Terrorist on the loose!

[road.not.taken]

My daughter's ex-boyfriend, all 18 years of him is in the NS. He was called back to the base because of the terrorist that's on the loose. The street I live on was all but shut down -- there must have been 30 or 40 guys with machine guns patrolling around, looking in bushes, etc... . It's a wonder they didn't shoot one of our cats, the Norwegian Forest cat like to jump out and surprise people.

[sundaymorningstaple]

yeah, it took me forever to get to Bukit Batok this morning as the 156 bus had to transit the Whitley Road, Dunhearn Road area. The only time I've seen more military personnel is at the National Day celebration.

[Forks]

But from what we were told this all happend last night so by 8 in the morning an armed cordon seemed a bit late, if I broke out of the Singapore equivilent of guantanamo Bay Id be running very fast in the direction of away and not waiting around, or climbing trees.

BTW the troops without guns had these big kick ass flashligts, the kind you club people with, if they do/have catch him I hope he went quietly otherwise he will be hurting

[sundaymorningstaple]

We were digressing so I though I'd split this off but I also left it here as I think it's good for a serious discussion as well.

I guess the real reason is I wanted to rant about it for just a wee spell.

I've been here donkey's years and have listened to the local Government till I'm blue in the face about how damned good it is. How it's number 1 in this and Number 1 in that and how advanced their military hardware and personnel are.

Now, if you all read the papers this morning, there was a small article telling how tight security is at the lockup where this guy was kept. If security was so damned tight, how did a lone, unarmed man manage to escape? No tunnel was mentioned. It was the middle of the afternoon, not in the shadows of the night. Wasn't anybody armed? The article indicated they were but why didn't they just shoot the bastard?

So, here is this government, the first to poo-poo it's neighbour's military and police forces all the time for incompetence and it was Indonesia who caught the guy after he Gave Singapore the Slip in the 1st JI roundup. So Indonesia deports him back to Singapore where again, Singapore has dropped the ball.

What is going to be the Government's stance when this guy who has probably already gotten to Malaysia, finds a way to complete his earlier plan. What is going to be the Government' stance when because of their incompetence, he kills several hundreds or more people in a terrorist act?

What excuse will they be able to give to the families of the victims?

Rant over. (been wanting to say something all day! - Thanks road.not.taken for the opportunity.)

sms

[cutiebutie]

I guess it is better to be pro-active in the search and leaving no stone unturned rather than take a lacadaisical approach. Maybe the powers that be also are embarassed that the guy got away.

I'm sorry, but I must laugh at the thought of all these lovely bespectacled and pampered boys sweating and being scared witless at the thought of actually finding this guy.

Ayioh, Ah Beng. What to do, lah?

Kana sai, kenna grab him, lor. I scare he get violent some more.

Ok, ok. Die die juss walk pass

[rt160177]

Now, if you all read the papers this morning, there was a small article telling how tight security is at the lockup where this guy was kept. If security was so damned tight, how did a lone, unarmed man manage to escape? No tunnel was mentioned. It was the middle of the afternoon, not in the shadows of the night. Wasn't anybody armed? The article indicated they were but why didn't they just shoot the bastard?
sms

You also forgot to mention that he has a limp!

Do you think he had help? maybe from someone inside?

[ScoobyDoes]

Is this place on Whitely Road the most secure place on the island, i mean they just call it a Detention Centre, and not a high security jail.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Is this place on Whitely Road the most secure place on the island, i mean they just call it a Detention Centre, and not a high security jail.

"Tight security" was the term they used. As well as the term "Singapore's Most Dangerous Man". Glad it wasn't a medium security facility. That's probably located at some Changi Airport Departure Lounge. Or at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Just think, they have let him waltz outta here 2 times now. 'Bout as effective as the US's Homeland Security in my opinion.

And to have to listen to little Big Head in Parliament apologizing........

[cutiebutie]

And to have to listen to little Big Head in Parliament apologizing........

Nice change

[sundaymorningstaple]

Cutiebutie, you do have a point there! It's refreshing to see him with...

[Forks]

How does "singapores most dangerous man" limp out of the Singapore equvilent of Guantanamo bay, evade a massive man hunt and still remain on the loose? Cant the tracker dogs find him, thermal imageing, radar, a seance?

and now Im being told by my sources (local taxi drivers) that he could possibly be swimming back to Bintan!

Whatever this guy is he is pretty amazing at stayin on the loose.

And yes SMS Id love to see how they are going to explain this one away or which poor sod they will blame.

[Asian_Geekette]

My local manager was telling us that according to some conspiracy theories... guy was given a chance to become a double agent. So this is the government's way of releasing him back to the group...

But at the extent of embarassing the government?

This is quite interesting. I wonder how the SG govt will handle this fiasco...

[Superglide]

Well, even in Singapore humans still make mistakes it seems.

A terrorist on the loose, now does that mean Singapore is no longer a safe haven for Gordon Gekko?

