Singapore leaders not in the same calibre as first generation leaders

 When Lee Kuan Yew talks people more or less listen as he commands international respect whether East or West. Also Lee Kuan Yew's cabinet of ministers are all of his calibre for example like DR Goh Keng Swee, Mr Rajaratnam, Dr Toh Chin Chye and Hon Sui Xian just to name a few. Where is the standing of our present politicians - no comparison but just pale in significance . 

Just a silly remark to support the barbaric warmongering rogue state US against Russia in the Ukraine war engulf the anger of Russia and all countries of the South. Now Russia and China have stated that Singapore is not allowed to join as a member of BRICS . Singapore will have to swim in the wilderness of international politics and face an uncertain future. 

It is no good for Singaporeans when their so-called leaders say things without proactive thinking. It's time for Singapore politicians to retrospect and amend their behaviour especially on international affairs. Singapore is so small not bigger than the size of nose snort and so it should know its place and not opening its mouth freely to offend other countries unnecessarily. The best thing is to shut up and not be a smart Alex.

Lee Tai Chong SG

MAGA? Washington clowns destroy America by weaponising the dollar! Hang them!!!

 De-dollarization actually terrifies the Anglo-Saxons more than anything else. On the surface they appear more or less nonchalant. But, believe me, beneath the surface they are extremely nervous, paranoid and deeply worried.

There is no system set up by humans that cannot be destroyed by humans. It is just a fantasy that such a setup will exist forever into the future and cannot be taken down. Empires of all shapes and size have fallen in the past. The British Empire was even bigger and yet succumbed to the Wheels of Fortune. Unfathomable war mongers like Hitler and Napolean, all conquering, fell to the Soviet Union, with heaven's help undoubtedly. Business conglomerates like Kodak, Panasonic, Olivetti to name a few all fell into oblivion with new business taking over.

In Buddhism we are reminded that nothing is permanent. In the West they say that man proposes, but God disposes. Nothing lasts forever, same as human lives and all living things.

Just look at climate change. Are we able to contend or fight with nature since the days of mankind's existence. However we want to tout about overcoming all odds, we still are held hostage by nature.

Trump may have fantasies about launching a nuclear device into a hurricane to stop its destruction. Or drinking horse de-worming medication to stop COVID. If you believe in Trump, he is one to make America Great Once Again, LOL.

Anonymous

The USA is in a situation that do it will die, don't do it will die

 Besides weapons, the USA is the biggest proliferator of propaganda, the biggest cause of inflation with its unlimited printing of toilet papers which it exported to the rest of the world together with its inflation.

Now the world is wising up. USA Treasuries are no longer the preferred choice of investment with the cutting of rates. That is why the US$ is weakening against most other currencies. Over the last two or three years they had to increase rate of returns to attract investors into treasuries. That is bottoming out with the rate cuts to save the economy.

The actions taken against Russia by seizing its assets is the final nail in the coffin. China is selling Treasuries like hot cakes. Even Japan, probably arm twisted to buy over the years, is also dumping Treasuries. The only support comes from the Anglo-Saxons, not all actually, with UK taking up the lion's share. They have to help to preserve the US$ hegemony to prevent its collapse.

But this cannot go on forever with spiraling debts. Most of the US$35 trillion debt are said to be held by USA entities and citizens. The collapse of the system will be catastrophic for US citizens itself. Pension funds that invested huge sums of their bounty in Treasuries and USA debts will collapse, leaving the pensioners to eat grass. Banks will collapse, big or small, as they also have huge investments in Treasuries and USA debts in their books. And what will this mean for US citizens as well.

It is therefore unthinkable for the USA to default on its debts. But default it will. It is only a question of time when the jugglers, the Fed and Treasury, cannot find an answer to prevent the default any longer. They have kicked the can down the road far enough. To save the USA economy, they are cutting rates hoping to energize the system. If Wall Street is reported to be doing so well and the stock market rising to records every day, indicating a booming economy, why is there a need to cut rates. Something is not right.

Anonymous

BRICS will severe relationship with IMF and World Bank

 BRICS countries are reported to be burning their bridges in dealing with the IMF and World Bank and there is talk that the Western biased leaning UN will figure in less instrumental ways for BRICS countries going forward.

In other words, BRICS is into setting up its own financing system for development among BRICS countries, just as China did in setting up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank or AIIB for Asian countries to source for development funds.

As it is, China is already doing massive lending for infrastructure developments around the world with its BRI projects. There is no longer any need for poor countries to be beholden to the IMF and World Bank for aid. The BRI is making the IMF and World Bank more or less impotent, with China now funding all the developments in Africa, Central Asia, South-East Asia and even South America. The IMF and World Bank can look forward to funding the India/Middle East/Europe Corridor and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), LOL.

The BRI was a masterstroke by Xi Jinping, allowing China to recycle its trade surpluses, which would otherwise be diverted towards investing in risky US$ assets like Treasuries and real estate in the USA and EU, which could be seized in times of conflict like the assets of Russia. And such conflict is imminent and just testify to the wisdom of China thinking far ahead.

Countries like Argentina, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that took loans from the IMF and World Bank years ago, are now not able to extricate themselves and are now stuck by being beholden to the dictates of these two entities.

Now, isn't that obvious as to why the USA and the West are so unhappy and keep repeating the debt trap myth against China over the BRI funding for countries around the world, especially in Africa. Does that surprise us? It certainly does not surprise me. This is their modus operandi. When they fail to compete, they want to demonize or destroy.

Anonymous

American military bases in Syria and Iraq under waves of attacks and suffering heavy casualties

 Such news would not be reported in the western media. Just like the daily barrages of missiles and rockets raining down in Israel, there will be no casualties, no buildings being destroyed, nothing happened. The missiles and rockets were just like firecrackers or duds, would not hit anything of value, would not hit any Israelis as it they could recognise an Israelis and would turn away.

American and Israeli propaganda warfare are now very predictable. They are winning the war in the Middle East and also in Ukraine. The American military bases in Syria and Iraq are very safe, would not be attacked. And if they are attacked, it would not hurt anyone, no casualties, maybe a hole in a open space. A Sky News twit was heard saying the latest Iranian missiles were all taken down by the Israeli defence, when the whole world could see hundreds of them hitting their targets in live coverage by social media. He looked so stupid saying that, and he knew it. It showed in his stupid face.

How often have the American occupation forces and their military bases in Syria and Iraq been attacked and how many American boys and girls have been sent home in plastic bags? As far as American and western media are concerned, none. They are very safe. The Syrian and Iraqi forces would not dare to attack the Americans. Really?

The Syrian and Iraqi, as well as the Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollahs are unable to provide many video coverage of their attacks and the damages and deaths inflicted for lack of such facilities. This does not mean that the Americans and Israelis are safe and not killed. Several hundreds of thousands of rockets and missiles have landed in Israel, American bases in Syria and Iraq. A ten percent hit rate would have killed thousands of them, definitely not just 10 or 20 or like the bloated Israeli numbers in the thousands in Lebanon.

There is a blackout on news of American and Israeli casualties in the conflict. No western journalists would dare to spill the beans.