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 16^th 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 6^th 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.