[ksl]

How does "singapores most dangerous man" limp out of the Singapore equvilent of Guantanamo bay, evade a massive man hunt and still remain on the loose? Cant the tracker dogs find him, thermal imageing, radar, a seance?

and now Im being told by my sources (local taxi drivers) that he could possibly be swimming back to Bintan!

Whatever this guy is he is pretty amazing at stayin on the loose.

And yes SMS Id love to see how they are going to explain this one away or which poor sod they will blame.

Blunders happen all the time, there are always people around, that don't take there work seriously, they are only there for the money after all! Unless its forced on them, like NS, then they don't give a toss, they probably let the guy go.

But in reality we all have different idea's on security and risk, and will live up to those ideas, myself, I am paranoid, when it comes to terrorism, I have lived with it, in the military, and I have lived with neighbours, that sympathise, with the enemy....I also have an Irish connection, through the blood line, one survives on wit, some call it paranoia, whatever it is, it is a survival instinct, finely tuned with skills. You become the hunted or the hunter, and I prefer to be the hunter and have done for over 38 years.

Terrorists are everywhere, and soldiers or ex soldiers are identifiable, you see in reality, the only way to blend in with the terrorist, is to strip off the uniform and ignore the traditional army haircuts, infiltration is the only effective defence.

I can give you many example of escape from the infamous Lazy K, Long Kesh Internment Camp, Just like a concentration camp, it all started on the 8th of August 1971 at 4.30 am acting on intelligence, doors were smashed down, and people dragged from their beds, while children ran around screaming, those that resisted, where beaten.

It's called warfare, unfortuantely, the information is always wrong, but who cares, if the info is 20 years old, ones life is at risk. So to be not on your toes, may just cost you your life. One can always call it destiny If you have pulled out an unlucky number, that's it, it's your time for the sky, it happens every single day of the week on the roads...being cautious and alert, can help prevent death.

One should never underestimate, the terrorist, he could be your best friend, he, would never inform you...because he needs to blend in, with the crowd.

The terrorist groups train eachother, they survive off criminal activities, to support their cause, they are expert at what they do and the underworld is afraid of them too....joe bloggs and men in uniform, will always be caught off guard.

I have been in the vacinity, when 9 IRA terrorists marched out through the prison gates, dressed as British soldiers, who would expact it, the uniforms hand made in the prison, and weapons made of soap, and even painted, to look like the real thing, walked straight out of a fortress, there was often break outs, and prison guards too on the take.

Joe Bloggs, just doesn't understand the mind of the terrorist, dedicated to the cause....One needs special training in terrorism, like i have, to understand, the techniques used, in escape and evasion, not only of oneself, but explosives, detonators, and other weapons used, It's an art, skill, which most armies have not been trained in, why, because Armies are conventional forces, the expence of training is not in the budget, to train all soldiers, in the skills of a ninja.

It is a mass production force for conventional warfare...So these blunders will continue, and heads will role, but it won't be the ones, that caused the blunder, that is never the case, an a authoritarian organisation.

My local manager was telling us that according to some conspiracy theories... guy was given a chance to become a double agent. So this is the government's way of releasing him back to the group...

If that's the case, the government wins too, because the terrorist now has another problem on his hands, he his likely to be demoted for monitoring or executed for the cause, terrorists would never take the risk of being infiltrated. One must never believe they are just idealists let loose, they are professional killers, that train to win.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I wonder if Bernie Ecclestone & the IOC might be starting to rue their decisions to let Singapore host these huge events here. The F1 race with all that High Octane fuel? The IOC event with huge amounts of foreigners (course one good thing about that is that is will be spread out all over the island).

The much vaunted security system are only as good as the people manning them. If you pay security people peanuts, you only get monkeys who are easily diverted. The constant keeping the salaries depressed, while attractive to MNC's, only serves to destroy what little loyalty there might be. Why give 100% when the employer only pays 60% of the value of the job.

After letting this guy go 2x I am beginning to believe they are only capable of preplanning security but are not too capable of rapid reaction when needed. Not without at least trying to cover their tracks of a major screwup. The CTA mentality is strongly entrenched here with everybody seemingly afraid to admit culpability but always the first to ursurp credit even to the extend of stealing credit from others. Had the personnel at the security complex notified seniors in the beginning the lockdown should have been simultaneously at the borders AND within the immediate vicinity.

As this guy was as known terrorist with several escapes already know about both here and from authorities in Indonesia also know here by our authorities, you would have though the security personnel would have been in a high-alert mode ANYTIME the terrorist had visitors (especially family). What are the chances that terrorists have an emergency number only to use if absolutely necessary (a local mole?). Transport? Easy if a family member parked a vehicle at a nearby lot with a key accessable in specific known place. When the opportunity presented itself, run, use the transport, get out of the country before anyone knows what happened.

I think this country has listened to itself for so long it actually believes the crap they tell themselves. The big thing that Singapore always harped on is it's ability to act with speed. As far as little Big Head apologizing, I think, as Minister for Home Affairs, he should also take a page from Japan and resign.

morning rant over......