Washingtonian Republic, not a Jeffersonian Democracy
For those of us veterans who
see the invisible and visible power of the military as a blessing and a course
depending on the form it takes in the geography of the world—is the reason for our
failure in Afghanistan’s nation building effort.
In Afghanistan soldiers were asked
to fight for corrupt clique of politician at the helm of the government while
senior officers pocketed part or all the salaries sent by the Western Nations
to pay for the standing troops.
Having elections in a country
that has been ruled during centuries by brutes makes no sense for nation building
effort for it is only the illusion of civilization by propping up corrupt
leaders in a country that in all of its eons of conquering empires still does
not know what toilet paper is for.
Under these circumstances,
building a well-organized military is easier than building a civilized society
with western values. This provides the invisible and the visible power of a
well discipline army loyal to western values and spirt de corps to build a civilized
society. A new nation whose soldiers are willing to die defending freedom and
liberties for their daughters, wives, mothers, sisters and other female members
of their country; gives a discipline foot soldier coming from a ragtag organization
a reason to buy a stake in a new nation ready to give his life for the values
of the team.
George Washington presided
over the first Continental Army and Congress with success because he had the
visible and invisible power of the Army and the loyalty of the troops to bring
about order if necessary. Therefore, the conflict of ideas among its founding
members was reduced to arguments and shouts but aware of the policing power that
Washington wielded.
Once an agreement was reached
for a new Constitutional government the first President served with the power
of humility as the model to follow and step down to return his power to the
sovereign. Because human life has a natural span institutions must be built to replace
the original ideals stated in laws and yield those powers in a peaceful
transfer of the Executive and representative and Commander in Chief of the Armed
Forces.
Oliver Cromwell in England
had a similar inspiration in the 16th Century and going back in
history other idealist like Alexander the Great exercised humbleness at the
pinnacle of his power.
Although the American
Constitution is the first document detailing the structure of the government
into three separate but equal powers in order to write, execute and interpret
the wishes of the sovereign; other republican ideals were manifested in history
by the ancient Greeks and later the Romans with a representative of the people Senate.
The American Constitution is
supposed to be a living document that can be amended and modified in parallel
with the evolution of the society and in the states that formed the unified Republic.
The document manifests understanding of common values in the midst of
disparities of opinions and believes among the citizens becomes the rule of the
land.
Nevertheless, this agreed
union for the common good came close to disintegration during the reckless and
criminal conduct of the Trump administration. His destructive conduct reached
an apex on January 6th 2021 with his attempt to overthrow the
Constitutional Government and replace it with an autocratic system.
Here again the silent
invisible and visible power of the military came to the rescue of the Republic
to restore order without firing a shot.
As long as the spirit of
George Washington lives on all future Commanders in Chief willing to follow the
law and step down in a peaceful transfer of power the Republic will be safe
from autocratic rule. Moreover, Western Nations should consider this queue when
trying to build a new nation with the inspiration to follow the rule of law.
