Thuch Salik -- multilingual Cambodian boy

 

Thuch Salik is a Cambodian polyglot who gained global fame in 2018 as a 14-year-old souvenir vendor capable of speaking up to 16 languages and dialects. 

Rise to Fame

Salik became an internet sensation after a Malaysian tourist posted a viral video of him selling trinkets near the Ta Prohm temple in Angkor. In the video, he showcased his ability to switch fluently between languages to converse with tourists, including: 

• Asian Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese.
• European & Other Languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and even Swahili. 

He learned these languages entirely through daily interactions with international visitors over seven years to help pay off his family's debt. 

Life After Going Viral

The massive online attention led to life-changing opportunities for Salik and his family: 

• Education in China: In 2019, he received a full scholarship to study at the Hailiang Foreign Language School in Zhejiang province, China. A Cambodian businessman also assisted by paying off his family's roughly US$60,000 debt.
• Career Goals: Salik has expressed interest in becoming a businessman like Jack Ma, with the goal of bringing advanced technology to Cambodia.
• Media & Entertainment: In 2020, he signed with FUN Entertainment, a Cambodian talent company, to be groomed as a social media star while continuing his studies. 

Current Status

As of late 2020, Salik continued his education remotely from Phnom Penh due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He remains a prominent figure in Cambodia, often seen participating in social activities and charity work. 

Lebanon appears to have no army, navy, marines, coast guard or air force. How is it expected to survive as a nation surrounded by aggressive neighbors?

 

Actually, 

Lebanon

 maintains a professional national military known as the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), which includes an army, navy, and air force. While it does not have a "Marine Corps" or "Coast Guard" as separate branches, the LAF performs those functions through specialized units like Marine Commandos and its Naval Forces. 

1. Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Composition

The LAF is considered one of the few state institutions in Lebanon that commands broad trust across different religious and political groups. 

• Lebanese Ground Forces (Army): The largest branch, with approximately 80,000 active troops. They operate hundreds of tanks (like the M60A3) and thousands of armored vehicles (mostly M113s).
• Lebanese Naval Forces: Primarily responsible for coastal defense and anti-smuggling, operating about 50 to 70 vessels, including offshore patrol craft and rigid-hull inflatable boats.
• Lebanese Air Force: Focused on light attack and reconnaissance, it operates A-29 Super Tucano planes, Cessna Combat Caravans, and dozens of helicopters like the Huey II. 

2. How Lebanon Survives Geopolitically

Lebanon's national defense strategy relies on a combination of formal military power, international peacekeeping, and a complex (and often controversial) internal security dynamic: 

• International Support: The LAF receives significant funding, training, and equipment from the United States, 
  France
  , and the 
  United Kingdom
  .
• UNIFIL Peacekeepers: Since 1978, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has maintained thousands of peacekeepers in the south to monitor the border and prevent direct conflict between Lebanon and Israel.
• The "Hezbollah" Factor: In practice, the state military (LAF) is often eclipsed in firepower by Hezbollah, a powerful non-state militia funded by Iran. This creates a "dual power" situation where Hezbollah often acts as a parallel defense force against Israel, while the LAF focuses on internal stability and border security against groups like ISIS.
• Recent Initiatives: In early 2026, the Lebanese military has reportedly moved to a new phase of a disarmament plan aimed at centralizing all weapons under the state and deploying more national troops to the southern border to replace non-state groups. 

While Lebanon’s conventional military is outmatched by its neighbors in terms of advanced jets or nuclear capabilities, it survives through a delicate balance of diplomatic alliances, UN protection, and a hybrid defense model involving both state and non-state actors.

First and second Iraq wars -- brief summaries...

 The two "Iraq Wars" involving the United States-led coalitions and Saddam Hussein's regime were the Persian Gulf War (1990–1991) and the Iraq War (2003–2011). 

1. The First Iraq War: Persian Gulf War (1990–1991) 

• Cause: Triggered by Iraq's invasion and annexation of its neighbor, Kuwait, in August 1990 over oil and debt disputes.
• The Conflict: A U.S.-led coalition of 35 nations, authorized by the United Nations, launched Operation Desert Storm in January 1991. It began with a massive aerial bombardment followed by a brief, 100-hour ground campaign.
• Outcome: Kuwait was liberated, and Iraqi forces were decisively defeated. However, the coalition did not march on Baghdad; Saddam Hussein remained in power, and no-fly zones were established to protect minority groups. 

2. The Second Iraq War: The Iraq War (2003–2011) 

• Cause: The U.S. and UK invaded Iraq in March 2003, primarily on the claim—later proven false—that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and supported terrorist groups like al-Qaeda.
• Phases:
  • Invasion (Mar–Apr 2003): A rapid conventional campaign quickly toppled Hussein's government; Baghdad fell within weeks.
  • Occupation & Insurgency (2003–2011): Following the invasion, the country descended into chaos. A violent insurgency arose against occupying forces, alongside a brutal sectarian civil war between Sunni and Shia groups.
• Outcome: Saddam Hussein was captured in 2003 and executed in 2006. U.S. forces formally withdrew in December 2011. The war resulted in over 4,400 U.S. troop deaths and estimates of more than 100,000 Iraqi civilian casualties.