sundaymorningstaple wrote:It's a shame Singaporeans don't like sex. If they did, maybe the gahmen wouldn't have to import so much foreign talent. But, with the 3rd LOWEST fertility rate in the world, and the Chinese here are the lowest of the three rates (the majority race) it wont be long until Singaporeans will be totally helpless (most are already) and will need full time nurses for all of them. Actually that's already started to happen, just they are called maids at the moment.
As far as the military is concerned, I had a conversation with a senior Flag rank officer in Seletar Camp where I used to live, a while back regarding the necessity and capabilities of the state of the military here. They reckon they had to go high tech because too many conscripts have had their maids carrying their backpacks and when they tried to do it in training, they keep keeling over dead. So, it was go high tech or kill to many namby-pamby momma's boys. Actually, according to this officer, Singapore has always maintained that all it has to do it ensure a 72 hours standoff capability until her allies can arrive. Seriously, anybody who thinks a standing army of 150K semi-fit and 200K totally unfit males could defend this country against a neighbour with over 53 million military fit males and a total of 62 million military eligible males actually has a few screws loose, technology or not.
Malaysia only has 28 million human beings, how can they get 62 million military eligible males? Singapore despite her small physical size actually has the top 30 standing army in the world today with the best equipments and planes. Singapore has around 500k military trained men (inclusive of 100k paramilitary). The Singapore Armed forces is bigger than the militaries of countries such as the Philipines, Japan etc. And it is almost as big as the British military.
All military observers will agree that the Singapore Armed Forces is bigger and more much more advanced than the Malaysian Armed Forces. Singapore: 400k men armed forces vs malaysia 150k men armed forces. Singapore has more planes, APCs, ships etc as well. And much better technology.
Now, Indonesia is trickier. Indonesia has a lot more people, 200 million total population. They might have 62 million able bodied males whom they can throw a rifle to in times of war but these people have not even been trained to fire a rifle much less fight a war.
The Indonesian Armed Forces only has 500k or so militarily trained personnel, with outdated equipment, aging 2G aircrafts and archiac stuff. Juxtapose this with Singapore's 400k plus militarily trained personnel, with the the best equipments in the world, better training, and a lot more fire power.
In the fictional event of an invasion by Indonesia, Singapore should not have a problem repelling and disabling the Indonesian offensive at all. In such an event, the Australians with their 20 million population would defintely be very concerned as well, since Indonesia is at their doorstep. Under the 5 powers defence agreement, I think the guys from down under will most probably join in the defence of Singapore as well.
A large untrained civillian population means nothing in times of war. In fact, they are a liablity rather than an asset. The govt has to look after them, feed them, buiild air shelters for them, deal with them etc. Israel with 7 million people constantly kicks the asses of invaders from Iraq, Egypt, Syria etc. China has a 1.3 billion population and a very large but poorly equipped and poorly trained armed forces during WW2. The Japs invaded them and went all the way down to Singapore during WW2.
Civillian populations, women and untrained men mean nothing in times of war. It is the size of militarily trained men that counts.
72 hours standoff and wait for help? Are you naive or just plain stupid? And you have the balls to talk about having a few screws loose?
Sg armed forces has 100 F15s and F16s, based worldwide in US, AUS, France and SG + 400k militarily trained men who have received 2 years full time training plus year reservist, with the best equipment, tanks, APCs, etc + the best naval fleet by far in the region + lots of firepower. Does this amount of fire power (biggest in this region) sound like being capable of only a 3 day standoff? Try a720 years standoff.
And to add to all that, lets not forget Singapore is a global city as well. There are many Europeans, Americans, Asians residing in it. Citibank's HQ is here, many Banks and multinational corporations have their billion dollar buildings in Singapore. American ships also dock in Changi and Sembawang naval docks all the time under a mutual agreement between both countries. Singapore is the only country here with naval facitilies able to can support the American nucear subs and ships. The Malaysians are part of the 5 powers defence agreement as well and tons of Malaysians are working in Singapore. There are relatives on both sides of the straits, and they too would be trapped in the event of any war.
In the ficitonal scenario of an Indonesian invasion, the world will definitely sit up. Soft power will defintely be applied. Military aid from some allies might come but I think Singapore does not need them as she is very capable of defending herself.
And what do you mean by "flag rank" officer? Can you at least learn the proper ranks before talking about the military? In Singapore there is no such "flag rank" officers. There are warrant officers and commissioned officers but non of them have a "flag" as their rank. What is the flag you saw?
Psst..some unamed "flag ranked" officer also told me that Singaporeans only book into the army camps and play computer games all day long for 2 years of conscription..hehe.
Now if China gets up to some hanky panky in future after they fully develop their blue water navy and first aircraft carrier, we might really have a problem. The defence of Singapore will probably have to start from Malaysia and Australia/NZ/Indo will all chip in as well. Which is why we have joint exercises with Msia, Aus etc yearly.
Opps, I think your screws have just fallen on the ground SundayMorning. And what is that smell?
Sgporean in France for one year master degree. Back to Spore by 2011!
