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."
A deep, dark, secret love affair - A team of IDF officers, known as the `Mexicans,' helped Singapore establish an army
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Christmas Eve, 1965, is the unofficial date of the start of the great
and continuing love story between Israel and Singapore, a love affair
that was kept a deep, dark secret. The international press, like the
Israeli media, tried to bring the tale to light. Occasionally, scraps of
information leaked out; some were published, some were denied, many
were disregarded. The Israelis, as usual, wanted to rush to tell all
their friends, but managed to overcome that desire. The fear that the
thies would be terminated if they became public knowledge had its
effect. Israel imposed a total blackout on the story and the secret was
preserved. Until the other side could no longer contain itself.
In his book, "From Third World to First: The Singapore Story
1965-2000," published in 2000, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding
father and its first prime minister, disclosed the secret that had been
kept for almost 40 years: It was the Israel Defense Forces that
established the Singaporean army. The Israeli military mission was
headed by Yaakov (Jack) Elazari, then a colonel, who was later promoted
to brigadier general. After leaving the army, he became a consultant to
the Singaporean army. Hedied 15 years ago. "To disguise their
presence, we called them `Mexicans.' They looked swarthy enough," Lee
wrote.
Singapore's
army is today considered the strongest and most advanced of the
military forces in Southeast Asia. The alliance between the Israeli and
Singaporean defense establishments intensified and expanded, and it now
encompasses cooperation between the two countries' military industries,
as well. The scope of the deals, according to foreign sources, indicates
that the Singaporean army is one of the major clients of Israeli combat
means and military technology. Singapore's aircraft industry is
cooperating with its Israeli counterpart and with Elbit Systems in
upgrading the F-5 warplanes of the Turkish Air Force. A few years ago,
Singapore's defense minister revealed that the Gil antitank missile,
which is manufactured by Raphael (Israel Armaments Development
Authority), was developed in cooperation between the two countries.
Surrounded by Muslims Lee explained the need to maintain secrecy to his close friend in the
leadership, and the first defense minister in his government, Dr. Goh
Keng Swee. "We have to ensure, as far as possible, that the arrival of
the Israelis will not become public knowledge, in order not to arouse
opposition among the Malay Muslims who live in Malaysia and Singapore,"
the prime minister summed up. That, in essence, is Singapore's problem.
The residents of the small island, which has an area of about 670 square
kilometers (Israel is 30 times as large), are mainly Chinese, and they
live between the two Muslim countries of Malaysia and Indonesia. Life in
the shadow of the large Muslim majority and fear of a Malaysian
incursion are an integral part of the history of the two countries.
Until 1965, Singapore was part of Malaysia. In that year, the British
government decided to withdraw from all its colonies east of the Suez
Canal. In a rapid process it was decided to sever Singapore from
Malaysia and to establish it as a new and separate country. Continued here.........
