Prove me wrong MCA, sack Tee Keat

November 1, 2011
FMT LETTER
From Jackson Ng, via e-mail

ALTHOUGH I have retired as a journalist of more than 30 years in the mainstream print media for about a year, I still believed in my instincts.

When, obviously pro-MCA (read as boot lickers of immoral president Chua Soi Lek) bloggers uploaded a news spin that ousted president Ong Tee Keat is to join the DAP, my suspicions were aroused.

Through the years of my experience as a reporter and editor, I sensed something was just not right. The news is based on a picture of Tee Keat having lunch with DAP Selangor state executive councillor Teresa Kok.

Why was I suspicious about the report:
- Why have lunch in the public for all to see; Don’t tell me there are no more discreet places to hold such politically sensitive discussions? and
- If Tee Keat had wanted to join the DAP or Pakatan Rakyat (PR), why now? Veteran political observers will tell you that the timing is just not right because political moves and decisions are made with calculated advantages.

Tee Keat would have followed the direction of former MCA vice-president Chua Jui Meng to join PKR if he wanted to, instead of making the move now because in politics, there is always the right time to make a right decision and a right move.

To prove my news instincts right, as a free lance journalist now, I decided to “watch the fun” at the SJK (C) On Pong 2 Environmental Day where Tee Keat was scheduled to attend.
I was not to be disappointed.

Tee Keat, now without a government portfolio to call the shots after being toppled by those who sinfully benefitted from the multi-billion ringgit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) financial scandal, is after all no more “news value” for the mainstream media. Take my word for this based on my experience.

Turning up for a purely school event on a Saturday (Oct 22, 2011) were TV, radio and the print media. I was tickled by their presence, by their herd mentality and lack of news judgment.

Instead of being offended, Tee Keat invited the reporters to shoot their questions even before the actual event and conference could be held.

A barrage of questions, all related to the news spin and photographs, that Tee Keat was quitting the MCA to join the DAP was asked. And this was how Tee Keat responded:

“Yes, I had lunch with Teresa and two others, a Taman Saga resident and an Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) councillor on Oct 25, 2011.

“Teresa invited me for lunch to discuss the long-standing objections of the residents of two housing estates over the construction of high-tension cables.

“It is an issue which I had taken up with the residents since 2008 and we have even submitted a memo to the state government.

“The state government needs to resolve this because the matter is now at the level of the state exco.

“The news spin is therefore devoid of any truth. It is the work of rumourmongers or cybertroopers resorting to the use of gutter politics to attack politicians to serve a specific agenda of their paymasters.

“I cannot be sure who is responsible for this attack. But, just before Deepavali, there was a similar attack by MCA cybertroopers that I am joining Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

“This follows Chua’s media statement to the press at the recently concluded MCA annual general meeting that  I should quit the party since I have expressed my view that the MCA had become ‘irrelevant and in denial’.

“Yes I bumped into (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament now and then and we do sit down to chat. Does that mean I am joining PKR?

“Also, for those not in the know or had missed an ‘opportunity to spin rubbish news’ I had also met Selangor PAS MPs, so I will not be surprised that they will say I am joining PAS next.

“The cybertroopers also missed another opportunity to speculate! I was with Teresa Kok’s father at the SMJK Confucian Form Five graduation ceremony for the whole morning! What are you going to write next?”

Ong said he had been a subject of political speculations after he was ousted as MCA president.

“I have also been approached several times to join the PR since then. It is nothing new and I have left the matter that way because it is just water under the bridge,” he said.

Ong said he had reiterated many time that he would offer himself as a parliamentary candidate for Pandan in the next general election.

“This is my promise and my duty to my constituents whom I had served since January 1989,” he added.

It is now crystal clear that the current “immoral” MCA leadership is frustrated and wants Tee Keat out of the way in MCA and Pandan. But it has no guts to sack him.

Feel free to prove me wrong!

ORIGINAL POSTING : FMT

Australia Says NO Again....to Syariah

Bravo! Bravo!

What a Lady !!!! We should have more leader like her in the world.

Australia says NO - Second time she has done this!

Australian Prime Minister does it again!!
This woman should be appointed Queen of the World. Truer words have never been spoken.

It took a lot of courage for this woman to speak, what she had to say for the world to hear. The retribution could be phenomenal, but at least she was willing to take a stand on her and Australia 's beliefs.
The whole worldneeds a leader like this!

Prime Minister Julia Gillard - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law, were told on
Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals
in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

Separately,
Gillard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying she
supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.
 

Quote:
'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It.
I
am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some
individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we
have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. '


'This culture has been developed over two centuries of
struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have
sought freedom'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese,
Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore,
if you wish to become part of our society. Learn the language!'

'Most
Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing,
political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on
Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly
documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of
our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another
part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'


'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we
ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment
with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE,
and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you
are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge,
Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take
advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'


'If
you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You
asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'

Ways to Go GREEN at Home

Being environmentally-friendly is just good economics – in our home and budget, and with the earth God gave us.

There are many little things we can do in our homes to play a small part in reducing landfill waste, cleaning the air, and preserving the natural landscape.  But we double our efforts when we get our kids involved, helping them understand the why to our what.

When they get it, it’ll be second nature to them when they’re adults – and that much easier to pass it down to their children.

1. Plant an herb garden.  It’s good to have a reminder around of where our food originates.


2. Switch all your lightbulbs to CFLs (or at least switch a few).


3. Create a homemade compost bin


4. Switch one appliance to an energy efficient model (look for the “energy star” label).


5. Stop using disposable bags – order some reusable bags, or make your own. 


6. Buy an inexpensive reusable water bottle, and stop buying plastic disposable bottles. 


7. Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot.


8. Turn off lights when you leave the room.


9. Don’t turn on lights at all for as long as you can — open your curtains and enjoy natural light.


10. Drive the speed limit, and combine all your errands for the week in one trip.


11. Better yet, walk or ride a bike to your errands that are two miles or closer.


12. Support your local economy and shop at your farmer’s market.


13. Turn off your computer completely at night.


14. Research whether you can sign up for green power from your utility company.


15. Pay as many bills as possible online.


16. Put a stop to unsolicited mail — sign up to opt out of pre-screened credit card offers.  While you’re at it, go ahead and make sure you’re on the “do not call” list, just to make your life more peaceful.


