Almost
everywhere the life and training of soldiers and cadet is glorified to ensure that
young men and women will continue to join this dangerous profession.
The universal
motto of a soldier can be summed up as, “kill the enemy without asking any
question and do not regret it”. That is how wars have been won since time
immemorial. Those who need the military for their survival, it is bravery, discipline,
and pride.
However, in a
world of changing realities, both real and virtual, one must do a ruthlessly
realistic analysis of the soldier’s training.
By virtue of his
training based on professional necessities،, a soldier or cadet develops three
distinct character traits.
1. 1. Has no
respect for human life. The instinct of mercy has to be erased to ensure that
he will not hesitate before shooting the enemy. He should even kill unarmed
civilians without hesitation if ordered to do so.
2. 2. Obeys
orders against his better judgment.
I quote what Tennyson
wrote about one hundred seventy years ago:
“Forward, the Light
Brigade!”
Was there a man
dismayed?
Not though the soldier
knew
Someone had
blundered.
Theirs not to make
reply,
Theirs not to
reason why,
Theirs but to do
and die.
Into the valley
of Death
Rode the six
hundred.
Yes. All units
and all soldiers must act according to specific orders meant for them as they
form parts of a larger plan. If everyone acted on his own judgement, the
planning would fail. So, it seems pertinent to condition the soldiers and
officers to wait for orders and blindly obey them without thinking whether it
is right or wrong. A soldier or officer cannot afford any original thinking.
3. 3. Does not
take responsibility for his actions. A soldier is likely to be court marshalled
and even shot dead for not obeying orders. Which means that everything a
soldier does is effectively in self-defence. So, the conscience of a soldier must
be crushed to such a degree that he does not regret any of his actions and
hesitate in repeating them.
This is all very
good as long as officers and soldiers are dedicated to military duties related
to armed offence or defense against an enemy. But what would happen if such a
person is placed in a civilian administrative position? How will a department
perform if its head did not have respect for human life, could not take
decisions but waited for orders and finally did not take responsibility for his
actions? The simple answer is disaster. The department would become dysfunctional.
This is exactly
what has happened in countries that have seen long periods of military
dictatorships during which civilian institutions were intensely infiltrated by active-duty
and retired military personnel. The bureaucracy and police got totally
corrupted and crippled, and anti-government feelings became common trait. Worse
still, the political scene came to be dominated by lackeys and cronies of the military
dictators. Now, no amount of foreign assistance can restore the crumbled
economy unless the active and retired servicemen are completely flushed out of
the entire system and the state within the state is demolished.
