BREAKING NEWS: SINGAPORE'S LEE KWAN YEW DEAD @ 91 -- SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS?

THE TINY CITY-STATE OF SINGAPORE LOST ITS LARGER-THAN-LIFE LEADER TODAY.  MR. LEE KWAN YEW TURNED SINGAPORE FROM A SMELLY PORT TOWN INTO THE MOST ULTRA-MODERN AND SLEEK CITY THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.  THIS FEAT WAS MADE EVEN MORE REMARKABLE BECAUSE IT WAS ACHIEVED IN A PERIOD OF LESS THAN 30 YEARS.

OF COURSE, MR. LEE ALSO HAD A DARK SIDE. IN HIS EARLY YEARS, HE RUTHLESSLY IMPRISONED THOUSANDS OF POLITICAL OPPONENTS.  MANY OTHERS WENT INTO EXILE.  IN HIS LATER YEARS, HE RESORTED TO BANKRUPTING HIS FOES BY ORDERING THEM TO PAY OUTRAGEOUS FINES FOR PUTATIVE LIBEL AND SLANDER AGAINST HIM AND HIS CRONIES...A TRICK NOT GONE UNNOTICED BY OTHER SCOUNDRELS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AROUND THE WORLD.  MR. LEE ALSO ENJOYED SEEING PEOPLE HANGED IN THE GALLOWS.  IN THIS REGARD, HE WAS EVERY BIT A VICTORIAN MAN...