The naivity of Donald Trump

This is what Donald Trump said about the defence of its allies and his intention to make them pay for US protection.

‘On September 2, 1987, Trump published full-page
advertisements in The New York Times, The Washington Post and
The Boston Globe that were billed as an "open letter from
Donald J. Trump".

     "Make Japan, Saudi Arabia, and others pay for the
protection we extend as allies," he said in the advertisements,
which cost him a total of US$94,801. He said the US should
"'tax' these wealthy nations" and allow the US economy to grow
by relieving itself of "the cost of defending those who can
easily afford to pay us for the defence of their freedom".’

The big question or big deception is that do these countries need the Americans to defend them? Saudi Arabia is the most powerful country in the Middle East with the most modern military weapons money can buy. Japan was the world’s top military nation, conquered the whole of Asia and nearly conquered the USA. Do the Japanese need the Americans to protect them and to protect them from who? Which country in Asia wants to conquer Japan or is able to conquer Japan or has the intention to conquer Japan?

The hype about North Korea is purely an American red herring. The North Koreans would have problems dealing with South Korea let alone thinking of attacking Japan and getting away with it. The tension or threats of war in Asia is an American creation, an American myth created to force Asian countries to embark on military expenditure, to buy American weapons to fatten American coffers. Without the Americans inciting and raising tension, Asia is peaceful and does not need to keep buying expensive weapons to protect against an imaginary enemy created for them by the Americans. The threat to peace in Asia is actually Japan, that the Americans have supported its remilitarization. Japan is the threat, not the victim.

Trump can keep all the American soldiers and weapons back home and no one would miss them except one or two little puny countries. Donald is still so innocent about the American conspiracy to force Asian countries to spend extravagantly on unnecessary military weapons, to buy weapons from the Americans. The war merchants and war industry will murder him for that.

Trump is ‘trumping’ up more contentious issues and is attacking China on all front as if he is the only one that is holding all the cards and China has nothing to play with, that China does not know what to do or how to hit back at Trump. China building military fortresses in the South China Sea? I think he would faint if he sees the American fortresses in Diego Garcia, Guam, the Marshall Islands and Okinawa. He has no imagination or clue of what a fortress is all about. And China is lost, China is hapless, does not know how to respond, how to deal with Trump,  and waiting to be knocked the daylight out of them.

 

To all those in the western camp, they could only look at the issue from only one perspective, the superiority of the West perspective, that they can do anything they want and China is at their becks and calls. If things were so simple, then the Americans would have swallowed up China long ago. If things were so simple, ISIS would still be running wild in the Middle East and all the Arab countries would be on fire. If things were so simple, the South China Sea would have flared up into a full blown battle field with silly puny American cronies fighting China.

If things were so simple, the Americans would not be owing trillions to China and the rest of the world. If things were so simple, they would not need to vote for Trump, the best of the worse presidential candidates they ever had in American history. And how could such a poor quality candidate yesterday becomes a savior of the American dream overnight? He is now the Superman, the American hero from the comic books.  It is good to live in a lie, that Trump has all the solutions to all the American problems and he would dictate to China and to the rest of the world what he wants, take it or leave it. China and the rest of the world would be on their knees begging for mercy?

Keep living with the American fantasies, that the rest of the world is just dumb folks and the only clever people are the Americans with Trump the super ‘knows all’ genius. Didn’t the Americans forget what the media were saying about Trump during the run up to the presidential election? The two rejects but the winner is now the maverick they were waiting for?

PS. China told Ford Motor, you want to sell your cars to 1.3 billion people, build your factory in China. Ford said no, we will build factory in the USA to sell to 300m people. This is Donald Trump’s brilliant advice on how to do business to Ford.

I stand corrected, not sure if Ford is building car factories in China or pulling out of China.

Unemployed Singaporeans – Mismatch, no skill, no experience?

The problems of Singaporeans losing their jobs and unable to find reemployment is reaching a critical point. The senior PMEs have long given up hope, resigned to their fate that the govt is not going to do much for them except telling them to go for retraining to take on low paying jobs.

What is frightening and unacceptable is to find out that under 30s are also unable find gainful employment, fresh from polytechnics and universities. In many countries there will be riots on the streets and the govt will be brought down. Here we have the govt trying to explain away the problems.  The reasons cited by the MOM for the unemployment of Singaporeans, ‘the belief that there is no suitable work available, employers’ discrimination or the lack of necessary qualification, training or experience’.

As a result 1,200 young and discouraged workers, under 30, were reported, up from 700 last year. This is only known statistics. How many more not accounted, not reported. And the total number of discouraged workers is 9,900, up from 8,700 last year. As if a consolation or an achievement, it was down from the high of 11,300 in 2009. What a relief.

If the reasons quoted by MOM are the real reasons, how come there are more than 500,000 foreigners here gainfully employed? They did not believe there is no suitable work available, the employers discriminated in their favour, they have all the necessary qualification, training and experience that graduates from our top polytechnics and universities did not have? Who is kidding? Or our polytechnics and universities are so hopeless, useless, cannot produce graduates with the right qualification, training and experience that third world rubbish bin universities and polytechnics and schools could do better?

