I recognised the old traditional american values in upholding
peace...against suppressed nations in the world, during WW2 and
especially during the COLD WAR. But today, such values are giving
way to american's own interests, its own security in fighting the
terrorists, its own economy in securing supplies of oil and the
issue of steel import, its own industrialization in dealing with
international treaties such as Kyoto Protocol, just to name a few.
a bit out of topic but I have no doubt about the truth of what is
said (about freedom in spore), neither do I suspect his intention
to want to speak something good, I question the effectiveness of
such statement and I certainly feel that much more can be done,
could have been done, if there is a true intention asking for
changes.
In other words, I won't look at a yellow piece of s h i t and shout
"Gold !".
I don't know about historical facts or about US, I am talking about
HERE in Singapore, if the US embassador does have lunches with our
oppositions members, and if the government does not make noise,
then they have indeed become more "magnanimous". But, the US
embassador must first invite the opposition members leh. No lunch
how can we know if the PAP has become more tolerant? 
(I am also waiting for ppl to buy me free lunch
).
It is immaterial whether you or I think such lunches are "as
perfectly in order and not interfering in our internal affairs".
The US embassador lunches with many hushands and wives and who is
to say if he were interfering in somebody's domestic affairs?