17. Reuse scrap paper.  Print on two sides, or let your kids color on the back side of used paper.


18. Conduct a quick energy audit of your home.


19. Subscribe to good eco-friendly blogs.  (The Daily Green, TreeHugger, and Keeper of the Home Simple Organic)


20. Before buying anything new, first check your local Second Hand Goods Shop.


21. Support local restaurants that use food derived less than 100 miles away, and learn more about the benefits of eating locally.


22. Fix leaky faucets.


23. Make your own household cleaners.


24. Line dry your laundry.


25. Watch The Story of Stuff with your kids, and talk about the impact your household trash has on our landfills.


26. Learn with your kids about another country or culture, expanding your knowledge to other sides of the world.


27. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater.


28. Unplug unused chargers and appliances.


29. Repurpose something – turn one of your well-worn t-shirts into basic play pants for your baby.  Or save egg cartons for paint wells, seed starters, treasure boxes, or a myriad of other crafts.


30. Collect rainwater, and use it to water your houseplants and garden.


31. Switch to cloth diapers – or at least do a combination with disposables.


32. Switch to shade-grown coffee with the “Fair Trade” label.


33. Use a Diva Cup for your monthly cycles.


34. Use cloth instead of paper to clean your kitchen. Be frugal, and make these rags out of old towels and t-shirts.


35. Use cloth napkins daily instead of paper.


36. Read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and open your eyes to the way conventional food is processed.


37. Repurpose glass jars as leftover containers and bulk storage, especially in the kitchen.


38. Five-minute showers – make it a goal for yourself.


39. Donate to – and shop at – thrift stores such as Goodwill.  You’ll be recycling perfectly usable items, and you’ll be supporting your local economy.

ORIGINAL POST

Top Numbers

206 million Gallons of oil that leaked into the Gulf of Mexico as a result of BP's Deepwater Horizon spill

The oil leak that seemed as if it would never end was finally plugged in July after three months of gushing, but not before almost 5 million bbl. of oil spilled into the Gulf. What began as an April drilling-rig explosion turned into weeks of environmental anxiety. After multiple attempts at blocking the leak, the wellhead was capped on July 15. In the end, it was the worst accidental spill in the history of the petroleum industry. The leak put an estimated 53,000 gal. of oil a day into the Gulf, and BP's estimated costs for the cleanup and compensation now sit at $40 billion.

466,743 Number of classified documents from the Iraq and Afghan wars released by WikiLeaks.org

With the founding of WikiLeaks.org, Julian Assange became a whistle-blower for the digital age. Previously, those wanting to unveil government secrets often had to go through the established media of the day (think Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers). But WikiLeaks has allowed Assange, along with virtually anybody else who gets his hands on classified material, to publish such files online for all to see. The biggest and most controversial release of documents came with the publication of the war logs from the Afghan and Iraq wars, which covered everything from Iraqi-prisoner abuse to Pakistan's dual role in Afghanistan to Iranian influence in the region. But that was before WikiLeaks released 251,287 secret U.S. State Department cables dealing with virtually every foreign policy hot spot around the world, leading some to allege that the documents dump weakened U.S. diplomacy. On Dec. 7, Assange was arrested by British police for alleged sex offenses, but he argues that the charges have been manufactured just to get him behind bars, where he can no longer release leaked materials.

1,951 Number of programs related to health care televised by C-SPAN

The debate over health care reform dominated Washington for much of 2009 and continued into 2010. President Obama endlessly pushed for reform on the stump, on the Hill, in press briefings and even in a bipartisan health care summit. Likewise, the House and Senate debated the bill incessantly. And C-SPAN, the congressional TV station of record, was there to cover it all. Over the course of the debate, the network televised 266 hours of House proceedings (committee and floor hearings) and 475 hours of debate in the Senate. Although reform had looked dead at the beginning of the year, the Democratic leadership in both houses cobbled together enough votes for passage. In the end, President Obama more or less got what he wanted — an overhaul of the nation's health care system. But the victory cost the President and the Democratic Party politically in the 2010 midterms, as criticism of the bill helped put Republicans back in power in the House. The reform bill is now being challenged at almost every level of government, from governor's mansions to state houses to federal courts. Whether we'll see the same amount of C-SPAN programming next year regarding the repeal of health care reform has yet to be determined.

$16.36 Amount, per affected person, donated to Pakistan following July's floods, its worst in recent memory; $1087.33 per person was donated to Haiti following this year's earthquake

The images from Haiti's earthquake resonated around the world, triggering an outpouring of money and goodwill. But Pakistan's disastrous floods did not elicit the same feelings. Perhaps it's the country's history of supporting terrorism, its alleged harboring of Osama bin Laden, or its remote location in South Asia. But whatever the reason, donors hesitated to give the kinds of money it gave to Haiti. At one point an estimated one-fifth of the Pakistani population was under water. Flying over the scene of wrecked homes and mudslides, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he had never seen anything like it. An estimated 1,600 people died.

A few weeks after the floods, donors gave a little more than $16 per affected person to displaced Pakistanis. As the crisis developed, however, the international community began to contribute a bit more. Still, the aid gap was significant. According to the United Nations, in the first three months after each disaster, donors gave Haiti $996.72 per affected person while giving $96.80 per person to Pakistan.

2% Percentage of rubble that had been cleared from the earthquake in Haiti eight months after it had struck

The most devastated country in the Western hemisphere could not have had a more devastating year. The earthquake that struck in January destroyed a nation that had very little infrastructure to begin with, toppling schools, crushing roads and even ruining its presidential palace. The catastrophe led to a November outbreak of cholera that claimed more than 2,100 people and triggered protests by Haitians who accused the United Nations of bringing the disease inside their borders. But even with the world focused on the half-island nation for much of the first part of the year, aid organizations were still overwhelmed and much of the rubble from the quake still sits on Haiti's streets.

US$140 million Amount California Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman personally spent on her campaign

It was the costliest campaign in the history of U.S. elections. And it failed. Former eBay chairman Meg Whitman used $140 million of her own money in an attempt to become governor of California, surpassing the previous mark of $108 million set by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his victorious 2009 re-election campaign. But Whitman came up short, losing to Jerry Brown in November. The revelation that she had employed an illegal immigrant as a housekeeper while attempting to portray herself as tough on immigration certainly didn't help.

US$1,424.50 Price per ounce of gold on Oct. 14, an all-time record

Economic anxiety often pushes people to invest in commodities they believe to be more stable than traditional stocks or retirement funds. When the economic crisis turned into a global downturn in 2009 and remained one in 2010, many who feared a mix of everything from inflation to deflation to plunging currencies looked to gold for protection. Those fears, driven home by the likes of Fox News' Glenn Beck (who is a spokesman for Goldline) pushed the metal to its highest ever price per ounce on Oct. 14. Adjusted for inflation, gold is still not as pricey as it was in the early 1980s. But the depth of the crisis showed itself in the clamor for the commodity; when the world's major economies inevitably get back on their feet, the buying of gold will almost surely wane.

