What Patricia Herbold actually said

First, the outgoing US ambassador Frank Lavin was said to have "slapped" or "slammed" the Singapore Government--when frankly, what he did was to offered some frank advise as a friend. Then there's been talk about how the incoming ambassador Patricia Herbold has been suggesting that "the Bush administration might be preparing to take a tougher line on Singapore's human rights record." Well, I just took a closer look at what she actually said today and what I can find is:

On the political side, we share an interest in strengthening regional institutions, in particular the role of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). These organizations, in addition to building regional stability, also support trade and investment liberalization. The United States and Singapore believe that future cooperation among countries in the region should be open, transparent, and inclusive.

Singapore, due to its port and strategic location, can also play a constructive role in issues of national security concern: non-proliferation, immigration, customs, trafficking in persons, money laundering, terrorist finance, and piracy.

Also on the political side, we maintain a dialogue with the Singapore government concerning the openness and structure of Singapore society and its political system. If confirmed, I look forward to highlighting the advantages of free expression and assembly for continued political and economic development.

If confirmed, I believe I could play an important role in promoting our interests and our values...

Now that's "tough" alright... And this is after a whole chunk about the strong "security relationship" between Singapore and the US.

We tend to see what we want to see...

update: (Oct 21, 2005) this is even more bizzare. I cracks me up that both the detractors and defenders of the regime are taking Mr. Lavin's comment...oh so seriously.