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Finally not a ex-general nor ex-admiral but a lowly but highly decorated enlisted ex-Vietnam vet proposed to head a high profile post in the US government. Guess every dog has its day Interesting thing is like Robert Gates, Hagel is from the Republican Party though he is considered a sort of a rebel as some of his views contradicted his GOP colleagues. And of course his enemies in his own party will not let go of such a good chance to fire salvoes at him after Obama's recommendation. We will see how it pan out. May go the fate of Susan Rice... From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp...1246625/1/.html Hagel draws fire as Obama's Pentagon pick Posted: 08 January 2013 1142 hrs WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama named Chuck Hagel on Monday to lead the Pentagon, setting up an ugly confirmation battle as Republican opponents said he was too hard on Israel and too soft on Iran. Obama's choice of John Brennan to replace scandal-tainted David Petraeus as CIA chief was seen as more straightforward despite the counter-terrorism czar's defense of "enhanced interrogation techniques" and the US drone war. The second term revamp of the president's national security team was expected to win ultimate approval but several leading Republicans signaled they would make it tough for Hagel even though he is one of their own. Obama paid particular tribute to retiring Pentagon chief Leon Panetta before giving ringing endorsements to the "outstanding" Hagel and Brennan and urging the Senate not to dally in confirming their important appointments. "Chuck Hagel is the leader that our troops deserve. He is an American patriot," the president said, heaping praise on a war hero who was awarded two Purple Heart medals for his bravery as a soldier in Vietnam. "When Chuck was hit by shrapnel, his brother saved him. When his brother was injured by a mine, Chuck risked his life to pull him to safety. To this day, Chuck bears the scars -- and the shrapnel -- from the battles he fought in our name," Obama said. Some Republicans have never forgiven him for his outspoken criticism of ex-president George W. Bush's handling of the Iraq war, and his closeness to the Democratic president sees him regarded by others as a traitor. But Obama, who wants to be remembered as a leader who ended wars abroad to set about the tricky task of nation-building at home following a crippling recession, described Hagel as someone perfectly fitted to that mold. "Maybe most importantly, Chuck knows that war is not an abstraction. He understands that sending young Americans to fight and bleed in the dirt and mud, that's something we only do when it's absolutely necessary," he said. Administration appointments are often tense affairs in the United States as confirmation hearings provide senators with opportunities to turn away unwanted candidates or score cheap political points, or both. Hagel, 66, known for a fiercely independent streak and a tendency to speak bluntly, is expected to get particularly rough treatment due to his criticism of America's "Jewish lobby" and opposition to some Iran sanctions. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said Hagel would be "the most antagonistic defense secretary towards the state of Israel in our nation's history." Another Republican senator, John Cornyn of Texas, said he would oppose the nomination, charging it would be the "worst possible message we could send to our friend Israel and the rest of our allies in the Middle East." But in an interview with The Lincoln Journal Star, a newspaper in his home state of Nebraska, Hagel hit back at his critics. There is "not one shred of evidence that I'm anti-Israeli, not one vote (of mine) that matters that hurt Israel," he said. If confirmed by the Senate, Hagel will have to manage major cuts to military spending while wrapping up the US war effort in Afghanistan and preparing for worst-case scenarios in Iran or Syria. Serving as an enlisted man who never joined the officer ranks, Hagel carries a particular empathy for the unheralded infantry "grunts" in the field. As he grapples with budget pressures, the former sergeant will likely try to shield frontline troops from the effect of spending cuts. In his typical straight-shooting fashion, Hagel has called the Defense Department "bloated" and said that "the Pentagon needs to be pared down." Obama, smarting from watching Susan Rice -- reportedly his first choice to succeed Hillary Clinton as secretary of state -- fold her bid in the face of Republican opposition, pressed hard for the Senate to approve Hagel. "He would be the first person of enlisted rank to serve as secretary of defense. One of the few secretaries who had been wounded in war and the first Vietnam veteran to lead the department," Obama said, calling his appointment "historic." Brennan, 57, may get an easier ride but is sure to face questions over his support for the use of certain "enhanced interrogation techniques" under the Bush administration and for his staunch defense of the US drone program. The 25-year Central Intelligence Agency veteran, an Arabic-speaking Middle East expert, replaces Petraeus, who resigned in November after confessing to an extramarital affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell. Obama highlighted what he called Brennan's incredible work ethic, saying "John is legendary even in the White House" and reminding everyone of a now-famous quote from August 2010. Asked if he got any down time or was all work and no play, Brennan replied: "I don't do down time." In a moment of levity at the White House event, the avuncular 74-year-old Panetta drew loud laughs when he said he would be retiring to his walnut farm and "dealing with a different set of nuts." - AFP/ac

Boss and his Secretary Boss walked into the office one morning not knowing that his zipper was down. His secretary walked up to him and asked, 'Boss this morning when you left your house, did you close your gate ?' Boss was not smart enough to understood, so he went back into his office looking a bit puzzled ! When he was about done with his paper work, he suddenly noticed that his zipper was not zipped up. He zipped up and remembering what his secretary had told him, then boss finally understood. He then intentionally went out to ask for a cup of coffee from his secretary. When he reached her desk, He said, 'When you saw the gate open did you see my BMW parked in there ?' The secretary smiled for a moment and said, 'No, Boss I didn't. All I saw was a Kancil 600 with 2 flat tyres.' Boss went back to his office mumbling... kan ni ne......

