Singapore's Involvement in Iraq: More that We Can Do?

last SG · 2008-07-12T04:37:44+00:00

The coalition forces know that killing civilians indiscriminately cannot win the hearts and minds of the people. I don't think it's deliberate.I agree. They...

rover789 SG

In 2004, Singapore Foreign Minister Professor S. Jayakumar rationalized Singapore's decision to support the Iraq war as the inevitable result of the country's foreign policy: "Ultimately, what guides us in our foreign policy is our national interest. And that remains the fundamental approach."

While I believe there lies a hint of ambiguity inherent in that approach, I think most of us understood why it had to be done: Singapore is a small nation. No doubt the U.S is a superpower that has helped fueled our economy in many ways. Joining it in its fight against terrorism seemed like the most intuitive thing to do.

I view it like this: so yes, Singapore agreed to support the liberation effort for the sake of national interests, despite it not being supported by the United Nations in the first place. That debate has been exhausted. So yes, our military must be involved in some way. But...to what extent has their involvement there benefited or damaged occupied Iraq, to this very day?

I think our military (MINDEF) should be more transparent in their involvement and the activites they carry out in the war. What exactly does "reconstruction of the war-torn country" constitute, in terms of our military being involved in genuine relief efforts? We have heard that sentence issued from MINDEF countless times.

Over the past five years, many journalists (such as Dahr Jamail) have spoken out against the mishandling of the war by the coalition forces, after experiencing the events there themselves. In my belief, removing Saddam from power, regardless of whether he had WMDs or not (as the Bush admin would have you believe he did), was the right thing to do. But after that? Innocent children and women killed indiscriminately by U.S sniper fire. Mass detentions on the streets of Baghdad. The notorious Abu Ghraib prison scandal. And let's not forget the disaster that was the Fallujah siege in 2004. How much mishandling must be see before we are forced to act?

Critics like to argue that all these incidents are classified as collateral damage. If the end justifies the means, some might say, then it is worth the sacrifices incurred. But can we just idly sit on it and expect the administration to handle it all? If our military has somehow contributed to these mishaps even though the deeds were not directly carried out by our soldiers, the government should investigate and rightfully inform it's people.

For example, if we are allowing coalition forces to use our military facilities, what kind of outcome is brought about by that? Do these outcomes violate the Geneva Conventions? Why are we not utilizing our military resources to aid in more pressing matters such as the damaged infrastructure? Instead, why are we joining the U.S Navy and marines in helping to guard Iraq's "oil-pumping platforms?" Or is the entire war all about protecting Iraq's oil for our own purposes?

My question is simply this: as civilians of a full-fledged democratic nation privileged enough to enjoy more than 40 years of peace and harmony, what are we going to do about the current humanitarian situation in Iraq from mid-2008 onwards? There is more that normal Singaporeans like you and me can do for these people rather than relying on the powers that be. There has to be a some way we can contribute more, if not to end the war (which no doubt sounds like a fantasy to most people npw), then at least to organize relief efforts or raise more awareness on the issue.

I was happy to see Singaporeans banding together to help victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the Sichuan earthquake in China. I believe this can apply to more than just natural disaster efforts. We have blood on our hands, and we cannot just expect someone else to come and wash it away for us.

Poh Ah Pak SG

USA invasion of Iraq is a war based on falsehoods and lies.

The aims of that war is to secure USA global hegemony.

Singapore should not be involved in this type of naked aggressive war and occupation.

U.S. congressman moves to impeach Bush for second time over Iraq war lies

http://en.rian.ru/world/20080711/113750380.html

LazerLordz SG

TS, it's quite simple.

We are part of the coalition, because it confers upon us a net benefit in a strategic sense.

Our ability to inter-operate with US forces in joint operations is increasing. What use is our Armed Forces if we do not ensure that they get experience in peace enforcement (at the very least)?

Certain individuals here do not like American hegemony but at the end of the day, it is national interest that dictates such things, and the global reach of American influence is akin to a force multiplier for states to continue to flourish in a Westphalian system.

Poh Ah Pak SG

National interest to take part in occupation of Iraq?

Send our troops to die in USA's aggressive wars?

I completely oppose that.

Take part in USA's illegal hostile aggresive war, next day might be your turn.

Poh Ah Pak SG

I find it ludicrous to send SAF troops to take part in USA illegal occupation of Iraq.

USA want to fuck with other countries, they can jolly well send their own fucking troops.

Poh Ah Pak SG

and the global reach of American influence is akin to a force multiplier for states to continue to flourish in a Westphalian system.

Support USA's aggressive and hegemonic wars?

Pui!

Fuck Off.

Poh Ah Pak SG

LazerLordz, one of the main goals in USA invasion of Iraq is to control Iraqi oil.

You want to die for that goal?

You want SAF to send you to Iraq and die serving USA strategic goal of controlling oil?

You accept that?

You want to risk your life for USA to control oil?

http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2008/06/

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/

stupidissmart SG

first thing first, the america r assholes when they attack iraq. Tis war should never have taken place

now wat should singapore involvement be ? We must know one thing. No matter wat we do, the war is gonna be fought. If we let poh ah pak be the prime minister and he strongly oppose the war using watever method singapore can muster, the war would not be stopped. The people will still die. We just made another enemy... a friend we rely on for a long time

Now the choice is simply tis, against US and be their enemy and everyone still die in iraq, or be a friend of US and do minimal and everyone still die in iraq. The bottomline then become tis. U want to be richer or poorer ? If u want to go against US, then u have to face job shortages, poorer pay higher tax. If u want to go with US, u get higher pay, more jobs and lesser tax.

