Comments on: Taming the military http://www.luisteodoro.com/archives/2005/05/08/taming-the-military/ Current and archived writings of Prof. Luis V. Teodoro Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:52:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Russianport http://www.luisteodoro.com/archives/2005/05/08/taming-the-military/#comment-9728 Russianport Thu, 21 Jul 2005 22:39:34 +0000 /?p=325#comment-9728 Mr. Teodoro, I have read your piece on the military. As I have compared the problems of the AFP and the countries and militaries of other Latin American countries there are many similarities. One has to link this development to the US style of colonization. In the 1800s the US would colonize a country and after disarming the local militias and people would go on to establish a powerful military that would serve not as the protector of the people, but as the protector of the current US supported regime. Through the creation of a monopoly on weaponry and training, and in turn violence, the military was more than able to control the country and the populace. It was only after Mao's victory in China and his creation of an effective insurgent theory of waging war that the stronghold of the military and their civilian allies, as we know it from the lessons learned in Latin America during the Cold War, was in real danger. This type of colonial method led to the problems one saw in Latin America and the Philippines alike, where the armies would go from being dormant to either terrorizing the local populace per orders of the ruling elite or to being used in a coup. As for the AFP's connection to the ruling elite that should not surprise anyone because both the military and the elite have a common goal of not rocking the boat and staying in power. That goal is the reason why both sides are more than willing to work together. When the military does get involved in any coup it is usually to support a certain group of the elites that the military has deemed dangerous, or as was the case in Argentina during the Cold War-- Communist. So, in the end it is my belief that the problems within the AFP are deeper than they seem at first and they can only be solved when the whole political and social climates of the country change. That of course is no easy task but a big step towards that goal would the elimination of a need for the AFP’s inflated budgets and deployment by bringing about a peace agreement in the Mindanao region of the country. Sincerely, Russianport Mr. Teodoro,

I have read your piece on the military. As I have compared the problems of the AFP and the countries and militaries of other Latin American countries there are many similarities. One has to link this development to the US style of colonization. In the 1800s the US would colonize a country and after disarming the local militias and people would go on to establish a powerful military that would serve not as the protector of the people, but as the protector of the current US supported regime. Through the creation of a monopoly on weaponry and training, and in turn violence, the military was more than able to control the country and the populace. It was only after Mao’s victory in China and his creation of an effective insurgent theory of waging war that the stronghold of the military and their civilian allies, as we know it from the lessons learned in Latin America during the Cold War, was in real danger. This type of colonial method led to the problems one saw in Latin America and the Philippines alike, where the armies would go from being dormant to either terrorizing the local populace per orders of the ruling elite or to being used in a coup. As for the AFP’s connection to the ruling elite that should not surprise anyone because both the military and the elite have a common goal of not rocking the boat and staying in power. That goal is the reason why both sides are more than willing to work together. When the military does get involved in any coup it is usually to support a certain group of the elites that the military has deemed dangerous, or as was the case in Argentina during the Cold War– Communist. So, in the end it is my belief that the problems within the AFP are deeper than they seem at first and they can only be solved when the whole political and social climates of the country change. That of course is no easy task but a big step towards that goal would the elimination of a need for the AFP’s inflated budgets and deployment by bringing about a peace agreement in the Mindanao region of the country.

Sincerely,

Russianport

]]> By: Jessy Lasik http://www.luisteodoro.com/archives/2005/05/08/taming-the-military/#comment-9082 Jessy Lasik Thu, 23 Jun 2005 11:14:10 +0000 /?p=325#comment-9082 What about the military reckless? Cant understand solving the problem! What about the military reckless? Cant understand solving the problem!

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