US$2.7 billion Amount Avatar earned worldwide at the box office

James Cameron literally reinvented the way Hollywood makes movies in late 2009 when he released Avatar, a film more than a decade in the making. Just as important, he changed the way we watch movies. The stunning visuals of his 3-D extravaganza mesmerized moviegoers and raked in close to $3 billion worldwide. The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It also unleashed an endless number of 3-D movies (some stunning, though the ones not actually filmed in 3-D were often disappointing) and stirred interest in the possibilities of three-dimensional viewing at home. Avatar now holds the U.S. and global box-office records, having surpassed Cameron's Titanic.

US$75,000 Annual household income needed to make a person in the U.S. "happy"

Can we buy happiness? According to a study released this year, yes, we can, and it costs $75,000. The study, by economist Angus Deaton and psychologist and Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman, analyzed Gallup surveys of Americans regarding their day-to-day contentment (basically, how you're feeling about your day) and overall life assessment (a deeper satisfaction with where your life's headed). It showed that $75,000 is the magic annual salary. But any earnings beyond that, according to the study's authors, have no effect on well-being.

193% Percentage increase in e-book sales from 2009 to 2010

Print has reigned for centuries. But the end of this decade may prove to be the beginning of an era for digital books. With the emergence of Amazon's Kindle in 2007, e-books have taken off, most notably in 2010. The Kindle spurred a number of rival platforms, as well as the iPad, and e-books now account for almost 10% of U.S. consumer book sales, according to the Association of American Publishers. The shift from print to e-ink has forced large book chain Barnes & Noble to not only shut a number of stores but also release its own reader, the Nook. The e-book revolution, it seems, has only

Tropical Island Paradise superyacht

This superyacht - dubbed the ‘Tropical island Paradise’ – has been designed by British boat builders Yacht Island Design.


The 90m Tropical Island Paradise design has a theme that is centred around a secluded island paradise, with elements inspired by the islands of the Caribbean.

The main exterior deck is a private beach “cove” with a voluminous ocean view swimming pool located forward that is fed by a stream emanating from a cascading waterfall on the volcano further aft.

The main deck is a secluded beach ‘cove’ of cabanas surrounding a massive ocean view swimming pool.

Behind these cabanas there is a bar area, communal seating area and an area for al fresco dining.

Inside the huge, towering volcano is a cinema, library, games room, gym, spa and VIP suites – including an owners pad spread over two decks.

The exterior of yacht was designed to give the impression of waves breaking around a volcanic island, whilst maintaining the look of a contemporary yacht design.

The lavish yacht can accommodate up to 10 guests – and can travel along at a top speed of 15 knots.

Superyacht Adastra a 42.5m Power Trimaran

Described by Boat International as “one of the world’s most amazing super yachts, that could spell the future for efficient long range cruising”, the striking 42.5m Trimaran Adastra is currently under construction at McConaghy Boats in China.

This one-off trimaran designed by John Shuttleworth is being built for Hong Kong clients Anto and Elaine Marden with interstellar voyages in mind.

Adastra’s 16 metre beam creates a spacious saloon area on the main deck which offers superb views through a panoramic window and accommodates a lounge area, dining table, and navigation station.

A forward facing door through the saloon window gives easy access to a large sunbed on the foredeck.

 

 The aft deck has a sofa and bar area to port and a dining area to starboard, further aft of this there is space for a 4.9 metre tender and directly below is a garage which can store a 3.1 metre tender.

The garage door has been designed to fold out and create a large dive platform. Extra space has been created below deck by slightly flaring the central hull just above the waterline.

This area has been split into two sections with a full-width master cabin located aft with access from the deck saloon, and two further guest cabins, accommodation for the crew, and the galley located forward of the engine compartment.

Adastra offers comfortable accommodation for nine guests and up to six crew members.

The main helm station, which has seating for two, is positioned in a raised pilot house situated between the aft deck and the saloon area and forms part of the cross beam structure.

The Superstructure is carbon fibre with Nomex honeycomb core, the hull is Glass/Kevlar foam sandwich and the interior is light weight oak cabinetry using honeycomb panels.

To help reduce weight, virtually every aspect of the boat is custom built. This includes carbon fibre hatches, portlights, ladders and even hinges, which are all built specifically for the vessel.

Most Expensive Yacht Charter

When it comes to the world’s most expensive yacht charters, it’s hard to top Camper & Nicholsons‘ superyacht Moonlight II (ex Alysia).

At $900,000 per week she costs more for seven days at sea than most yachts pull down for a whole month.

At 85.3 metres she also ranks as one of the world’s largest charter yachts, with a steel hull and superstructure with aluminum deckhouses.

Access is easy via passarelle or the wide teak swimming platform. Once on board life unfolds over five spectacular decks.

Thirty-six guests are looked after by thirty-four crew and there is room to entertain at the most lavish level.

Situated on the Upper Deck, the master suite measures over 122 square metres. The bedroom itself has 180° panoramic windows with a door to a private deck.

An enormous Californian king-sized bed faces a 42″ retractable plasma television with Creston control console.

Male and female dressing rooms, twin Jacuzzi bath, private study and a twin stateroom complete this remarkable suite.

And, just to ensure you feel entirely at peace, your bodyguard can be comfortably housed in the adjacent twin cabin.

The VIP suite is situated on the Bridge Deck and includes a separate television lounge and study with a double sofa bed.

Another plasma television screen faces the large super king-size bed. A spacious Michelangelo marble bathroom has separate shower, Jacuzzi bath and WC areas.

Alysia’s additional guest suites include eight super king-size doubles and seven twin staterooms, including one equipped for special needs.

They are furnished to the highest standards with limed oak paneling, limestone architraves, silk embroidered counterpanes, sofas, a writing desk, titling LCD screen television with DVD and large marble bathrooms.

You and your guests can use the elevator to explore the five guest decks aboard, which include a sundeck that provides privacy, intimacy and spectacular views over your domain.

At one end, the heli-pad converts into a circular sunbathing terrace, at the other, is a Jacuzzi surrounded by sun beds.

Other amenities offered onboard include a movie theater, temperature-controlled 500-bottle wine cellar, saloon with grand piano, hair and beauty salon, gym,children’s play room and a business center.

