Singapore soldiers in Afghanistan

‘TRINKOT (WNA, 23 Jun): Maj. Gen. Ravinder Singh, Chief of the Singapore Army, visited Afghanistan yesterday and met with the ISAF leadership and his forces in Uruzgan, the alliance said in a statement

Singh called on Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and expressed his appreciation to ISAF for the support rendered to Singapore troops during their six years in Afghanistan….’

The full article above was posted in TRE and there were some discussions as to where Singapore soldiers were serving in Afghanistan. Some were not comfortable with our involvement in the American affair and feared being dragged into the war of terrorism and becoming a victim by association with the Americans. Some called it a price to pay for the protection the Americans were giving to us and allowed us to live in peace in a region that can become troublesome for all the wrong reasons and for the slightest unseen provocations.

We should be grateful to the Americans for offering us the protective umbrella. The question is how far should we go to reciprocate the goodwill? Would our offer of allowing the Americans to use our military facilities here be good enough for what they did for us? Or must we go so far as to send our soldiers to fight or support the American military adventures everywhere? This contribution to the American adventure is not so safe as it seems as it opens us to attacks by the American enemies as we will be seen as American accomplice participating in the same evil deeds. Our hands are tainted by the blood of the victims of American aggression.

What is the value of our offer of military bases? I think this is not a small matter knowing how important it is to the American to have a friendly and ready base to operate from. We are probably the most dependable ally the Americans can count on in the region. Is this not enough? We are helping the Americans to project their power to protect their interests in the region. This is not a small contribution and in many ways worth much more than dragging us into Afghanistan and compromising our safety and security.

Do we have other options other than the Americans as our protector? Can another superpower offer us the same protection without forcing us into a difficult and dangerous situation? We are serving the American strategic interest with the facilities we offered them. Our participation in Afghanistan is peanuts to the Americans. They don’t really need us there except to implicate us and fix us up, so that we cannot detach ourselves from their bloody acts of war.

Do we have the bargaining power to negotiate with the Americans on how far we should go with them? Do we have an alternative power to replace the Americans without our arms being twisted like what the Americans did to us?

Basically, what choice is there for us? Yes, standing on the head of the Americans means we can talk louder and punch above our weight. Is that worth being compromised in dicey situation that we are in now? If we are not with them we are their enemy!

The Philippines slams China

This piece of news is hot in the media.

‘BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei: The Philippines accused China on Sunday of a "massive" military buildup in the disputed South China Sea, warning at a regional security forum that the Asian giant's tactics were a threat to peace.

The statement by Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario ensured that the growing row over rival claims to the strategically vital and potentially resource-rich sea would again be a key focus of the annual four-day Asia-Pacific talks.... ‘Source. CNA Online.

I think the news should be rewritten as ‘The US accused China of a “massive” military buildup in the disputed South China Sea,... What is real behind this gungho screaming by the Philippines is quite obvious. And read further the message is quite clear. What does the Philippines meant in its warning that ‘China’s tactics were a threat to peace?’ Who is going to disrupt peace or start a war? Yes who, China or someone else?

Could it be the Philippines trying another killing of Taiwanese fisherman act? Would the Philippines dare to re enact that scene with Chinese military boats or ships as the target? What is likely going to happen?

Can anyone imagine the Philippines in their rickety warship firing at the Chinese surveillance ships?

China is not going to let this American lackey to push her around and has sent the first warning as reported by REUTERS. ‘China's state media warned on Saturday that a "counterstrike" against the Philippines was inevitable if it continues to provoke Beijing in the South China Sea, potentially Asia's biggest military troublespot.’

China needs to send a very firm no nonsense message to the Philippines and the Americans. It is prepare to strike if the nonsense is not stopped. Any weakness or backtracking by China would only embolden the Pinoys and the Americans. China has no other option but to dig in and take the provocations by the horns.

Is the Philippines trying to punch above its weight, propped up by the Americans and the Japanese?

Singaporean helping Singaporean

Below is an extract of a letter by a Steven Sum stationed in Suzhou, China. Having heard the plight of Sinkies here, he has made a job offer for a Singaporean to work with him. Salary reasonable and accommodation provided. Here is part of his brief posted in Gibert’s Support site for the unemployed and underemployed.

I work for a British company in China , in Suzhou to be exact.