Please, what is the real reason for such a big number of discouraged workers that are unemployed, not counting probably much more that were not in the statistics? If there are so many Singaporeans that cannot find employment or proper employment, why is the MOM still issuing so many thousands of WP, EP and SP  to the foreigners and they are still arriving in huge numbers daily?

Is the lax issuing of WP, EP and SP the real reason for Singaporeans being unemployed or under employed? Has CECA got anything to do with the plight of these discouraged Singaporeans and those that have given up all hopes?

This is what Gan Kim Yong said at the Teochew food and cultural Fair,

‘Speaking at the event in Mandarin, Minister Gan Kim Yong said that Singaporeans should understand their culture and stand united during difficult times. Below is a translation from States Times Review:

 

“The understanding of a common culture can unite Singaporeans during difficult times. Every Singaporean should promote the kaki lang (Teochew for my family) spirit to be united and overcome difficulties.”’

 

The first thing that came to my mind was the follow up phrase. But I need not have to waste time trying to figure it out. A James Bong replied,

‘Kaki nang, ka chern sair tang, pa see bor siang kang!’

 

Is this what is happening to the discouraged and unemployed Singaporeans?  ‘Kaki nang, pa see bor siang kang!’ Though the millionaire ministers are having a good time in all seasons, the discouraged or unemployed or under employed Singaporeans are really having a bad time. Anyone think these are kaki nang and need to be helped, deserved to be employed instead of the 500,000 foreigners?

Save ISIS, save ISIS

Now who is so mad to be shouting 'Save ISIS, save ISIS'? Not me for sure. Just a year back, everyone was shouting to destroy ISIS. The Americans were taking the lead, and many crony American countries were sending their boys to the Middle East to fight and die, fighting ISIS. Even today, our media are still daily reporting on ISIS bombing or threatening to bomb this country or that country. I am sure Singapore also have some of our boys in the Middle East fighting ISIS.

At the peak of the fight ISIS campaign, the Americans were seen leading the fight, and ISIS somehow got stronger and stronger, gaining more and more territories, victory after victory, and the Americans appeared to be hapless, the world's most powerful military force unable to contain a rag tag group of misfits called soldiers. How could that be? Were the rag tag soldiers, mostly untrained, half trained, badly trained and badly equipped, no air power, no big guns, were thrashing the professional Rambos, Green Berets, Special Forces and threatening to conquer and rule the Middle East? Their morale was so high, and this became their strong point to recruit more jobless kids from SE Asia, who believe they were on the winning side.

Then the Russians stepped in and the picture of the war against the ISIS changed. The Russians made the ISIS soldiers looked like misfits, rag tag soldiers as what they were supposed to be, incompetent, unable to fight and on the run after many were killed in battle. The whole image of supremacy, a victorious rebel fighter force collapsed. Rag tag meant rag tag and had no chance against the professional Russian army but triumphant against the Americans. Why, how could it be?

Then the Americans panicked and behaved like incompetent rag tag soldiers. They told the world they were attacking the ISIS but ended up shooting down Russian fighter bombers and bombing the Syrian soldiers. What was happening, what was going on? The Americans, the world best professional army, apologised. They made mistakes in attacking the Syrian soldiers just like they made 'mistakes' in sending a super accurate cruise missile into the Chinese Embassy from 1000 km away. The Russians and the Chinese knew the cunningness of the Americans. The Chinese then were militarily too weak to strike back and had to swallow bitter pill. The Russians sent in their anti aircraft missiles and all the attacks against the Russians and Syrians by the Americans stopped.

The Russians, Syrians and Iraqis continued to slaughter the rag tag ISIS soldiers daily and only a handful were left in Aleppo waiting for a total wipe out. Thousands of the ISIS soldiers have surrendered. Victory and a total annihilation of the ISIS soldiers were imminent. Now what? What are the Americans doing?

The Americans are pleading to save ISIS. Yes, save ISIS, save ISIS! This is now the American stand. They wanted an immediate ceasefire. They wanted the Russians and the Syrians to let the ISIS go to live and fight another day, to continue to create instability and wars in the Middle East and threats all over the world.

Why, why are the Americans pleading mercy for the ISIS?  Anyone still blur and did not know what was and is happening in the Middle East and ISIS? The truth that everyone has been talking about, ISIS was and is the baby of Hillary Clinton and Obama and the White House. ISIS is the Americans weapon of mass destruction, WMD. ISIS was created, fed, trained and financed by the Americans to destabilise the Middle East and the rest of the world, to keep all the countries in trouble, under ISIS threats and needing the protection of the Americans and needing to buy more weapons to protect themselves.

The Americans have pushed through a resolution in the UN to force an immediate ceasefire against ISIS in Aleppo. And all the silly American cronies that were fighting the ISIS in the Middle East and in their own countries were told by the Americans to vote to save ISIS. And they did, and still have their boys fighting ISIS in the Middle East. How delirious can this be?

The Russians and the Arab countries would not  have such nonsense. The continue to bomb the ISIS positions in Aleppo. The ISIS rag tag soldiers must either surrender to die. There is no two way about this. They would not be let loose, to run out from the tightening noose to live to cause destruction all over again.

