Article

2004-11-13 Southeast Asia

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Posted by Seafarious 2004-11-13 12:51:40 AM|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The kingdom of Siam, now Thailand, wanted a cheap loan from Britain, the colonial overseer in neighbouring Malaya.

So, in 1909 Siam traded four of its restive Muslim feudal states, on the southern fringes of Bangkok's territorial reach, for the Â£4 million it needed to expand its railway.

The British empire thus crept north. Siam reportedly put the best possible spin on its territorial loss - the Buddhist kingdom had merely cast off some of its distant troublespots. (more in the link)

Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-11-13 4:14:13 AM|| [http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/world/A0859448.html] 2004-11-13 4:14:13 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 "Our weapons are fire and oil, fire and oil and fire and oil."

Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise....
Our two weapons are fear and surprise... and ruthless efficiency....
Our three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...
and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope....
Our four... no...
Amongst our weapons... Amongst our weaponry...
are such elements as fear, surprise...
I'll come in again.

Life imitates Python.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2004-11-13 9:05:31 AM|| 2004-11-13 9:05:31 AM|| Front Page Top

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