With a range of over 7,000 nautical miles, she’s capable of crossing the Atlantic, navigating the Panama Canal and reaching the west coast of the U.S. and Mexico.

HARD TRUTHS

By Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
10th February 2011

1. A new book on Lee Kuan Yew has appeared with the title "Lee Kuan Yew - Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going." It is a collection of 16 interviews with Lee Kuan Yew by Singapore journalists.

2. What is the hard truth which will keep Singapore going? It is, according to Lee Kuan Yew the vulnerability of Singapore. Without saying so in so many words, Lee Kuan Yew believes that the island's neighbours would war against it if it has no military capacity to defend itself. The United Nations would not help Singapore in the event of such an attack.

3. Even America would not defend Singapore despite the Security Framework Agreement. America went to the aid of Kuwait because of oil, but Singapore's problem is water.

4. Kuan Yew blamed me for stopping sand supply from Malaysia. I was quoted as saying, "Even at their present size they are trouble, you let them grow some more they will be more trouble." Rhetorically he then asked the journalist present, "We've got friendly neighbours? Grow up."

5. I may have said that, though I cannot remember. But is that an indication that we intend to invade Singapore?

6. Singapore had been taking large quantities of sand from the sea-bed east of Johore and also in the Strait of Malacca. As a result the coast has been eroded in places. Taking one billion cubic meters more of sand in these seas would cause serious erosion.

7. In addition the fish-breeding ground will be destroyed and this will affect Malaysian fishermen.

8. As to the trouble caused by Singapore; in the 22 years of my premiership I was not able to resolve any of the problems with Singapore. These are the Central Provident Fund, the railway land, the operation of the Malayan Railway in Singapore and the water price. Additionally the reclamation in the Tebrau Strait was affecting the deep water shipping lane for ships to and from Pasir Gudang Port. The only problem solved was the unilateral decision of Malaysia to give up the naval base in Woodlands after Singapore kept raising the lease payments. Malaysia did not ask for even a single cent as compensation for the facilities it has installed at the base.

9. As for Singapore's military planes flying over Malaysian air space, Malaysia had the right to disallow such flights for many reasons. Singapore would certainly not like to have Malaysian military planes flying over Singapore.

10. When we wanted to build a bridge to replace the congested causeway Singapore was not forthcoming.

11. All this while Malaysia had been supplying raw water at 3 sen per thousand gallons. Even to Melaka, Johore is paid 30 cent per thousand gallons. Negotiations to raised the price of water failed repeatedly. The first agreement will end this year. We will continue to supply raw water at 3 sen per thousand gallons until 2061 under the second agreement.

12. Yes, we buy treated water at a subsidised price of 50 cent per thousand gallons. We are willing to forego the supply and treat our water ourselves.

13. It was Malaysia which suggested that both countries submit claims to Pulau Batu Puteh to the international court. The court decided that the rock belongs to Singapore even though it is nearer Malaysia. But two other rocks further from Malaysia but nearer Singapore were awarded to Malaysia.

14. Malaysia's willingness to go to the International Court is hardly in keeping with a country which harbours the intention to invade Singapore.

15. Kuan Yew cried when Singapore left Malaysia. We thought that it was the separation which had saddened him. But now he tells us that it was because "I left behind tens of thousands of people who had joined our rallies". Kuan Yew might remember that despite the huge crowds attending the PAP rallies, the party won only one seat.

16. The PAP supporters immediately formed the DAP to fight the cause promoted by the PAP after the separation. The DAP is alive and well today in Malaysia. In fact it now rules Penang state.

17. But the rump UMNO left in Singapore could not survive in the hostile atmosphere created by the PAP Government. For that matter no other political party has been allowed to function properly in Singapore.

18. Kuan Yew claims all these opposition people are duds and must not be allowed to rule Singapore or even to be in the opposition. This is a frank admission that he determines who should represent the people of Singapore, not the people themselves as in a democracy. If there is any more proof needed that Singapore is a totalitarian state, this admission by Kuan Yew confirms it.

19. Now Kuan Yew is urging Muslims not to hold to the teachings of Islam too strictly. Most Muslims are in breach in their practice of Islam. But it is not for others to tell the Muslims that they should renege on their practice of Islam to facilitate integration in Singapore. In Malaysia we try to live with our differences. Our integration is not perfect because we are sensitive to the sensitivities of our people. We do not ask people to forsake their religious practices so we can integrate.

20. Malaysia has no intention to attack Singapore even if it is militarily weak. Even in my time there was no such intention. In fact we wanted to continue to supply Singapore with water, but at a fair price. I don't think my successors harbour any intention to do harm to Singapore. These are the hard truths. Competition in trade and shipping does not mean war, or a threat of war.

21. But one thing is certain: if Singapore treats Malaysia and Indonesia as its enemies then you must expect them to prepare for their defence. Even if it may not lead to war there will be tension and there will be an arms race. And much money will be wasted.

22. It would be far better if Mr Lee, the Minister Mentor of Singapore stop thinking about being vulnerable and that its neighbours harbour the intention to invade it. As with Pulau Batu Puteh, Sipadan and Ligitan our preference is for negotiation, arbitration or an international court's decision.

23. Remember Malaysia gave up Singapore peacefully. We did not try to use force to keep Singapore or to suppress its people.

Original Post : Chedet

ONE TRILLION

Written by chedet (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohd)
5th August 2011

1. Obama, according to their own news reports, is trying to raise the ceiling for borrowing by the US Government.

2. The US Government is in debt to the tune of US$14 trillion. He wants to borrow more in order to repay the loans. If he cannot repay he will be in default. When a country fails to repay loans, it will be declared bankrupt just like anyone else.

3. What is one trillion dollars? We write it down as one billion with three additional zeros after it. Thus 1,000,000,000,000. It is not such a big figure. You add three zeros or three nothings and the figure increases by 1,000 times. But if we write down one billion as 1,000,000,000 one thousand times, we will have a better idea of what one trillion means. We would be horrified at the size of one trillion if we write the figure 1, one trillion times, which really is what one trillion means.

4. We now talk about these huge sums of money without really appreciating the real amount. Even in Malaysia we talk of billionaires now, not millionaires who are dime a dozen. We are losing our sense of proportion.

5. Just consider $14 trillion in Rupiahs or even in Yen. The figure would spill over the edge of a million sheets of A4-sized paper.

