Summiteers Once More

Rather than the Shangri-La it was the Capella on Sentosa Island for Don and Kim’s meeting, two golf courses adjacent should a sudden urge have taken the former enthusiast. (Kim would likely be forced to decline a friendly contest. Who was the Hollywood or golf star defending himself from accusations of palsyness with Donald recently, saying how was one supposed to refuse the man when he suddenly called suggesting a round?) Reports of Gurkha presence around the Shangri-La last week during another dialogue of other leaders in what was touted as a dry run for the upcoming event. In the newspaper on the morning a big spread on logistics and arrangements that included mention of heavily armoured BMWs that would be deployed, bulletproof, bomb-resistant &etc; in addition to being equipped for smashing through barriers and crowds, the report added. (Mid-East and North African specials.) One also recalled a few years ago a car-full of footloose lads with dope on them straying into the Raffles precinct while some of the Windsors were visiting. After panicking at the police presence and putting their foot on the gas, one or two died in a hail of gunfire — from ask-no-questions Gurkha sharpshooters, if memory serves. Soon after re-posting the Gurkhas piece last night on the blog ABC online (Australia) delivered an item on the same subject: the reliable Nepali force retained on these shores sixty years after independence and expected to play a lead role during the keenly awaited media beat-up Summit. Sentosa is in fact a speck of land that had been augmented with a couple of other islands in the 1970s, the whole increased with reclamation. Nearly seven years hereabouts, the place has been left well enough alone. In the pictures plentiful greenery was retained or re-introduced, which would screen the chimneys on heavily industrialised petro-chem Jurong Island opposite. Cashed-up partygoers who flock to the happy isle would have needed to shoot over to Phuket for their fun June 10 - 14. Difficult to restrain the wincing in advance at the President’s words of thanks to his gracious hosts, his dear friend Mr.... He and his party — uncertain at the time whether Melania would be attending — had enjoyed themselves immensely &etc. The United States had no greater friend &etc. In the end the locals were miffed to learn in a press release from the President’s office of the vague, sketchy knowledge of the geo-political divide down on the equator here, signing off on place with Singapore comma Malaysia — as if the little republic was still part of the Malaysian federation. Oh well, it was a long way off and a teeny weeny political entity in question.