Pssst... Strike Eagle just streaked by!
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Military enthusiasts update each other on the Net but there is self-policing; also Mindef makes regular visits for feedback
By David Boey
THE Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has yet to unveil a replacement for its Crossbow light anti-tank weapon, but an Internet forum called Military Nuts has been abuzz with talk that the army may soon unveil a tank-busting rocket called Matador.
Days after February's Asian Aerospace air show, aircraft enthusiasts kept some Internet chatrooms busy with reports of having sighted fighter jets like the American F-15 Strike Eagle and French Rafale thundering across Singapore, presumably on trials being conducted by the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
Net-based defence forums are popular among military enthusiasts who wish to keep one another posted on new developments. They engage in lively discussions on military topics - from the value of national service to the purchase of new equipment.
And the people who read these comments include big shots from the Ministry of Defence.
The ministry said it welcomes Internet discussions on defence subjects, but cautioned that classified information should not be aired on the Net.
There is a healthy amount of self-policing by most defence forum moderators, to ensure that sensitive information like SAF code words or information on weapons are not flashed on the Net.
One of Military Nuts' moderators, a 28-year-old aeronautical engineer who goes by the screen name Viper52, said those who post messages are urged 'to exercise discretion when discussing issues which might have implications beyond this forum'.
He said: 'This is especially true regarding restricted information on military doctrine and equipment.'
Mindef said that it makes regular visits to such sites, to 'gather feedback'.
Colonel Bernard Toh, a spokesman for the ministry, said: 'National service is a shared experience, so it is natural that our servicemen, both full-time national servicemen and NSmen, take an interest in defence matters and discuss them, including on the Internet.
'Mindef follows public discussions on defence issues and we also gather feedback.'
Col Toh said SAF servicemen are free to take part in Internet discussions, but are reminded 'that they have security obligations when discussing defence matters - in whatever medium'.
He added that most Singaporeans are responsible and careful about what they post on the Net, as they 'understand the need to observe security in defence matters'.
So far, no one has run afoul of the law, but The Straits Times understands that some servicemen have been advised to tone down their postings.
'If there are security breaches, the appropriate action could range from advice to disciplinary action, depending on their seriousness,' said Col Toh.
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Wow! Looks like we are in the news!
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we haf always beenOriginally posted by eurofighter:Wow! Looks like we are in the news!
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aiyo, ChineseJunk, no need to write article like this one rite? I'm sure there are many more Navy or SAF topics to write
Viper52, you make news! ha ha. Now you're famous and your words are printed on the papers. No many of us have achieve such feat at the age of 28 ! hee hee
Anyway, good to see that this forum mods are exercising prudent measures to self censor classified stuff which should not be discussed openly as there are foreign parties who are interested to gather news through open sources like this forums.
Remember the famous words "loose lips sink ships" !!!
Just my 2 cents -
Dear Ayukat,
If you're reading this particular thread right now. I think the above should give you a small hint where your computer 'virus' came from. Catch no ball, its okay. I'll stop here for now. Don't PM me for any more info. Good luck and regards.
For the rest of you out there, ignore this message. Thank you, have a pleasant day.
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wooooot
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Viper , I think you should attach this article into your posting guidelines for future member to read.
I wonder who has been advised by Mindef?!?
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I know of one who got 'advised'. Wonder if he knows who he is?Originally posted by gary1910:Viper , I think you should attach this article into your posting guidelines for future member to read.
I wonder who has been advised by Mindef?!?
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Funnily enough Gary, I was thinking the same thing when reading the forum from my workplace today (before your reply). It's been done, thanks for the suggestion!Originally posted by gary1910:Viper , I think you should attach this article into your posting guidelines for future member to read. -
ChineseJunk, what made you write this article or was it that you were asked to?
Jus curious -
I hope that, with this article, it can be cleared up once and for all whether this forum is being watched or not, and that posters understand why the moderators have adopted the stance they have with regards to regulation of this forum. For the sake of Singapore, as well as for the preservation of this forum.
And to repeat what I've told CJ when he interviewed me for this article, the Posting Guidelines were decided on and posted by the moderators without pressure or instructions from anyone, the team made the decision to post the guidelines in response to some pretty serious breaches of posting discipline a few weeks back. -
Hi all, have spent the last couple of years wondering if I was the only fella on this chunk of sand to have a hard on for anything painted olive green and goes boom, started a forum like this on delphi once but there just wasn't any traffic, let along traffic of any kind, nice to see likeminded people about. I'm home!
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oh! its by david!
hi david! i know u are reading this.
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welcome home!Originally posted by Arnhem:Hi all, have spent the last couple of years wondering if I was the only fella on this chunk of sand to have a hard on for anything painted olive green and goes boom, started a forum like this on delphi once but there just wasn't any traffic, let along traffic of any kind, nice to see likeminded people about. I'm home! -
Joe Black, I was on TV back in 2003 being interviewed as the 'man on the street', so I'm well on my way in my 15 seconds of fame!
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Welcome home Arnhem! I think you'll like it very much here....have fun!Originally posted by Arnhem:Hi all, have spent the last couple of years wondering if I was the only fella on this chunk of sand to have a hard on for anything painted olive green and goes boom, started a forum like this on delphi once but there just wasn't any traffic, let along traffic of any kind, nice to see likeminded people about. I'm home! -
Viper52...i was wondering whos CJ.? Chief justice??
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Originally posted by Jazzswing:Viper52...i was wondering whos CJ.? Chief justice?? CJ is ChineseJunk...he's one of the posters here. And a high profile one, to boot...
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Chinesejunk is the author of that article?
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yesOriginally posted by Jazzswing:Chinesejunk is the author of that article? -
Oh...surprising..
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Viper, does that mean that you are going to be rubbing shoulders with SAF top brass? Don't forget to tell the RSAF chief why RSAF should get Rafale instead of the other two hee hee
Didn't realise that CJ actually interviewed you. How did he get hold of you in the first place?
Anyway, the NGF news seem to have died down quite a bit. No more news? Is the eval over for Rafale? What about the Eagles? -
I'll be happy if they didn't put me in detention!Originally posted by Joe Black:Viper, does that mean that you are going to be rubbing shoulders with SAF top brass? Don't forget to tell the RSAF chief why RSAF should get Rafale instead of the other two hee hee
Didn't realise that CJ actually interviewed you. How did he get hold of you in the first place?
Anyway, the NGF news seem to have died down quite a bit. No more news? Is the eval over for Rafale? What about the Eagles?
CJ and I go back a long way, back when the Internet was still in it's infancy and Military Nuts was but a distant dream!
The Rafale evaluation is over, last week the F-15s were still flying but didn't see any this week. Then again, I'm swamped this week with work so... -
ah... no wonder i saw an f15 over central sg last sunday.
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ohhh u kknow CJ from a way back? he's a good man.Originally posted by Viper52:I'll be happy if they didn't put me in detention!
CJ and I go back a long way, back when the Internet was still in it's infancy and Military Nuts was but a distant dream!
The Rafale evaluation is over, last week the F-15s were still flying but didn't see any this week. Then again, I'm swamped this week with work so...