Ebou, I would have loved to pursue you on a number of issues which you
raised, but unfortunately I couldn't, because my wife gave birth to a baby
boy last night and I am very much occupied by that. Any way thanks for the
polemics.
>From: Ebou Jallow <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Malik>>Re: call for restraint on abusive adjectives
>Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2001 19:56:33 -0800
>
>Mr. Kah,
>
>I have noticed again that you are shifting perspectives. I have also
>noted that most of the preliminary positions you raised are issues of
>state policy rather than the intrinsic functions of the armed forces.
> The military has a mandate, like any other state agency, to
>implement policies as directed by the legitimate authorities of the
>day; they do not have the option to pick and choose what orders to
>follow, and which to reject. The officers have a constitutional
>obligation to execute the orders of the Commander-in Chief ( the
>elected president). If an officer has genuine and legal grounds
>against the execution of his duties, he has the option to tender a
>resignation through his chain of command. Since antiquity, the armed
>forces has ever been an instrument of the state- a disciplined
>profession responsible for the orderly management of violence. A
>classic military leadership concept is the maintenance of a triad at
>the strategic level i.e. the people's hearts and minds, civilian
>authority and military professionalism. These three are like
>magnetic pillars that maintain the balance in any successful military
>effort. Now if you are telling me that the military should be
>responsive to the mob sentiments, then my friend you are asking for
>chaos; on the other hand if you tell me that the military commander
>should have the latitude to pick and choose a cafeteria of orders,
>then you are asking for anarchy- because the armed forces might as
>well be labeled another arm of the government with constitutional
>powers to check and sanction the executive in their sui generis
>terms. Either/or your concept of "peoples army" is wrong and very
>dangerous to civilized society. Winning the hearts and minds of the
>local community is very different from cavorting with popular
>political sentiments.
>Now to your last assertions about officer promotions and loyalty
>issues..etc, etc. I am yet to see any government on this planet
>which does not promote senior officers based on some appreciation of
>loyalty- this occurs every where.
>Finally, Mr. Kah, you see whenever the armed forces assume a law
>enforcement role, it requires serious structural adjustments of the
>forces concerned to fit a specific policy objective. Armies don't
>issue policies, civilians do! They just obey and complain later.
>
>
>=====
>Ebou Jallow
>Georgetown University
>Washington, DC
>
>__________________________________________________
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>
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