I am a frank person, I think supporting US is a right move of the gov, even though US is wrong. It is not a pro US. stand. It is a pro singapore decision

And singapore did not help in fighting the war, they only sit in a ship near to iraq doing... well.. nothing... How many iraqis they killed ? Probably zero. Blood in our hands ? U probably have more blood plucking chickens

If u talk about helping iraq people, well... how can we help ? Donate money to them ? Don't need to... US is doing all the donating now

Poh Ah Pak SG

I am not advocating Singapore go against USA.

Only skillful statesman like Kim Jong Il and Hugo Chavez can afford to do that.

I am saying Singapore stay out of war and occupation.

stupidissmart SG

They did. They just do something symbolic and probably offer some relief. They r out of iraq since 2004 if i am not wrong

googoomuck SG

It is the US national interest to start a small scale war than to let Al Qaida to gather sttrength and be dragged into a full scale world war later. AL-Qaida's grand illusion is global domination.

It was a good time for the US to strike after the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers. It is in the interest of the US to have countries with democratic form of government to be her allies.

Had the US not attacked Afganistan, the surveillance videos and the plot to level Singapore's landmarks would not have been uncovered.

Poh Ah Pak SG

It is the US national interest to start a small scale war than to let Al Qaida to gather sttrength and be dragged into a full scale world war later.

Al Qaida how to wage full scale world war?

This not hollywood leh.

googoomuck SG

Al Qaida how to wage full scale world war?

This not hollywood leh.

Exactly !

If US and her allies don't pounce on them now, then when? Wait till they grow into a population bomb and then deal with their rising influence?

That must not happen.

Fingolfin_Noldor SG

Let's be frank. Just about any tom dick and harry is going to claim allegiance to Al Qaeda and blaming everything on Al Qaeda is ridiculous. The real problem is extremist teachings, and the fact that the US is sucking up to Saudi Arabia which happens to be the no. 1 exporter of Wahabism. The only reason why the Singapore Government would suck up to the US, regardless how many stupid policies that the US have pursued, is that at the end of the day, they hope the US will come to our rescue when we get attacked by say China.

Poh Ah Pak SG

If US and her allies don't pounce on them now, then when? Wait till they grow into a population bomb and then deal with their rising influence?

Sounds like lame USA propaganda.

Like Iraq have weapons of mass destruction.

All poppycock.

Poh Ah Pak SG

they hope the US will come to our rescue when we get attacked by say China.

Who is more aggressive, USA or China?

googoomuck SG

Sounds like lame USA propaganda.

Like Iraq have weapons of mass destruction.

All poppycock.

It could have been used as an excuse to launch an attack but It didn't really matter.

It's in US national interest to attack and weaken the enemy's influence. Many countries also sighed with relief that Saddam's gone, including Iraq.

Poh Ah Pak SG

I oppose USA aggressive wars based on lies and killing of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis.

It's in US national interest to attack and weaken the enemy's influence.

It is for their global hegemonic agenda.

Ludicrous to say Afghanistan or Iraq could pose real military threat to USA.

rover789 SG

I think it's time we move past the whole "blame game" deal. Let's face it, opposing Singapore's involvement in the war won't change what's happened in Iraq one bit. It's been five years. Our government isn't perfect. I don't think our government made this decision lightly.

Think about it -- would our Singapore government have the foresight to predict the Bush administration seriously mishandling the war? They probably thought, "Heck, yeah, might as well score a trade deal and kick Al-Qaeda in their collective asses while we're at it."

I don't blame them. They probably had their own reasonable assumptions at that time that might have convinced them to do so -- whether these assumptions turned out to be true...well, that's another thing they just have to deal with. Maybe they really thought the Iraqi people would be better off without Saddam's tyranny, maybe they (naively) thought he possessed WMDs, that Iraq could be a hot zone for terrorism if left unchecked....or maybe they were just sharp enough to identify an opportunity for Singapore to benefit economically in some way...and a dozen other assumptions we might never know they made. Who knows, right?

So...let's just let the "blame game" thing rest folks...I'm not saying I'm totally supporting whatever PAP says we should support. What's done won't change a damn thing. Whether you support that decision or whether the 101 crazy things the U.S has done to sell us this war (or, for that matter, whatever the U.S has done in the past) does not change the situation in Ground Zero now. The Iraqi people don't need to hear us arguing and hacking one another to pieces about whether what our government did was right or wrong.

Normal people like you and me: we should focus on the possible things we can do after Singapore has supported the war; heck, despite Singapore supporting it, even. Hell, I'll be honest: I haven't a clue as to what we can do to help. But that's what discussion is for... If we can't do a damn thing to aid those people in Iraq, then maybe we can help ourselves in some way. Maybe learning what the U.S army did wrong after Saddam was deposed... and making sure something like that would never repeated in the future, if and when Singapore is involved in any kind of war.

And yeah: saying that we shouldn't bother donating anything to the people trapped in war or disaster zones (not just limited to Iraq...the Gaza Strip and Burmese people come to mind) just cause others are doing it, that's the kind of mentality that's self-destructive. The billions of dollars coming in from Congress and the American people, to Iraq...you can never be sure what they're used for. Singapore has a pretty efficient and relatively non-corrupt government that could probably oversee several simple relief operations without incident (although there is the problem of how the U.S would interpret Singapore doing this). Hey, we've made it through 40-plus years of independence with good success..we see other countries struggling to do the same, so let's help 'em, even if it changes nothing gargantuan.

stupidissmart SG

The gov probably agree to the war simply because it can make singapore richer than against it. Tat is it. If u talk about helping Iraqis, frankly speaking it is not gonna gather much attention because they r not dying of starvation or a lot of people who r injured and need rescue teams. Now they r just fighting among themselves and maybe just isolated. There r many regions facing worse problems than them, such as Africa. They r literally massacaring each other. Why not help them first ?