Originally posted by CX:
i think it only helps to have a large population if u have a
protracted war of attrition.
otherwise, the outcome would've been determined within hours, or
days after the first shot has been fired... WAY before
reinforcements can be mobilised or fresh troops can be trained to
replace front line casualties.
Sg has chosen to build its military to fight this way... along the
lines of the IAF... it is prudent because of some similarities
between the 2 countries so ASSUMING that things go EXACTLY as
planned upon the outbreak of war, it should be all wrapped up
within weeks, if not days. in such a scenario, a large [b]manpower
potential won't matter if they cannot be forged into the
tip of a spear immediately.
the problem, of course, is that NOTHING ever goes 100% according to
plan. we could take out their frontline troops, warmaking
capabilities and supporting economic infrastructures, we could use
psychological warfare to undermine their civillian will to fight,
but if they just refuse to give in and give up, we'll be stuck on a
long road to nowhere and eventual destruction.
the mere threat of war will render this region USELESS for foreign
investments and trade. i think this is Sg's ultimate achilles
heels.
thats why like Sun Tzu said, war is FAILURE because it is
preferable to achive one's aims through politics, diplomacy,
espionage and deception, not outright war!
[/b]
You are certainly right to mention Sun Tzu's wisdom that "War is
FAILURE", and that "it is prefereable to achieve one's aims through
politics, diplomacy, espionage and deception".
It will be disastrous for Singapore to engage even in a short term
war, and this will only occur if 'amargeddon' is forced onto this
region by bellicose political leaders that refused to stand to
reason, and push us into an unnegotiable corner, where our very
existence is at stake.
With the sophistication and highly honed SAF Armed Forces, we can
certainly win a short term war of a few days to a few weeks.
After that ? What next ?
It will be long term occupation of seized territories and hostile
population.
Given such a circumstance, we have to consider the application of
force on a huge population and large territory, all of which can
EFFECT long term resistance to our occupation of their territory,
and EXACT a high price on our small population.
Such resistance can be in the form of armed resistance or by
duplicity in co-operation and sabotage against our SAF occupation
force.
We cannot hope to occupy our neighbor's territory, but will act as
a "liberating force", to reconstruct a new Government comprising of
people that can work with us, and acceptable to both peoples.
