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."
Egg on the Face Part 2 - Nazri admits mistake in dealing with diplomatic flap
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Malaysiakini : Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz admitted he made a mistake when he dealt with the diplomatic flap where Ambassador Huang Huikang of China was summoned for his statement made at Petaling Street last Friday.
However, Nazri emphasised that he did not mean to meddle in the affairs of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
"There is no intention to interfere," he told Malaysiakini in a text message. in response to our questions.
The Umno minister said this when asked to respond to his colleague, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, who expressed regret that other ministers had butted into the matter without first consulting him.
Huang was summoned to meet Anifah's former deputy, and now Acting Foreign Minister, Hamzah Zainuddin (photo), yesterday.
However there has been much confusion about the meeting, as it was initially reported that it had been cancelled.
There was further confusion when Sin Chew Daily quoted Huang as saying that Hamzah told him in their meeting yesterday that Wisma Putra did not call him in.
Hamzah, now domestic trade, co-operatives and consumerism minister, is has not replied to Malaysiakini's requests for a response.
Nazri earlier said the meeting was called off because Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Naina Merican breached protocol by calling in Huang.
Nazri said only an acting foreign minister can do so, in the absence of the foreign minister.
However, Reezal denied this claim and said the summon to Huang was endorsed by Anifah.
The normal practice in cabinet
Explaining this today, Nazri said Huang came to see him on Sunday night, after Huang he called in by Reezal.
"I told the ambassador not to worry because, normally, the foreign minister will call, but not the deputy minister," he explained.
The normal practice in cabinet is only a full minister can act on another minister's behalf when he is not in the country, and not a deputy minister, Nazri said.
"It is also the practice that for China, when it is their national day and if our foreign minister cannot attend, then only another minister can toast to the health of president of China, but not his deputy minster," he said.
That was why, he said, he thought the Foreign Affairs Ministry did not make the decision to summon the ambassador, since the foreign minister (Anifah Aman, photo) was overseas, he concluded.
"I didn't know that the foreign minister had made the decision because it is not the practice that a deputy minister can call in the ambassador as only another minister representing the foreign minister can do this," said Nazri, who is the MP for Padang Rengas.
"Also, in diplomatic practice, I would be upset if a Malaysian ambassador is summoned by a deputy minister," he said.
Nazri said that he had been appointed as acting foreign minister on a few occasions, and his experience led him to believe things were not in order.
"I thought Anifah would call the ambassador himself when he comes back, because that is within his power, but not his deputy minister’s power," he said.
"Obviously, I was mistaken and did not know that the foreign minister had instructed his deputy minister."
"I have been a minister for 16 years and have covered the previous foreign minister many times on requests and I so came to conclusion that only a minister can act on behalf of the foreign minister, especially the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which is very strict on protocol.
"Certainly, now, that is all changed and I am not aware. But one thing is sure, that I am a very experienced minister and interfering is certainly not my intention," Nazri added.
Nazri is currently in Antalya, Turkey, as a guest of the Turkish government to speak at a conference.
Anifah is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
