All Bases Covered

Unending steel birds one after another coming down at the Paya Lebar military airport, twenty soon after breakfast. Population of 5.5m in the latest figures, which includes all the foreigners (nearly one and a half mil.) and the PR holders. Yet seemingly a larger air-force than the one that carried out the Allied bombing of the German cities in the last year of the war. The Saudis might not be better equipped. Even with the US and Britain included - assuming Regional HQ for their operations - remarkable. On Taiwan the Chinese would kick up a stink; Downunder a land too far, even for speed-of-sound breakers. Singapore perfectly positioned. The new hotel sits directly beneath the flight path. Walking back from the bus an enthusiast can count the riveting on the under-carriages. The newscasts of the Vietnam War recalled sipping your morning teh — large B52-type big-bellied craft; troop transports with the propellers front and rear; the migs are from a later time: Panama, Gulf War, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan & Iraq. Numerous benefits to the local economy of course; better that Singapore gets it than someone else. Even the Vietnamese are trying to lure US bases back to their territory for the cash injection as much as insurance against the Chinese. Pity the forests are gone for those historic camouflage colours.