tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post8515867334709611881..comments2024-03-28T21:39:05.175+08:00Comments on Senang Diri: Can Singapore weather a WikiLeaks scenario?David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-25598790452243311002010-11-12T11:47:44.136+08:002010-11-12T11:47:44.136+08:00From one Anonymous to another,
Thank you, thank y...From one Anonymous to another,<br /><br />Thank you, thank you so much.<br /><br />It's opportune to remind ourselves of the military-industrial complex, not only of its strength in defense but more gravely, also its weight on a society.<br /><br />Regards,<br />EricAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-56722513684282105722010-11-12T09:06:04.352+08:002010-11-12T09:06:04.352+08:00President of the United States (and former General...President of the United States (and former General of the Army) Dwight D. Eisenhower used the term in his Farewell Address to the Nation on January 17, 1961:<br /><br />"A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction...<br />This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every statehouse, every office of the federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-71374137875566578262010-11-12T07:09:29.432+08:002010-11-12T07:09:29.432+08:00Again, kudos for the thought-provoking article, Mr...Again, kudos for the thought-provoking article, Mr. Boey.<br /><br />As much as the defense establishment finds the existence of organizations like Wikileaks, or individuals who advance this cause as an inconvenience or even destructive, I see them as an essential component of the whole nation building process.<br /><br />We cannot naively expect the defense establishment or the authorities to be completely honest with facts and figures. It might not be in their interests.* At the same time, it's also swinging to the extreme to only rely on such organizations and individuals as the counterbalance.<br /><br />We need both so that we as a nation gets comfortable over time with uncomfortable debates and make sure that important questions that have both moral (e.g., should we do this; what does this say about us as a people?) and material consequences (e.g., how much are we spending to support the ops; how many servicemen and women might die?) do not get relegated to only one party (no pun intended) to make the absolute decision, regardless of their intent and ability.<br /><br />So the important question here is not if we should accept and tolerate them, or ban them completely. The issue is how can we make sure such entities participate in a meaningful way that builds Singapore. The key word here is engagement. The process will be messy and not as efficient as what is being done now. Efficiency has its purposes, but its value, IMHO, might have been exaggerated and overemphasized for too long.<br /><br />My two cents' worth.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Eric<br /><br />* I don't generally equate national interests necessarily as the interests of the government or the authorities. What's good for a nation might not be beneficial to the governing bodies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-11411270544022388522010-11-11T21:30:56.181+08:002010-11-11T21:30:56.181+08:00One of key reasons why the Vietnam war ended was b...One of key reasons why the Vietnam war ended was because Daniel Ellsberg leaked high level memos from the Defence dept stating how hopeless the situation was in Vietnam with no clear end in sight. I find it hard to defend the Vietnam war when some 58,000 American soldiers died in a internal civil war to defend an undemocratic regime.<br /><br />Thankfully the major newspaper organisations, Washington Post and NYT agreed to publish Ellsberg's leaks. If not Wikileaks could have come in handy, if it were around then.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-40094484528924900542010-11-11T20:41:11.509+08:002010-11-11T20:41:11.509+08:00Then again, if you were fighting a war and your in...Then again, if you were fighting a war and your intel corps has dug out some really juicy info on your enemy, like discrimination amongst the ranks, displays of incompetence by higher ups, or even plans for an upcoming attack, won't you suddenly love Wikileaks?Ben Choonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17084017720412706428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-25693132929604908882010-11-11T12:12:38.214+08:002010-11-11T12:12:38.214+08:00If WikiLeaks has a Headquarters, it deserves a 200...If WikiLeaks has a Headquarters, it deserves a 2000 pounder JDAM right down its air shaft.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com