After Singapore’s independence the whole state had basically be built from scrap including the armed forces. Singapore consisted of mainly Malayans, South Asians and Chinese people. Yet the British colonial overlords mostly used Malayans for the garrisson.
Building a new army made up mostly of Malayans would have been a big factor of instability for the new multi ethnic state of Singapore.
So Prime Minister Lee headed out for instructors from Israel, since it was a small state without any strategic depth, hostile neighbours and a very professional small army. Most Malayns (and probably some South Asians too) were muslims and would not have been to keen on Israelis. So if asked about the origin of the instructors Lee’s answer was: “Mexicans”
Source: “6 lessons for the 21st centrury” -Henry Kissinger
Top_Satisfaction6709 on
I mean, if you don’t want to admit that they are pretty darn good…
The US used titanium from the USSR to build the SR-71, to spy on the USSR…
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After Singapore’s independence the whole state had basically be built from scrap including the armed forces. Singapore consisted of mainly Malayans, South Asians and Chinese people. Yet the British colonial overlords mostly used Malayans for the garrisson.
Building a new army made up mostly of Malayans would have been a big factor of instability for the new multi ethnic state of Singapore.
So Prime Minister Lee headed out for instructors from Israel, since it was a small state without any strategic depth, hostile neighbours and a very professional small army. Most Malayns (and probably some South Asians too) were muslims and would not have been to keen on Israelis. So if asked about the origin of the instructors Lee’s answer was: “Mexicans”
Source: “6 lessons for the 21st centrury” -Henry Kissinger
I mean, if you don’t want to admit that they are pretty darn good…
The US used titanium from the USSR to build the SR-71, to spy on the USSR…
good times