6. Malaysia is one of the countries which lent money to the US. When we buy US bonds we are in fact lending money to the US. Now the US dollar has depreciated from 3.8 Ringgit to one US Dollar to 3 Ringgit per US Dollar. We have lost 80 Malaysian sen for each dollar we lent to the US, if we redeem our bonds. Incidentally we will not be allowed to redeem all our bonds as the US has no money.

7. However, if we keep gold we would be rolling in wealth. Gold was fixed at US$35 per ounce by Bretton Woods in 1943. Now it is US$1,400 per ounce. Even at the depreciated US Dollar of 3 Ringgit we would have 4,200 Ringgit worth of gold for every ounce. Even if we had bought gold say 10 years ago we would have made a pile.

8. A US report says that the US war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan has cost the US more than US$3 trillion. This is being financed by the loans given by other countries through buying US bonds.

9. The US shows no signs of cutting back on military expenditure. Billions of Dollars are spent on researching, developing and producing more efficient means of killing people. Some 60 military bases are maintained all over the world.

10. By all accounts the US is a debtor nation which will never be able to settle its US$14 trillion debt. In other words the US is a poor debtor country, unable to discharge its loans. And it will remain a poor debtor country unless it is willing to cut back massively on its expenditure, particularly its military budget. When one is poor one lives like a poor men.

11. I remember reciting Humpty Dumpty when I was a child. That is the US today. And not all the Nobel laureates in finance, economics and accounting can put it back together once it falls.

12. Far better to admit you are poor and behave like a poor man than to wear flashy suits and throw your weight around. People will soon learn what you really are. 

Original post : chedet

Political Icons

Few political figures in recent memory have the charisma or enduring appeal. Some Famous Old Folk world leaders whose legacies have stood the test of time

Mohandas Gandhi

Out of the Indian independence movement arose a figure few will ever forget: Mohandas 'Mahatma' Gandhi. While working as a lawyer in South Africa, he pioneered the concept of satyagraha, or, civil disobedience in response to tyranny, helping Indians there campaign for civil rights. His peaceful acts of protest abroad and his anti-poverty campaigns at home helped him become the spiritual heart of the Indian independence struggle. Working with Jawaharlal Nehru, the nation's future prime minister, Gandhi led the country in peaceful protest against foreign domination, exemplified by the 1930 Salt March in protest to a British salt tax. His rise paved the way for India's independence in 1947. Though the country was later divided (and Gandhi himself assassinated), his role in the bloodless revolution earned him the title "Father of India" and paved the way for other social movements, including America's struggle for civil rights.

Alexander the Great

The world knows no more precocious or proud a conqueror than Alexander the Great. According to legend — and legends are legion about this fellow — the young Macedonian prince carried the blood of the Olympian god Zeus in his veins and overcame a bullying father and cloying mother to lead a triumphant army across the Bosporus to the near ends of the earth. He defeated the mighty Persian Empire, ever the scourge of the Greeks, razed its once mighty capital of Persepolis to the ground and tried to stitch together an incredible cosmopolitan empire from the Indus to the Hellespont — all while he was in his 20s. He died from an arrow wound at the tender age of 32, still harboring dreams of finding greater shores and nations to bring under his yoke. His imperial project proved too great for his followers, who soon set about warring with each other soon after Alexander's death.

Mao Zedong

As the leader of the People's Republic of China for the better part of 25 years, Mao Zedong is one of the most influential figures in history and was named by TIME as one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. Building on Marxism and Leninism, Mao put his own spin on Communist political theory in what is now known as Maoism. But his legacy remains a complicated one. In China, where his portrait still hangs in Tiananmen Square, he is regarded as a revolutionary mastermind whose ideas provided the foundation for advancements that helped the nation grow from an agrarian society into a world power. But much of China's current success came with great hardship. Mao's Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution are blamed for the deaths of tens of millions, largely due to famine.

Winston Churchill

It's difficult to imagine 20th century Britain without Sir Winston Churchill. Through two world wars and beyond, he played a pivotal role in the nation's foreign affairs, first as the lord of the admirality at the start of World War I and then as prime minister during World War II. But while he, along with the other Allied leaders, helped save Britain from Axis conquest, he also ruled as the once-mighty British Empire completed its retreat from the world stage. The scorn and outright racism he felt for many of Britain's former colonial subjects are a facet of his past historians have only recently started to acknowledge.



In 1939, on the day Britain declared war on Germany, he again became head of the British navy. But it was soon clear that only Churchill could unite the country in the face of Nazi aggression, and he eventually replaced the acquiescent Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Churchill's stirring oratory and ever-present confidence (just think of his regular flashing of the V for victory sign) galvanized the British people and carried them through five years of European conflict. But he was a wartime leader, not a true politician, and lost his job in July 1945. Churchill remained a force throughout the 1950s, though, regaining his position as prime minister in 1951 and warning of the growing strength of the Soviet Union and its Iron Curtain.

Genghis Khan

Few figures in world history inspire the awe — and terror — that Genghis, or Chengiz, Khan does. Through canny politicking and force of will, the 13th century Mongol warlord banded together a confederation of nomadic tribes in his remote homeland of endless steppe. Then he unleashed his horde upon the rest of the world, his rapid horse archers serving as a kind of medieval-era blitzkrieg. His own campaigns focused mostly on parts of China and Central Asia, but his descendants would go on to create a vast empire that spanned from the fringes of Siberia into the river valleys of Eastern Europe.



Genghis is largely remembered as the brutal, devastating marauder he once was, but that doesn't mean he's not loved. Mongolia has embraced their most famous potentate and images of Genghis Khan adorn myriad buildings and products, not least a popular brand of vodka. An hour's drive outside the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, an over-12-storey steel statue of the horse-lord looms over the horizon, brooding over the empty steppe.

Nelson Mandela

Over his 27 years in jail, Nelson Mandela became the symbol of an entire people's struggle against injustice. And as his time behind bars grew so did the anti-apartheid movement he helped spur on. Mandela began his journey in 1944 when he joined the African National Congress (ANC) and became part of the resistance movement against the largely white, ethnic Afrikaner National Party's policies of segregation. His actions resulted in arrest and imprisonment, the majority of which was served at the infamous Robben Island prison. Upon his release in 1990, Mandela became head of the ANC and worked hand-in-hand with then-president F.W. de Klerk to end the country's long-held policies of racial segregation and apartheid. They were awarded the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for their work. In 1994, he won the nation's first multiracial elections, becoming South Africa's first black president. Though he has since retired from politics, Mandela continues to embody the struggle for peace, reconciliation and social justice worldwide.

