National Security Survey

rogee SG

Many at times, we were being survey during our in camp on our opinion as a NS man on the 3G SAF, are we capable to defense ourselves, are we able to win a decisive war??

On the same note, I hope the surfers might contribute some views here before I present my personal opinion.

Thanks!

tripwire SG

the real issue is do we have the money. or better phrase... who has more money? us or the enemy?

afterall, money is the backbone of war... at least in the modern era.

rogee SG

Uncle sam has lots of cash too, I dont think they are winning the war now, let alone in Vietnam! Embarassed

rogee SG

It has never come to my mind, yes, ever, that we are heading towards a confrontational situation in the ever-changing region as today!

In this region, will politician scarify their interest for their nation or the other way round?? Or, when a country is burning with problems, what is the best way for the politician to diver the attention to external factors etc..!

Our 2 big ah bang and 1 more big one further away, are today facing with tons of problems, seems that we are their punching bag and their target of diversions.

Our recent purchases are not by coincident, but planned by politician with foresight. As they all know, being gullible shall be swallow alive!

rogee SG

Perhaps many younger guys may not be aware, back in 1965/66 (approximately), we ever have a confrontation with Indonesia, back than; we stand united with our Malaysia counterparts defending against the Indonesian. The Indonesian commandos infiltrated into Singapore and managed to bomb a mall in Orchard Road (if I can recall history correctly), both the commandos were caught but release back to Indonesia without being prosecuted due to diplomatic pressure from Indonesia.

Our Navy ship, RSS Panglima (now Decommission - Name later adopted by the school of navy traning till date), witnessed this confrontation, which I was told.

If I did not get my facts right, please correct me accordingly.

rogee SG

http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/merger/headline/mterror.html

Quote:

The bomb explosion at the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank building known as MacDonald House in Orchard Road, was the worst incident of terrorism during the Confrontation.

Indonesia had declared a state of armed confrontation against Singapore, in protest of the merger.

On September 18 1963, Tengku Abdul Rahman severed diplomatic ties with Indonesia and the Philippines.

"In view of the fact that the Indonesia Government has broken off ties with Malaysia without any apparent reason, we have no choice but to do likewise and to recall our Ambassador and the Embassy staff, and at the same time to close down our consulate in Medan."

During the confrontation , Indonesian troops invaded Sabah, Sarawak and Johor. There were sabotage incidents in Singapore. As bomb explosions became more frequent, Singaporeans underwent bomb drills and were warned not to handle any suspicious-looking parcels.
An Indonesian escorted by a Federal Reserve Unit man after being arrested at West Coast Road

A state of emergency was declared in Malaysia on September 4 1964 after 30 Indonesia commandos airdropped into the Labis area. The next day, a curfew was imposed in Singapore, in response to the Indonesian-inspired clashes where eight persons were killed.

Click on image to read about the interview with General Suharto

It was not until 1966, that Lieutenant-General Suharto made moves to end the confrontation. In an exclusive interview with the Straits Times in May, Suharto "expressed hope that the dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia should be settled "the sooner the better".

In August 1966, the Indonesia parliament approved the end of the Confrontation. Suharto became the president of Indonesia

Unquote.

tripwire SG

with respect to vietnam... there was never a doubt in the american generals mind who they are really fighting against...

the vietnamese were just the front, the real battle was a contest between the economic and industrial power of america VS china and russia.

without the chinese, vietnamese would probably long starve to death, without the russians, there wouldnt even be a vietnamese air force with migs to boot.

with respect to konfrontasi... way back before sukarno was deposed due to the communist uprising, a former general wrote a book, stating clearly that sukarno had ordered him to go to england (then the major power who is really fighting konfrontasi) to seek an end to konfrontasi due to indonesia's economic difficulties.

in both cases... it clearly shows that no money... no war.

first a country must have the wealth to sustain a war, only after this first pre-condition is satisfied.. could other questions such as the will to fight becomes meaningful.

without cash.... without supplies... without logistics... without proper equipment and support... a war is lost before it begun.

morale, courage, will and determinations are only as strong as the next hot meals that is served to the soldiers...

remove that hot meal.. all you have is a demoralised army, no matter the size, no matter the pep talk.

beavan SG

nice long argument that u wrote. whichever way i look at it, it all seems to sum up with the statement, that wars are fought with money only.

i feel it's not possible to make such a sweeping statement. granted, it is not possible to fight a mordern war without proper logistics and equipment. we all agree on that point, but i feel that it is also not possible to fight any war without the moral courage and heart that every soldier has to bring with him if he's to fight for Singapore/his nation.

that's something that money can not buy.

peace Exclamation

FireAndHell SG

Originally posted by rogee:
Perhaps many younger guys may not be aware, back in 1965/66 (approximately), we ever have a confrontation with Indonesia, back than; we stand united with our Malaysia counterparts defending against the Indonesian. [b]The Indonesian commandos infiltrated into Singapore and managed to bomb a mall in Orchard Road (if I can recall history correctly), both the commandos were caught but release back to Indonesia without being prosecuted due to diplomatic pressure from Indonesia.[/b]

Err....I am not sure where you get the information from. But you are way off the mark.
Yes, Indon commandoes did infiltrated SG and managed to bomb Macdonald House, which is near to the current Plaza Singapura.
Yes, the 2 Indon bombers were caught in Singapore.

No, the 2 Indon bombers were not "release back to Indonesia without being prosecuted due to diplomatic pressure from Indonesia".

In fact, the 2 bombers were prosecuted in SG court, found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. Indon gov did put tremendous pressure onto SG gov to get the 2 bombers released. SG gov stood firm, and the 2 bombers were hanged.

But you are also right, SG gov did release the 2 bombers back to Indonesia. In 2 coffins and after they have been hanged. Twisted Evil