A headline in Britain's sadly decayed newspaper the Daily Telegraph on December 6 was exciting. It announced with pride that "Britain returns 'East of Suez' with permanent Royal Navy base in Gulf", which conjured up imperial memories for many people, including myself, as I was serving in the military at the time of Britain's withdrawal from East of Suez. Indeed I was stationed well to the east of Suez, in that region, according to Rudyard Kipling in the previous century:… where the best is like the worstBritain's new base is to be in Bahrain, a feudal fiefdom owned by His Majesty King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa who has about US$5 billion and whose family members are generously represented in his non-elected regime.
Where there ain't no Ten Commandments and a man can raise a thirst.
For the temple bells are ringing and it's there that I would be -
By the old Moulmein pagoda, looking lazy at the sea.
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