Abraham Lincoln

Stories about Abraham Lincoln have attained the status of myth: he was born in a log cabin, he was a legendary debater, he freed the slaves, he saved the Union. The 16th U.S. president did come along at precisely the right moment for a nation wounded by its great flaw — slavery. Lincoln laid out his vision for the United States when he proclaimed during his 1858 U.S. Senate campaign that a "house divided cannot stand." When he was elected president in 1860, becoming the first Republican elected to the executive branch, Lincoln realized that in order to save the Constitution he had to save the Union, even if it led to bloodshed. (More than 600,000 soldiers were killed during the Civil War.)



His 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and the Union's successful prosecution of the war meant that Lincoln was practically an iconic figure even before his assassination just days after the conflict's end in 1865. He became even more iconic in the scores of years since. Prior to the Gettysburg Address, a man spoke, delivering a lengthy two-hour speech. Then Lincoln emerged to give his moving address, which lasted a mere two minutes. The other man and his speech are largely forgotten to history. The Gettysburg Address is for the ages.

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler is possibly the most reviled man in the history of human existence, a universal symbol for evil. Yet his presence pervades our culture in film, in an endless stream of World War II literature and historical texts, and even in our own political rhetoric. Hitler's fervent nationalism — which eventually led to the most horrific displays of inhumanity ever witnessed — initially stirred a tired and hungry German people who fell in line with his National Socialism party following their devastating loss of territory and prestige in World War I. Once firmly in power, the Third Reich quickly suppressed all political opponents and oppressed anyone who was not from the German fatherland. Hitler's terror swept through Europe as Germany gobbled up European neighbors and joined forces with other fascist and militaristic regimes in Italy and Japan. But once Hitler's forces were finally defeated by the Allies in World War II, Germany quickly moved to conceal its terrible history. While there have been recent moves in Germany to confront its tragic past, the reign of the Third Reich remains a naturally fraught subject.

Ernesto "Che" Guevara

He set out to do more than just upend the world's economic system — he wanted to change what it means to be a human being. Ernesto Guevara's hombre nuevo, new man, was endowed with the ability to permanently prioritize the "other" over the "self." The embrace of the nickname "Che" fit perfectly into his everyman philosophy; the interjection, which has no English equivalent, comes from Guevara's homeland of Argentina and is used as a salutatory title with no consideration for rank or gender.



The portrait of a rugged, beret-wearing Guevara hangs on the walls of both Latin American kitchens, U.S. college dorm rooms and over Havana's Revolutionary Square because Che was the embodiment of a man true to his word who never backs down. That Guevara would by all modern definitions be judged a war criminal only serves to amplify his icon. As he joined Fidel Castro's march through Cuba in the 1950's, Guevara never wavered on the principle that you were either for the revolution or you weren't. It was Guevara who orchestrated extrajudicial killings on the mere suspicion of disloyalty. Che could only become the familiar mugshot on t-shirts if he was willing to pay the ultimate price. After Guevara was captured fomenting revolution in Bolivia in 1967, he said, "Go ahead and kill me, I am just a man."

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan once said the 11th commandment was "thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." But if that were to be an amendment to the American political covenant, then the very first commandment would have to be, "thou shalt not speak ill of Ronald Reagan." That the Gipper holds a special place in America's political universe has been made plain with rhetoric from across the aisle. In just one debate in the 2008 Republican primaries, which took place 20 years after Reagan left office, the candidates evoked his name 53 times. The Reagan-love became so pronounced it prompted his daughter, Patti Davis, never a great fan of her father's political platform, to publicly scold the candidates, "You're no Ronald Reagan." And during that same primary season Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama noted that his role model for political leadership was in fact Reagan, because he "changed the trajectory of America in a way... that Bill Clinton did not."



Reagan's status as a political King Midas is all the more impressive when considering that on his trademark issue — shrinking government — he actually came up short. According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), federal spending grew 22 percent under Reagan. But Reagan's genius lay in his understanding that stage presence can go a long way in helping to cement an agenda in the permanent national culture. As he promoted his worldview of the individual patriot fighting against the constraints of big government, Reagan presented himself as the horse-riding, cowboy-hat wearing frontiersman. That robust image was certainly reinforced by a host of biographical anecdotes; as a lifeguard, Reagan once saved 77 people from drowning.

Cleopatra

The Egyptian Queen Cleopatra is remembered for the luxuries of her fabled kingdom, her dazzling beauty and, above all, her death. Immortalized by Shakespeare, her alleged suicide was the stuff of romantic legend — despairing after the defeat in battle of her lover, Marc Antony, she succumbed to the venomous bite of an asp rather than be taken captive by the victorious Roman Octavian, nephew of Julius Caesar, another one of her many paramours. Over the centuries, Cleopatra has become synonymous with seduction, her feminine wiles aligned alongside an image of the East as decadent, debauched and ready to be taken.



Recent scholarship, though, has done much to bring the real Cleopatra into the light, showing how the ancient monarch was a shrewd politico bent on defending the land her family's dynasty had governed for some two centuries, while expanding her influence into the Roman world. Scholars still puzzle over the true extent of beauty and debate her racial origins — some say she was more African, others point to the decidedly Greek character of dynastic line. Most recently, Egypt's archaeologist in chief, the controversial, flamboyant Zawi Hawass, unveiled an extensive mission to unveil her and Antony's supposed tomb, a find that could shed more light on the tragic couple's last moments. But, thus far, the search has gone cold and the legendary queen remains still ensconced in myth.

Franklin Roosevelt

The reverence for which America reserved for Franklin Roosevelt over the course of his presidency would simply be impossible to replicate in the America of 2011. During the 12 years of his presidency, FDR was credited with not just personally saving the global economy, but also facing down the worst thug the world has ever known. As such, he was spoken of as either a family member or as a handyman neighbor who could swing by to solve problems on demand. Roosevelt's standing as a national guardian of sorts was strengthened by his famous fireside chats, during which Roosevelt referred to his countrymen as "friends." In those chats Roosevelt also chose to deliberately speak in a slow cadence to create a sense of calm in spite of the chaos he discussed.



