I’ve Been Expecting This
Frankly, I'm surprised it has taken this long. The first call is going out to threaten a boycott of the Beijing Olympics because of the crackdown in Burma. The call comes from Fred Hiatt of the Washington Post.
And here's something else I would do: Tell China that, as far as the United States is concerned, it can have its Olympic Games or it can have its regime in Burma. It can't have both.
Here, too, I understand the arguments against: China's rulers are gradually becoming more responsible in the world; to threaten their Games would only get their backs up. The Games themselves offer a chance to enhance international understanding; if we let world affairs interfere, there will always — every two years — be some cause. The athletes have trained for years; they deserve their chance.
And yet: Hundreds of thousands of Burmese have risked everything — their homes, their families, their lives — to be free. They have done so with nothing on their side but courage, faith and the hope that the world might stand with them. And they still have a chance to succeed.
Whether they do depends mostly on decisions made inside Burma. But people and countries outside can have some effect. Burma's neighbors in Southeast Asia could do more. The world's largest democracy, India, could do far more. China could do most of all.
This is one of those cut off your nose to spite your face useless gestures that the west is well known for. It was flat stupid when Jimmy Carter did it to Russia, it is not smarter having aged 27 years or so. At least when Carter did it, the idea was to punish Russia for the invasion of Afghanistan. Calling for the punishment of another nation for the acts of a third party is not the brightest idea the WaPo has ever come up with.
Frankly, the best thing the US - and the entire west - can do is to apply pressure to India and China. But goading the latter with threats against the Olympics will backfire.
World news | Gaius Monday, 1 October , 2007
By The Olympic Blogger, Monday, 1 October , 2007 @ 4:54 pm
I would have to say that leaving the Olympics out of this situation is the wiser option. But I would definitely have to say and agree that changes in a country’s regime would really need to come from the it’s own people. No foreign intervention can peacefully resolve a country’s internal situation. In fact, recent major intervention by a country has resulted in more violence, bloodshed and dissent ( I’m talking about Iraq ). If the Burmese people really want change, they can do it with or without bloodshed. Preferably the later and it is NOT impossible for them as change in regimes without any bloodshed and without foreign intervention has been done a lot of times in different parts of the world. In fact, it has been done in our country twice! No other power besides the Burmese people’s own power will be able to make lasting, convincing and peaceful change.
You kind Sir have expressed the wisest opinion on the topic of using/boycotting the Olympics to pressure China. Thank you.
By Gaius, Monday, 1 October , 2007 @ 7:41 pm
Olympic, there is no chance - none - that the people of Burma can free themselves without outside intervention unless the regime gives up. (Which would essentially require outside intervention. Unless internal rot sets in.)
By dianainsa, Monday, 1 October , 2007 @ 10:10 pm
Great, I can see where this is going. Get the athletes to fight the battles on behalf of our cowardly politicians and the inept U.N.
You are right, leave them out of it. I knew giving China the games was a horrible idea, how many times are we going to be hoodwinked by our enemies?
By The Olympic Blogger, Tuesday, 2 October , 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Let the Burmese people fight for their own freedom and democracy. Which ever way they choose to achieve their liberty, they alone have the right and power to do this no matter what the odds are. The greatest democratic societies in the world did not get their freedom by being handed to them. The citizens of democratic countries earned their rights and freedoms by fighting for it. They chose to control their own fate and destiny and not because other people intervened for them. If I may say so, this is the essence of democracy… that your own people fight for it whether they choose to be peaceful or violent. Let the Burmese people choose their own destiny as you as a citizens of your country would want to control your country’s own.
And Diana, sarcasm does work too…