From: xcalibur@IASTATE.EDU (Pangestu Alim)
Subject: Re: Malaysia to choose F16 or Mig29
Reply-To: xcalibur@IASTATE.EDU (Pangestu Alim)
Organization: Iowa State University
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 22:49:32 GMT

In article <1992Sep14.040720.15401@nuscc.nus.sg>, engp1186@nuscc.nus.sg
(Won-Soon Lau) writes:

> Having some form of early warning has always been part of Singapore defence
> strategy.  If you follow Singapore's news closely you would know our defence
> outline.  We are quite capable to provide surveillance within a 500 km
radius.
> Mine sweeping and ASW capability has been added recently.  Speaking of
> surprise attack, the citizen has been participating in the civil defence
> training in which they know how to react during emergency.  How do you
> stage a surprise attack?  By air?  I can name you two airfields which are
> within their combat radius from Singapore.  One is located in Kuantan and
> the other is somewhere in Sumatra.  With these 2 air-fields covered, the
> probability becomes very small.  Everyone is worry about chemical attack.
> And it is perfectly possible that iraqi is the supplier of some of these.
> If Israel can provide every citizen with a gas mask do you think we cannot
> do so when the situation arises?  At any one time, there are 300k to half a 
> million foreign workers in Singapore.  What do you think will the reaction be
> from their home country of such an surprise attack?  Anyway, I frankly think
> that you're new to military operations.  You stage an surprise attack to
> neutralise the enemy's military power not to use that for man-slaugther.
> To sum it all, military defence is just one arm of our Total Defence
strategy.
> Whatever you think of now is nothing new to our defence strategists.
> 
Personally, I myself am an Indonesian who had the privilage of studying in
Singapore for 7 years. Given my added access to a more liberal library and media
system than Singapore, I can assure myself that I am at least not as blind to
military strategist as you might like to think. First of all, the main concern
that I did have is coming from Malaysia (sorry bud!). Just think about spreading
50 or so short range tactical missile in some little forest clearing in Johore
Bahru. Of course, Mahathir could buy SCUDS at wholesale price from Saddam, but
yet they may all splash to the sea. No, what I am talking about naturally needs
a more accurate guidance than that (to hit Singapore, heh, heh, heh!). Actually,
even a G-5 kind of atillery pieces with a little modification on the ammunition
part would be sufficient. Hell, if Malaysians really wanted Singapore, they
could conquer it within a week (guaranteed!). The only thing that is stopping
them now is the possible international repercussion of that kind of action.
Furthermore, as long as they obtain a lot of benefits from Malaysia-Singapore
trade, why the hurry? 

Speaking of surprise attack, it wouldn't be a surprise if the attack was known
to the Singapore now, would it? How effective would civil defence be then
(taking the scenario of a chemical attack). Remember, never discount the
possibility of a surprise attack and suffer the initial defeat like the Israel
did in the Yom Kippur War, Singapore cannot afford that! 500km surveillance
radius is not enough as it only detects moving objects and those not covered by
any obstacles. This surveillance is totally useless against forest covered
weapons. Thus human surveillance must be put at utmost emphasis.

Lastly, the scary thing about Singapore, again is its small size. A terrorist
could just smuggle in a barrel or two of chemical weapon material, label it as
HCl or something, slip it in with another 50 barrels and load it up a truck.
Smuggle it past the causeway and explode it somewhere near Orchard Rd (taking
note of the wind direction, of course!)

Give you something to think about doesn't it?