Aware of his unique hold on the nation, Roosevelt couldn't resist the temptation to try and maximize his political capital. While he was rebuffed on his plan to pack the Supreme Court with New Deal sympathizers, he was swiftly reelected to unprecedented third and fourth terms, the latter of which when he was plainly not physically up to the job. Indeed, Roosevelt was the beneficiary of an organic grassroots cult of personality not unlike the one autocrats often aim to force upon their unwitting subjects. Photos of Roosevelt were plastered throughout American homes and public spaces including barber shops. The press even respected his disability, and only photographed him from the waist up. When Roosevelt was clearly dying in office in 1945, the idea his vice president might actually take over was so inconceivable that Harry Truman wasn't even briefed on the plan to develop the atomic bomb until after he took office.

Dalai Lama

To countless Tibetans, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader and a head of state in absentia. But to people around the world, Tenzin Gyatso is not only the greatest and most public advocate for Tibetan rights and the virtues of Tibetan Buddhism, but for interfaith tolerance and peace as well. For decades — and from exile since 1959 — he has worked to resolve tensions between Tibet and the People's Republic of China. And like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. before him, the Dalai Lama done so in a manner defined by nonviolence and tolerance. In 1989, he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.



The Dalai Lama's humility has endeared him to presidents and religious leaders of several countries, affording him the opportunity to raise awareness and drum up support for Tibet on a global scale. His 1998 book, The Art of Happiness, sold more than 1.5 million copies in the U.S. and made him a New York Times bestselling author for nearly two years. Yet little the 14th Dalai Lama can do seems to endear him to the authorities in Beijing, who have rebuffed his overtures, label him a "wolf in monk's robes," and seem intent on waiting for the iconic figure to die. For all the global compassion and sympathy the Dalai Lama has won, his lasting legacy may be one of sad, crestfallen failure.

Queen Victoria

Great Britain expanded in nearly every way during Queen Victoria's 64 years and seven months on the throne. It is her name with which we now associate the country's 19th century cultural, social, economic, political, scientific, industrial, technological, military and colonial dominance. During the Victorian Era, the United Kingdom saw its power and influence spread to the far reaches of the Earth, including to its colonial-crown jewel, India (which gave the queen an additional title — the Empress of India). Though her power faded as Britain increasingly shifted power to elected officials, the Queen's influence in society remained high. Today she is remembered most as the embodiment of an era of strict standards, rigid morals and prudishness.

Benito Mussolini

Thirsting for power and dreaming of empire, a young Benito Mussolini left his socialist roots to become one of the key figures in the creation of fascism. After the Italian government collapsed in 1922, he became the nation's youngest prime minister and worked to established fascism as the majority party, thus beginning his reign as Il Duce, or "the leader." In the beginning, Mussolini gathered widespread popular support for his efforts to restore order and introduce public works improvements. But what began as a promising reign was derailed when he aligned himself with Germany during World War II. He was forced from his seat only to be rescued from prison by the Nazis and put in charge of Hitler's puppet-government in Northern Italy. When Germany's defenses collapsed in 1945, Mussolini was captured and executed by Italian partisans as he tried to escape to Austria. Despite Mussolini's obvious crimes, he is not universally hated like his compatriot, Hitler. In fact, his granddaughter, Alessandra, once served as an Italian parliamentarian.

Akbar the Great

If ever a leader merited a tautology, it was the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great (literally, "Great the Great"). Under Akbar, a fragile collection of fiefs around Delhi grew into the great Mughal Empire, a diverse and sprawling kingdom across northern India. While Christians staggered haltingly toward achieving what we now know as the Renaissance, Akbar presided over a flourishing of the arts, sponsoring artisans, poets, engineers and philosophers. He was a canny warlord whose conquests gave rise to one of the early modern world's wealthiest states. Moreover, while a Muslim, Akbar was spiritually curious and hosted religious scholars from Hindu gurus to Jesuits at his vast, diverse court. At his capital city of Fatehpur Sikri, which he built according to astronomical coordinates, he championed a melding of Hinduism and Islam known as the din-i-ilahi or the "divine faith." While the creed no longer lingers, the ethos of pluralism and tolerance that defined Akbar's age underlies the values of the modern republic of India.

Lenin

After peasant uprisings toppled Tsar Nicolas II, Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia from exile in 1917 to stage the greatest coup of the 20th century. Inspired by the writings of Marx and Engels and a desire to be at the "vanguard of the proletariat," Lenin spearheaded the Bolshevik Revolution, ousting the Provisional Government that had replaced the monarchy to establish what would eventually become the Soviet Union — the progenitor of modern day Communist states. By the end of his rule, Lenin had become the ruthless leader he'd once detested, ignoring starving, impoverished workers and crushing any political opposition. In 1921, faced with the same kind of peasant revolt that brought him to power, Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy, ending requisitioning and allowing workers to sell their grain in an open market. Lenin didn't seek to just remake Russia, however, but spread his communist transformation to all the far corners of the earth. And while he never saw those dreams come to fruition in his lifetime, Lenin's political theories were evoked by generations of rebels and guerrillas. For decades, Marxist-Leninist rebellions shook the world while Lenin's embalmed corpse lay in repose in the Red Square.

Margaret Thatcher

A woman with high standards and a short temper, Margaret Thatcher was not known as Britain's Iron Lady for nothing. After working as both a chemist and a barrister and having two children, Thatcher saw her long-held political ambitions realized in 1959 when she became a Member of Parliament in the Conservative Party. Twenty years later, she found herself Prime Minister. Serving from 1979 to 1990, she was Europe's first female Prime Minister and the only British Prime Minister to serve three consecutive terms. During her 11 years in the position, she worked — against a fair amount of resistance — to turn Britain into a more entrepreneurial free-market economy. Thatcher advocated for the privatization of state industries, pressed for lower taxes, faced trade unions head-on and reduced social expenditures across the board. Along with Ronald Reagan, her conservative partner across the Atlantic, she is also credited with helping to hasten the demise of the Soviet Union.

Simón Bolívar

South of the Río Grande, he's known simply as El Libertador — "The Liberator." Streets are so commonly emblazoned with that title, statues of Simón Bolívar on horse are so widely on display in Latin America for the simple reason Bolívar directly led the independence movements of five South American countries. One of them, Bolivia, even named itself after him. The narrative of an unstinting soldier — Bolívar was ejected from Venezuela four times — freeing the oppressed has proved politically irresistible to all subsequent Latin leaders seeking to couch their leadership as a defense of the masses.



Hugo Chávez isn't the first head of state to exploit Bolívar's life story, but the Venezuelan president has taken the strategy to new heights. Chávez has coined his platform as the "21st Century Bolivarian Revolution," in which today's Spanish Empire is the U.S.-led global capitalist order. And when Chávez appears on his weekly-televised program, Aló, Presidente, a huge portrait of Bolívar often appears in the background. Chávez has even dug up Bolívar's remains to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death. Bolívar's last days were also the subject of Gabriel García Márquez's book, The General in his Labyrinth. In his day, Bolívar was said to be honored by being thought of as "The George Washington of South America," save one gripe he had with the American Revolution — the protection it provided for slavery.

