for a boycott of the Beijing Games. “The Olympics is the only real lever we have to make China act. The civilized world must seriously con- sider shunning China by using the Beijing Olympics to send the clear message that such abuses of human rights are not acceptable,” Vice Presi- dent of the European Parliament Edward McMillan-Scott told Reuters. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., has introduced a resolution in the House, calling for the U.S. govern- ment to boycott the Olympics ( www. govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd ? bill=hr110-610 ). In August, two other House bills were introduced calling for an Olympic boycott, but many lawmakers have expressed caution, saying a pullout will do more to punish athletes than censure China. In September, Pres. Bush accept- ed an invitation from President Hu Jintao to attend the Games; but aides said he will do so as a sports fan, not to make a political statement. For background information and a selection of helpful Burma-related links, see “Myanmar: A Call for Re- gional Action” at the International Crisis Group Web site www.crisis group.org/home/index.cfm?id=5 093&l=1 . In addition, the Sept./Oct. issue of Foreign Policy has a use- ful guide to understanding Burma’s “economic lifelines.” The article can be accessed at www.foreignpolicy. com/story/cms.php?story_id=39 86 . —Marc Nielsen, Editorial Intern C Y B E R N O T E S 14 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7 50 Years Ago... The Association and its Foreign Service Journal can do more than we have in the past to serve the interests of the Service in the matter of public relations. I fear that if we stand upon our digni- ty we may not have much left to stand on. I think within limits there is room for a more muscular, red-corpuscular attitude on the part of the Association and the Journal . By that, however, I do not mean leaping to the barricades or fomenting revolution. We must always confine our effort to the bounds of common sense and that “application of tact and intelligence” which is the hall- mark of diplomacy. — Robert McClintock, “The Journal and the Service,” FSJ , December 1957