Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SINGAPORE2695
2006-08-24 06:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:  

SENATOR BOND'S MEETINGS WITH SINGAPORE'S SENIOR

Tags:  PREL PGOV SN 
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R 240645Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0981
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 002695 

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SN
SUBJECT: SENATOR BOND'S MEETINGS WITH SINGAPORE'S SENIOR
LEADERSHIP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 002695

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SN
SUBJECT: SENATOR BOND'S MEETINGS WITH SINGAPORE'S SENIOR
LEADERSHIP


1. (SBU) Summary: Discussing the Middle East situation,
Singapore's senior leadership told Senator Christopher "Kit"
Bond (R-MO) that Hezbollah had won a strategic victory
against Israel and the reputation of the Israeli Defense
Forces had been damaged by its poor performance in Lebanon.
Foreign Minister George Yeo expressed concern about the
growing influence of radical Islamic groups in Indonesia. He
predicted that Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi would
survive the public attacks by former PM Mahathir Mohamad, but
said Badawi's reputation would be diminished. Turning to
trade issues, FM Yeo said the U.S.-ASEAN Trade and Investment
Framework Arrangement would help promote trade, but added
that bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) would be more
effective. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that without
a broad-based push for freer trade, there would be a gradual
erosion in the vitality of the international trade regime.
End Summary.


2. (U) During his August 19-21 visit to Singapore, Senator
Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO),accompanied by the Ambassador,
met separately with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Foreign
Minister George Yeo and Minister of Defence Teo Chee Hean.

Middle East Situation
--------------


3. (SBU) PM Lee told Senator Bond Israel had not thought
through its military response to Hezbollah's attacks from
southern Lebanon and had done a poor job of preparing its
troops for the mission. Hezbollah had stood its ground and
inflicted casualties. Due to its willingness to sacrifice
"men, women and children," Hezbollah had won a strategic
victory over Israel, he argued. Defence Minister Teo said
the reputation of the Israeli Defense Forces had been damaged
by its poor performance in Lebanon. A long-standing tenet of
the Middle East -- Israel's military "invincibility" -- had
been changed. Other forces in the region would now be
emboldened to cause trouble for Israel.


4. (SBU) While radical Islamic groups "railed" against the
problems in their own countries, they were unable to solve
them or provide people with a better life, asserted Defence
Minister Teo. In the long term, the war against Islamic
radicalism had to be won on the ideological front by moderate
Muslims putting forward a different vision and model for

their societies.

Engagement with ASEAN
--------------


5. (SBU) Singapore's leaders stressed the importance of
continued U.S. engagement with ASEAN. FM Yeo opined that the
U.S.-ASEAN Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement would
help promote trade, but added that bilateral Free Trade
Agreements (FTAs) would be more effective. He also expressed
hope for a summit between President Bush and ASEAN leaders in
2007 to mark the 30th anniversary of the ASEAN-US dialogue
partnership, possibly on the heels of the APEC Summit in
Australia. Noting the problem of including Burma, he
suggested both sides could use the EU-ASEAN model to deal
with Burma's participation at a lower level.


6. (SBU) Defence Minister Teo said the U.S.-Singapore FTA had
an important demonstration effect on Singapore's neighbors.
Several ASEAN states had originally criticized Singapore for
pursuing bilateral FTAs with the United States, Australia,
and New Zealand, but now they saw the value of them and
wanted their own trade pacts as well.

Support for Free Trade
--------------


7. (SBU) PM Lee lamented that the Doha round of WTO talks had
stalled. Without a broad-based push for freer trade, there
would be a gradual erosion in the vitality of the
international trade regime. He noted the strong
protectionist interests in the EU, particularly France, but
argued that only the United States could set the tone to move
forward. Senator Bond discussed the importance of exports to
Southeast Asia for Missouri, but added that there was
significant opposition to globalization in the U.S. Congress,
citing the negative reaction of many lawmakers to the aborted
Dubai Ports World deal earlier this year.

Indonesia
--------------


8. (SBU) FM Yeo expressed concern about radical Islamic
groups in Indonesia. He asserted they were growing stronger,
were highly organized, and were influenced by groups and
events in the Middle East. Indonesian President Yudhoyono

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was the only leader capable of keeping the country together.
President Yudhoyono and Vice President Kalla constituted a
formidable team, but if those two split, the more Islamic
parties, such as the PKS, would be the main beneficiaries, he
asserted.

Malaysia
--------------


9. (SBU) Discussing the on-going public dispute between
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and former PM
Mahathir Mohamad, FM Yeo said Badawi would survive the public
attacks by his predecessor. Badawi's reputation, however,
would be diminished. While Badawi himself was "pristine,"
some of his advisors were not and this would come out in the
open if they quarrel continued.

Cambodia
--------------


10. (SBU) Senator Bond noted that he would be making his
first trip to Cambodia and would meet with Prime Minister Hun
Sen. FM Yeo said Cambodia was slowly rebuilding and there
was some sense of hope in the country. While Hun Sen was a
"brutal" and "partially civilized" man, he was the best
leader for Cambodia. PM Lee said Hun Sen had no apparent
philosophy, but always made sure that he ended up on top in
the Cambodian political system.

Defense Cooperation
--------------


11. (SBU) Senator Bond thanked Defence Minister Teo for
Singapore's selection of the F-15SG for its next generation
fighter aircraft. Defence Minister Teo said Singapore was
pleased with the extensive security relationship with the
United States, our growing technological cooperation, and the
opportunity for Singapore's F-15SG squadron to train at the
U.S. Air Force base in Mountain Home, Idaho.


12. (U) CODEL Bond cleared this message.
HERBOLD