Mr Lee and Singapore

"...  Mr Lee’s ‘big idea’ was Singapore. On that he always thought big: Singapore as we know it today would not otherwise exist. In so far as any central organising principle infused his geopolitical thinking, it is a laser-like focus on Singapore’s national interest. He saw the world canvas whole. But unlike too many self-styled ‘statesmen’, Mr Lee never succumbed to the temptation of capering about on the world stage for its own sake. When he expressed an opinion, it was always to some purpose, even though the purpose may not always have been immediately apparent to everyone. He looked at the world strategically with a broad and long term vision; he played chess not draughts.

His geopolitical thought is based on an unsentimental view of human nature and power; a view shaped by experience, particularly, as he on several occasions has said, his experience of the Japanese occupation. His analyses are characterised by the hard headed precision with which he zeroed in on the core of any situation, undistracted by the peripheral. He expressed his ideas directly without cant of any kind.

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Mr Lee once memorably said that he was interested in being correct rather than being politically correct. Naturally, he was not always correct. International developments are intrinsically unpredictable and nobody can ever be always correct. But he was more often than not on target and when he was not, was never too proud to change his position."

really liked this article by Bilahari Kausikan. Happy 90th Mr Harry Lee!