Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Resurgence of violence in Southern Thailand - by Major Ivan Lee Synn Leng
Friday, August 03, 2007
INTRODUCTION Global unrest is becoming more prevalent and disturbing. Conflicts are becoming more protracted and in for a long haul. Lives of military personnel and civilians alike are the casualties of these unsolved conflicts. Most of the conflicts are happening in the country, terrorizing and causing mayhem hence inflicting unnecessary deaths and causing economic instability. There may be more than one party against a government. By far and large, separatists will strive to achieve autonomy and self rule. Over the decades, to name a few countries, separatism is a major concern in Southern Philippines, Sri Lanka, Palestine and Southern Thailand. Military aggression seems to be the order of the day. Is diplomacy dead or non-existent? Southern Thailand is faced with such a predicament and the Thai government is having a difficult task in addressing the violence throughout the country.
Southern Thailand comprises of 5 provinces, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat which are predominantly Muslim majority areas. A militant Muslim separatist movement started there in the early 1970s, but died out in the 1990s. The resurgence of violence erupted with a vengeance by the separatist due to bad crisis management by the Thai government. The situation in the southern province has worsened and is another flashpoint in Southeast Asia. Continued here.........
About the Author Major Ivan Lee Synn Leng of the Royal Ranger Regiment is a graduate of the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College, Haigate. He received his Masters in Management (MIM) and Diploma in Strategic and Defence Studies from University of Malaya. Currently he is Senior Directing Staff (Instructor) of Junior Officers Staff and Tactics G3 Course in Army Institute of Management (IPDA) Port Dickson.