The Americans are furious and desperate and John Kerry is threatening to charge the Russians and the Syrians for war crimes. He forgot that he should be the first to be charged for war crimes for feeding, arming and financing ISIS and all those involved in the White House.

Anyone on the side of the Americans wants the ISIS to be let off? The mother of ISIS cannot let her baby die. The baby is very useful to disrupt and destabilize countries and govts. Please help save my loving baby. All American crony countries must stop persecuting ISIS and let them live.

The American hypocrisy is exposed in broad daylight for the world to see. How many silly cronies would still want to send their boys to the Middle East to die fighting ISIS?

Thio Shen Yi - A rare breed

In a rare public display of criticism, outgoing Law Society President Thio Shen Yi said that his clash with Law Minister K Shanmugam over a case where police intimidation led to a suicide of a 14-year-old boy, was a  badge of honour....

“If Benjamin had a lawyer present to give advice during the course of the (police) interview, would things have turned out differently? We will never have certainty, but it is not impossible to imagine a different outcome, and if that is possible, then one more question: How then should we act?”

Law Minister K Shanmugam was enraged by the Law Society President’s comments and threatened that his comments may amount to Contempt of Court:

“His statements imply that Benjamin killed himself because of police intimidation. Where the police are wrong, we must and will take action. But we should not allow deliberate, dishonest attacks.”

The Law Minister also slammed online news site TheOnline Citizen for fabricating “deliberate falsehoods to tar the police”.

The government’s state coroner absolved the Singapore Police of all responsibilities over the boy’s suicide and even praised the police and school’s measures taken “commendable”....'

The above was posted in the statestimesreview. Now that the case is closed, would a discussion on the above statement be a contempt of court? How many of you agree with Thio Shen Yi's comment that if Benjamin had a lawyer, the outcome would be different? How many of you think his statement amounted to contempt of court?

My view is standard. I always agree with the govt, especially the Law Minister. When he said contempt of court, be very mindful that he is right. But is does not mean that I agree with the govt or the law minister.

Anyway, I like this man, Thio Shen Yi. You don't find such individuals in the little Red Dot any more, or rarely. I have written a post titled, 'The silence of the intelligentsia' and had posted it earlier. That might explain why I like Thio Shen Yi. I hope saying I like this man does not amount to contempt of court or any funny or contorted or distorted interpretations. Such individuals are admirable in a city devoid of free thinking intelligentsia.

‘PM’s gaffe is a case of bad diplomacy’

‘PM’s gaffe is a case of bad diplomacy’

The above is the title of an article posted by a ‘Apologise’ in TRE. I quote a paragraph from the article on the PM’s gaffe and Apologise’s position on the PM’s position as not reflective of the general population.

‘Regardless of our individual positions on the South China Sea dispute, we feel that our PM’s gaffe is a case of bad diplomacy because China did nothing to Singapore to warrant such a response. We categorically state that his remarks does not represent all Singaporeans. We feel that by making those remarks, he is acting against our interest and his actions puts in jeopardy our warm and stable relationship with China that former Prime Ministers, including the father of our current PM, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew helped cultivate over the years. Its understandable for China’s leaders to feel annoyed. We would like PM Lee to apologise to China and help restore our peaceful relationship, while supporting Singapore’s call for the speedy and safe return of our property.’

There are strong sentiments in the social media that were not favourable to what Hsien Loong had been saying on the SCS and relations with China. I once mentioned about the dichotomy in views and perceptions between Channel 5 and Channel 8 Singaporeans. The two groups are as far apart and divided in their views, aspiration, taste and likes and dislikes that no one should simply take them for granted as a homogenous group.  When reading the English media, there is this audacity among the Channel 5 that they represent the Channel 8 people and can speak on behalf of them. The truth is far from it. Channel 5 people must not think that they represent the Channel 8 people and that their views are the dominant views.  In reality, at this point in time, the Channel 8 people are the majority in absolute numbers.

Hsien Loong, though coming from Catholic High background, is more a Channel 5 than a Channel 8 type.  His world views and cultural biases are thus more western than eastern and his preferences and affections are quite obvious. His latest comment that there is no ‘middle kingdom’ came as a surprise as he jolly well knows what that word mean in Chinese even if he is more Channel 5. China written in Chinese is zhong guo or 中国。Yes, 中国 means exactly what it is, Middle Kingdom. What he said about being no middle kingdom can be interpreted differently by the Channel 8 people and some may not take it lightly.

Perhaps Vivian can explain that Hsien Loong spoke in his private capacity as an ordinary citizen and not as a PM. That may appease some of the Channel 8 people if they did not know what it means by saying there is no middle kingdom.

Is this a gaffe? Whatever, there is no need to demand an apology, especially from our PM. No need to be so childish, everything also demand an apology. It would be quite embarrassing if our PM actually said sorry and China came back saying sorry must also explain.

The situation is bad enough, it is water under the bridge. Let's move on. It is easy for me to say it but would be good if China is to say it, let's move on.