Michael Wines, Behind Gusts of a Military Chill: A More Forceful China. New
York Times, June 9, 2010 (title in the press). http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/world/asia/09beijing.html?scp=1&sq=gates%20singapore%20albatross%20&st=cse
Note:
(a) burr (n): "a rough or prickly envelope of a fruit"
(b) An albatross is a sea bird. Derivatively, it is defined as "3a:
something that causes persistent deep concern or anxiety b: something that
makes accomplishment particularly difficult: ENCUMBRANCE, HANDI
