Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Don’t trivialise Ulu Tiram terror attack By R Paneir Selvam
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Malaysiakini : Moreover, it is imperative for our government to officially designate
this incident solely as a terrorist attack, without any alternative
labels.
One of the victims of the attack at the Ulu Tiram police station
Doing
so will instil a profound sense of assurance and guidance for the
intelligence and security agencies in Malaysia, enabling them to
effectively dismantle the resurging terrorist organisation known as the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).
Furthermore, on Friday, the police apprehended two individuals for trying to enter Istana Negara. They were caught with a machete in their vehicle.
The vehicle carrying a machete near Istana Negara
While
the investigation is still ongoing, the police should thoroughly
examine the situation from different perspectives, such as determining
if these individuals are associated with the Ulu Tiram JI terrorist
cell.
Ulu Tiram terrorist attack
Prior to the Ulu Tiram terrorist incident, we had one terrorist attack in Puchong, back in 2016. It was referred to as the Movida Bar attack and it involved religious extremist groups.
Following
the incident, the police initiated a crackdown on supporters,
sympathisers, and terrorists associated with known terror organisations
in Malaysia.
Several individuals were successfully prosecuted in
court as a result. However, in recent years, there has been a decrease
in the visibility of investigations and prosecutions targeting
individuals linked to terrorist groups and their activities.
Movida bar attack in 2016
This
decline in visibility could potentially be a contributing factor to the
resurgence of terrorist organisations like JI, as the erroneous beliefs
deeply rooted within the members of these groups are reignited.
According to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the Ulu Tiram attack seems to have been perpetrated by a lone wolf.
However,
it is plausible that this individual may have emerged from a sleeper
cell, operating alongside other members who function independently.
Surprisingly,
the police have not classified them as high-risk individuals in their
investigative scope, which is quite perplexing considering their
previous proactive approach in addressing similar issues.
While
the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing in the UK and the 2013 Boston bombing
in the US are often categorised as lone-wolf terrorist attacks,
investigations into these incidents unveiled the presence of handlers
who provided guidance until the final moments when the attacks were
carried out, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives.
Hence,
it is imperative for politicians to refrain from interfering in the
work of professionals such as the police when it comes to addressing
national security concerns.
It is crucial to grant the security
forces complete autonomy and freedom to carry out investigations without
any external influence.
This will enable the police to
effectively conclude the investigation by uncovering the full network of
a terrorist organisation such as JI and apprehending all terrorists,
including the main operatives, who are active both within and beyond the
nation’s borders.
Several categories
The prevailing pattern of terrorist attacks can be categorised into several aspects.
Firstly, there is a rise in lone wolf attacks, where individuals carry out acts of terrorism independently.
Secondly,
these attacks often involve the use of non-conventional weapons, as
exemplified by the Ulu Tiram terrorist attack where a machete was
initially employed.
Thirdly, the perpetrators tend to be self-radicalised and self-financed.
Fourthly, these terrorists are often perceived as non-threatening until the actual attack occurs.
Lastly, the identities of their handlers are effectively concealed and cannot be traced.
Then,
a question must be asked - why was that specific police station
targeted and what motivated the terrorist to carry out an attack early
in the morning?
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain
One
potential explanation, as highlighted by the Inspector-General of
Police Razarudin Husain is that the terrorist’s objective in targeting
this station was to acquire the weapons stored there.
This
scenario prompts serious inquiries into how the terrorist obtained
knowledge regarding the presence of weapons in this particular police
station, as well as who may have provided such information to him or his
associates.
Furthermore, it is essential to consider whether the
terrorist conducted a reconnaissance mission prior to the actual attack
and whether any suspicious activities were captured by CCTV cameras
within the police station before the incident occurred.
Terrorism is evolving
Terrorism
is an ever-changing threat that poses a global security concern,
requiring constant vigilance from all nations to ensure the safety of
their citizens.
We cannot assume that our country is immune to terrorist attacks.
The
United Kingdom learned this lesson the hard way when they experienced
the devastating London bombing in 2007 due to a similar mindset among
their politicians.
Unfortunately, I have observed a similar
mindset among some of our own politicians when it comes to dealing with
terrorist groups.
It is crucial for them to recognise that this is
a matter of national security, and they have a responsibility to
protect the peace and well-being of all Malaysians.
National
security should always be a top priority, and no one should be exempt
from the law. It is important to remember that a terrorist will always
be a terrorist.
In my opinion, hardcore terrorists cannot be
rehabilitated, and there is no guarantee that they will not return to
their violent ways. They pose a constant danger to our society and
nation.
And the Ulu Tiram terrorist attack demonstrates their
willingness to carry out attacks in Malaysia, indicating that the threat
is very real.
