Hi Matarr: I hope you don't mind me jumping into the fray since this message was posted for Buharry. But this topic has piqued my interest. Your level of frustration with the farcical regime we have back home is echoed by the majority of this forum. In fact, this same strategy crossed my mind before reality hit me smack on the forehead. This thought of mine was a mere fantasy that I had spun. A means to an end that would be very difficult to put into action. Before we go into the pros and cons of this strategy, I would like to ask a simple question that you folk might not want to answer: How do intend to put this plan into action, and how will you garner the logistics to carry out such an operation? Our country is surrounded on all sides by Senegal, with the exception of the Atlantic ocean. For diplomatic reasons, our neighbors will surely not let anyone stage an offensive on their cousins next door from their shores. This leaves two options: Either a seaborne offensive or an internal uprising. Both these options would be suicidal at worst and laughable at best. To add, there is alo the logistical issue. How on Earth do you plan to get the funds, equipment and manpower to run such an operation? Unless, you plan to fight with cutlasses, knives and spears, the cost for the ammunitionand equipment required for such an assault would run into the millions. Sadly, unlike countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia, we do not have diamond and gold rich areas that, if captured, could sponsor a short term war. And then there is the very important issue of tactical planning. The GNA will have to be engaged on all fronts at the same time. A small invading force cannot afford to attack on one front and consequently risk being outflanked or surrounded by a more well armed and numerical superior force. On the other hand, I have no doubts that the slightest hint of an internal conspiracy to either overthrow or fight against the current regime will be met by overwhelming and merciless force by the current regime. OK, though the prospects of an armed revolution are slim, I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that this strategy is possible. Let's deal with the pros and cons of such a strategy: First, aside from the pre-independence struggles that most of Africa want through, there has never been a "truly successful" armed conflict. From John Garang's struggle against the ruling Muslim oppressors in Sudan to the conflict against Morocco in Western Sahara, wars in Africa have left a legacy of human suffering. Human displacement, starvation, economic despair, malnutrition are just a few of the terrible afflictions that have befallen the victims of civil wars. Well, my friends, our country is a lot smaller and much more economically fragile than most countries. Consequently, a civil war would undoubtedly have disastrous consequences. Matarr's article outlined the reasons why an armed struggle by any means necessary is the only way to reverse the horrible fate that has befallen poor Gambia. And also quotes Benjamin Franklin to make a point. Nevertheless, the people back home, as evidenced by the events of late, stood up for their liberties and paid the ultimate price for it. Furthermore, an armed struggle would definitely be the antithesis of Franklin's statement, because would surely suffer a worse fate than losing their basic liberties during the duration of this hypothetical war that is the result of an overly active imagination by some of our contributors. My two cents on this issue is that we have a bunch of people here blowing a whole bunch of hot air. I don't even think most of you have ever fired a gun, looked down the barrel of a gun, or lost close friend due to gun violence, unlike some of us. But now you say that you want revolution! Yes, the present regime is barbaric, but their barbarism does not mean that our people have to suffer the terrible consequences of a civil war. There are other alternatives to this strategy!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------