Dear Chin Chai One 10Q you for your letter. On behalf of the Prime Minister, I am replying to your letter as follows. As the erected party of Singaporeans, we are here to serve. We are demon-cratic country, you are master, we gahmen servant, we serve you. You got problems we must help. You say no need our help? That means your not Singapore 's master. You say you run for cover? Cannot one, our police will find you. GST is to help the Gahmen to help yourself. The Gahmen Service Tax is everywhere, you go America also have one, cannot run one. Traffic very bad, so bad that we have to hold car racing at nite to avoid traffic jam. We believe there is no free lunch like PM's father say before, you use, you must pay, so Every Road Pay. So you see no ERP cannot one. Needless to say, passenger service also must pay. The increase in bus fare and MRT and taxi fare are very little already. We forsee world inflation coming: oil, steel, pay of foreign talents etc, so we have to pay for the service. You see, many foreign talents come to Singapore . If we don't pay our ministers well, they will go other countries to be their foreign talents. So must raise salary to keep them. If not, Nathan, Shanmugam, Bala etc will go India and work. Khaw will go Malaysia . etc etc. Must keep them. To keep them must pay well. You are right, any help also must pay. To help yourself? No, it's illegal. You mean you can build your own MRT? Run your own buses? Drive your Ba-Ong-Chia? Build your own roads? Seow liao!! Every one help himself then how? No social order lah! Ga ga ask for help, we are here to serve you. We understand some of you have temporary problem. Dont worry, it is only short term. We must look long term. We must invest long term. Now lose a bit dont cow beh cow boo, long term! Yes, remember. 30 or 50 years later we will own Swiss banks, US banks, UK properties, maybe even South Pole condominiums. We must tighten our seat belt and bite our false teeth. The future very bright. As long as you> continue to support the gahmen 30 to 50 years you will see bright future. So Chiang See Tong a bit lah. Also, investing is very complicated business, not easy. We must pay school fee to learn from advanced countries. On Selamat's case, we also must learn our lesson. We encourage life-long-learning. I learn whole life time, you learn whole life, Mr Wong Cant Sing also whole life learning. It's actually good. Mr Wong already apologise, dont force a dog to jump over the wall, the wall may collapse. Old dog cannot jump high also. Selamat's case gives us many lessons. We must be on alert, not too complacent. Now every Singaporean know there can be a terrorist among us any time. This is the best self defence education !! PM will give Mr Wong another salary increment for that. Also now we merge the prisons and detention centre, more space will be available now. We will build it like another IR, Integrated Retention - so those dont want our service and thinking of doing illegal service will go there. We will pass a new law too, the expenses for stay in that IR will be deducted from your CPF money. Remember we must be grateful to people who help us --> and pay. I hope I have explained the situation and give you the message clearly. If you still need help, please call my handphone: 99906767, it's toll-free. By the way, Mr Chin Chai One, our pioneer Toh Chin Chai already toh long ago. So if you choose to be Chin Chin Chai Chai, you will also Toh. 10Q you again, Reguards, Ah Beng Grassrude secretary