We are looking for a Laboratory Engineer (designate lab supervisor).

I can’t offer much as this job was designed for a Malaysian (mainly due to cost factor) but I thought why not help my Singaporean brothers who may need a job.

If anyone who is willing to accept a monthly salary of around 15k rmb (~ S$3k) and willing to relocate to Suzhou China , I am interested.

Apartment for single accommodation will be provided. We will also provide 2 return air-tickets from Shanghai to Singapore for each calendar year worked.

Annual leave is 15 days on top of Chinese National holidays which is 12 days now.

I need a diploma holder from Mechanical, manufacturing, production engineering or equivalent.

Work is straight forward. Mainly to perform laboratory testing (usually mechanical testing) of Personal Protective Equipment to international standards (e.g. EN, ASTM, etc….)

Training will be provided until qualification to test is obtained by the employee.

The person must read and write in English. Must speak Chinese and moderately able to read/write in Chinese.

If you know of someone who might be interested, please ask him to write to me with full CV and expected salary

Thank you.

With best regards,

Steven Sum

The best part is that training will be provided. In Singapore, the employers are looking for instant trees. Did they know that they can train their new hires on the job? Or must the applicant be fully trained to fit the job or else they will look to the world for someone that will fit?

Thank you Steven Sum.

When you employed a butler

How many of you have the good fortune of employing a butler? The common folks or even the HDB rich are quite used to employing maids to take care of their household chores, and pay a pittance for them. At that kind of price, it is only normal not to expect too much. But no, some Singaporeans believe their money is very big and want to get their money’s worth. They want to work their maids from 5 am to 12 midnight, 7 days a week. Some may even be thinking of 24/7 and 365 days in a year. They are paying and they expect the maids to work. And if the maids are lazy, they may iron them or starve them for being unproductive.

For the privilege class who can afford a butler, the situation is quite different. They pay good money for the service of the butler and expect a service quality that the maids cannot do. They expect the butler to do everything in the house, including thinking and planning ahead for the needs of the master. They do not want to waste their time bothering on the nitty gritties of living. With a butler, a talented one as they are supposed to be, for the money they are paying, it is only right that the paymaster can expect the quality of service they are paying for. And so does the butler. He demands the high pay and knows that he has to live up to the expectation of his masters.

For every price the quality of service will come with it. It is only right that the paymasters have a lot of high expectations from the butler. Can any paymaster be blamed for blaming everything on the butler if the bulbs are blown, the tap doesn’t work, the rubbish not cleared, the fridge is empty because yesterday was a holiday and the butler forgot to top up the fridge? Or is it not right to blame the butler when the kitchen caught fire and no fire extinguisher can be found? Or can the paymaster blame the butler when there is haze and no mask is available in the house?

Or should the butler tell master, why don’t you do a bit of work yourself, go to the shop and get your own mask? Or can the butler tell the master he did not buy because the master did not tell him to do so, like a HDB mum will order the maid to go and get one?

What is the point of paying the butler so much and still cannot depend on him to take care of all his living needs? I am sure many will just sack the butler. They will tell the butler, ‘You are the butler and that is your job. Go and get the job done. No excuses. Pay you so much to sit on your fat arse and play dumbo?’

Why is the Govt insisting on using 24 hr PSI?

For all practical and commonsensical reasons, the people want a current PSI number to make decisions on their daily activities. For all the nonsensical and unbelievable reasons, the Govt keeps on telling the people that the best reading of the PSI is the 24 hr one and 3 hour is second best. They are not going to give to the people the current PSI that the people want. Why?

I only have one explanation. It is like reporting on the average income of the population or workers. Average income of workers is $3,000 or thereabout. They are not going to report about the last 10 percent’s incomes. They are not going to report on the top 10 percent’s income or the top 1 percent’s income. The answer is obvious. No explanation needed. The real and current PSI can be alarming and the Govt does not want to alarm the people. Neither should the people earning $3,000 a month need to know about people earning $100k or $300k a month.

And this is a Govt that takes pride in telling the people that they will listen to the people. Or did I hear wrongly? Why is it that everyone is screaming their heads off for a current PSI but the Govt does not seem to hear what the people want? The people will not see the current PSI on the TV screen. It is like pornography.

Another possible reason, the Govt knows what is good for the people and that a 24 hr PSI is good for the people. Be thankful, be very grateful.