Qin Shi Huang

Qin Shi Huang was just a young 13-year-old when he became King of the Qin state. But his rule would mark the first time China unified her warring states, in 221 B.C., with Qin as the nation's first Emperor. Beyond joining territory to create a common nation, Qin instituted standardized structure to much of Chinese society at the time, including measuring and monetary units, laws and written script, which would remain a part of Chinese society years after his death. Qin also imposed legalism on his citizens, a totalitarian philosophy that suited his sometimes brutal leadership style perfectly. Some of China's most significant cultural landmarks, among them the Great Wall, Terracotta Army museum, and Qin's own mausoleum began during his rule. He is hailed as the iconic unifier of a nation and culture. But his reign was responsible for one of China's greatest cultural tragedies, too. To keep history on his side, Qin set fire to all books not related to medicine, agriculture, certain sciences and the story of his own dynasty, and burned scholars alive for owning forbidden texts.

Kim Il-Sung

Kim Il-Sung, the father of communist North Korea, began his political life by fleeing Japanese rule of his homeland. After some Soviet training and membership in a local communist party, Kim returned to Korea during World War II and established a communist government in 1948. For the next half-decade, Kim ruled North Korea with a brutal iron fist. While promising great wealth for his country, Kim suppressed his people and fashioned a militaristic society. In 1950, he instigated the Korean War following an attempt to reunify the peninsula. (He was rebuffed by U.S. and UN forces.) After the war, the state-run economy, based on Kim's philosophy of "self-reliance," grew fairly rapidly but stagnated in the 1990s. When Kim Il-Sung died in 1994, his son Kim Jong-Il naturally succeeded him, continuing many of his father's heavy-handed policies. Today, the country is now desperately poor and heavily reliant on aid from China. While Kim Il-Sung's presence is still widely felt some two decades after his death, he is also still seen. Some say that the presumptive heir to lead North Korea, Kim Jong-un, looks eerily like his grandfather.

Charles de Gaulle

The father of modern France was a relatively unknown general when he became the face of French resistance against Nazi Germany during World War II. In his now historic Appeal of June 18, de Gaulle decried his country's proposed armistice with Germany and delivered a passionate plea for continued opposition against the Nazi Army in a 1940 radio address broadcast by the BBC. Nearly two decades later, de Gaulle saw his country through another period of conflict, the Algerian War, when he defied some of his most loyal supporters and helped Algeria gain independence. A fervent nationalist, De Gaulle was the architect of a new constitution that bolstered executive power and founded France's Fifth Republic, for which he became the first president in 1959. As leader of his country, he revalued the nation's currency with the introduction of a new Franc, expanded industry and gave women the right to vote. De Gaulle staunchly advocated an independent French arms arsenal, twice blocked Britain's entry into the European Common Market, removed French forces from NATO and condemned America's war with Vietnam, a move that set the tone for the frosty Franco-U.S. relations still present today. Ultimately, his name became synonymous with a uniquely French political system whose legacy is being both preserved and grappled with by current President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Louis XIV

Hailed by Napoleon as "the only King of France worthy of the name," Louis XIV sat on the French throne for more than 72 years, the longest known reign of any such Europe royal. He is best remembered as the Sun King, a name that symbolizes his famously absolutist style of governance. For more than half a century, he guided the French state to the height of its influence in the early 18th century. He fought 3 wars and pioneered a kind of "soft power," seeing French proliferate as the language of sophisticates, the nobility and diplomacy across Europe. His patronage of the arts brought to light luminaries like Moliere — and his absolutist rule spurred angry political philosophers like Montesquieu. The most famous quote attributed to him is probably apocryphal: L'etat, c'est moi, I am the State. Nevertheless, it fits.

Haile Selassie

King of Kings, Conquering Lion of Judah, Elect of God. All were used to describe Haile Selassie, who ruled as Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974 and is venerated still as the Divine incarnate by adherents of the Rastafari faith. That he was ultimately deposed by a military discontented with his regime should not eclipse his contribution to African solidarity. Selassie gave Ethiopia its first constitution and convened the earliest meeting of the Organization of African Unity.



But he is perhaps most widely remembered for the speech he gave before the League of Nations in 1933 as the legions of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini stormed his ill-equipped nation. The League did little to prevent Ethiopia's defeat, but Selassie's appeal, uttered movingly in his native Amharic, would serve as a pillar in the struggles against colonialism and Fascism. With a firm internationalist bent, the last Ethiopian monarch eventually saw his country become a charter member of the United Nations. A TIME "Man of the Year" who claimed descendance from the biblical King Solomon, he ushered the continent he had unified into a distinctly African modernity.

King Richard the Lionheart & Saladin

In tales like those of Robin Hood, King Richard the Lionheart is remembered charitably as a benevolent erstwhile monarch, lost to the Crusades in the Orient while his dastardly brother Prince John steals from the poor of England to give to the rich. Richard's return in the stories, though, always marks some proud English nationalist turning of the tide. In truth, Richard probably didn't care much for England at all, spoke mostly French, and spent the bulk of his adult life pursuing wealth and plunder with various armies abroad. The popular myth about his piety and love of England is ironically a product of his complete absence from what was a damp, musty isle at the edge of the world.



Instead, Richard found himself in the forefront of the Third Crusade of 1189 to retake Jerusalem, a city that had fallen two years before to an accomplished Muslim general named Salah ad-Din, or, as he would be remembered by European chroniclers, Saladin. For a brief time, Saladin, an ethnic Kurd, ruled over much of the Levant, Mesopotamia, the holy cities of Arabia and Egypt — lands whose wealth and civilization would have bewildered Richard and many of gold-seeking Crusaders. In short, the Third Crusade failed in seizing Jerusalem, though Richard's forces did score a small victory against Saladin at Arsuf in 1191. Sources from the time paint the rapport between Richard I and Saladin in high chivalric times, noting how Saladin dispatched his doctors to Richard when he heard the English was ill and two horses when Richard's one proved lame. Saladin is remembered in Europe still as this noble, chivalrous general from the east. But, as more recent historians argue, both he and Richard were brutal warriors, with little need or time for the pleasantries that have gone on to burnish their legend for centuries.