A Beijing diplomat complained China is “fed up with the footdragging” of Burma's strongman, General Than Shwe, and his inner circle, one of the cables, released by WikiLeaks, reported.

A few suggestions are given . . . maintaining an effective naval squadron to show the flag and protect American interests.

Half the populace are idle, / Half are busy in a room; / All are gravebound from the cradle, / All are hotfoot for their doom.

When the firecan jockeys have flown their blowtorches some 100,000 miles, the doctors take over for the ground physical.