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."
Why Singapore Secretly Needed Israel To Win (In 1967)
Friday, December 22, 2023
Did you know that Singapore's military future once hinged on the outcome of the Six-Day War of 1967 between Israel and its Arab neighbours? With Israel playing a pivotal role in Singapore's defense development, the war's outcome held crucial stakes. So who won the war and what impact did it have on Singapore's military landscape?
For those who are too young to know or those who has already forgotten. Back on 9 Aug 1991 on Singapore's 26th National Day and Mr Goh's first National Day as PM, Malaysia and Indonesia held a joint military exercise with live rounds in the jungles of Johor just 20km from Singapore. The exercise was named “Pukul Habis” or “Total Wipeout" which gives you an idea who both countries wanted to wipe out. Thousands of NSmen were mobilised and issued with live rounds, mines placed in strategic locations around Singapore and artillery units were deployed.
This was as close as it comes to our very own "Israel" moment, even MM Lee mentioned it in his book. I remember seeing an Israeli officer on one of my trainings where he yelled at my CO for not using his binoculars when observing enemy movements. “You can see them from this distance with your eyes!? USE YOUR BINO USE YOUR BINO!!” I was quite shock. Nobody yells at the CO.
So I asked the intelligence officer and he told me part of what this video illustrated. This was back in the 80s of course.
