OPINION: Indefensible costs of military one-upmanship - Hiroaki Sati

The Japan Times Online, 27 Feb 2011
I was recently surprised to learn that Singapore has 72,500 troops on active duty and plans to double the number of "combat-ready aircraft" to more than 200. It also plans to have 10 more submarines to add to the four it has today. Or so the Wall Street Journal reported ("Asia's New Arms Race," Feb. 12-13).
In fact, Singapore has "one of Asia's most modern armed forces," according to a U.S. military site proudly announcing the country's purchase of 12 more F-15 fighter jets for $1 billion (October 2007). Full story