I made this image with the haiku I wrote, which I am using for my blog, Facebook page and other social media platforms, this week of mourning for Lee Kuan Yew.
Use it if you like.
Here are some Lee Kuan Yew stories I read which I thought were very moving and interesting:
1. Henry A. Kissinger: The world will miss Lee Kuan Yew: http://mrbrwn.co/1FSUsg7
2. NYT: Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father and First Premier of Singapore, Dies at 91: http://nyti.ms/1HlpyeF
3. Lee Kuan Yew’s Red Box, as shared by Education Minister Heng Swee Keat: http://mrbrwn.co/1Ov8jNo
4. Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew: The Leader Who Lasted by James Fallows of The Atlantic: http://mrbrwn.co/1DSxGWi
5. The infamous CIA attempted bribery incident (PDF of whole article is here):
"In the late 1950s, the CIA were worried about what they saw as the PAP's close ties with pro-communist elements. They even approached the British Special Branch about it but the SB told the CIA not to worry (the British knew Lee better than the Americans). The CIA, naturally, decided to take matters into their own hands, and mounted their own covert op to infiltrate Singapore's intelligence apparatus. This was discovered in 1960.The local CIA station chief then apparently tried to bribe Lee to hush up the matter, offering him US$3.3 million. Lee refused and counter-proposed US$33 million in aid to Singapore. Eventually, Dean Rusk, Kennedy's Secretary of State, who had inherited the mess, wrote Lee a formal letter of apology in 1961 for the affair.
But when Lee recounted the story a few years later, the CIA issued one of its automatic denials. Lee was enraged - not only had the CIA tried to bribe him like some tin-pot third world dictator, now they were calling him a liar. He produced the letter and threatened to broadcast tape recordings of the incident.
The CIA hastily retracted its denial.
Lee said, "The Americans should know the character of the men they are dealing with in Singapore and not get themselves further dragged into calumny. They are not dealing with Ngo Dinh Diem or Syngman Rhee. You do not buy and sell this Government."
I went to the pavement by Parliament House to write a card for him at the tribute station on Monday. Took a few photos. I will share more of them in a later post but this one caught my eye.
