The comments that followed my TMV post “Is it fair to blame the Marines alone?” have tempted me to indulge in a fantasy and ask myself this somewhat crazy and presumptuous question.
First I thought who am I…a small-time journalist from a struggling developing country. And there is Bush…the mighty Lord of whatever he surveys from his White House palace. But, then, everyone is entitled to dream…and Joe Gandelman is kind enough to allow me to share this dream through his TMV blog.
Let me try…so here it goes…I would keep the past in mind but comment about the future. If I were Bush then I would keep my mouth shut whenever my wife (like Laura) tweaks my ears and warns me to watch my speech.
I would quickly mend fences with the Pentagon and listen to what the Generals have to say with the experience gained from the ground. Even a mighty authoritarian Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi went by the decision of the country’s then Army Chief Sam Maneckshaw when India intervened and Bangladesh became a free country in the early 1970s. The Indian Armed Forces were immediately withdrawn when an elected government was installed in Bangladesh.
I would ban the macho press conferences where I and my advisers wish to look tough and speak tough. That’s no way to frighten a terrorist. In fact this is a sure way to alienate the entire Muslim population worldwide. An important world leader must talk peace and seek the help of all. Leave the actual tough/hard decisions on the ground, and statements, to the Generals…because they know their job…and also they know that they would be held responsible and accountable if anything goes wrong.
I would give the Generals a time-frame, and the objectives would be clearly stated. If the assignment overshoots the deadline I would ask the soldiers to withdraw gracefully.
But if the President, who happens to be the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, talks of hunting down the “enemy wherever he is” and then “liquidating the enemy”, it amounts to a virutal license to the soldiers to enter any house in any country. This happens because the terrorist does not fight in the battle-ground. The terrorists first terrorise the local population and then often hide behind the civilians when they are under attack. When a mishap takes place the whole world cries “murder”. And then you start finding scapegoats.
So I would not allow my soldiers to enter any country under seige, unless I get the mandate from the United Nations. Only when the world leaders arrive at a consensus and decide in a forum, I would send my forces to any country. Because if I take a unilateral decision then I would expose myself to the charge of being an “invader”, a “war criminal” and a “violater of a nation’s sovereignty” under the International Law.
My primary task would be to protect my people within the boundaries of my country, and my citizens abroad. I would never take the “war” to other countries because then it would be an unending engagement (that is what we have learnt in recent times). I would commit my country’s soldiers abroad only if the United Nations decides to take part in that “war”. Because then the United Nations and the member countries of the world would be held accountable.
The “Lone Ranger” myth died with the Wild West. It is futile to re-create such a myth. This stance can seriously endanger the personal, social and economic safety of my countrymen. Tough public posturing is no substitute for informed discussion, with inputs provided by the armed forces, intelligence agencies and advisers. I would go by consensus. I will never surround myself with chums/favourites when taking momentous decisions. You have to have important players on board when formulating a policy stance.
If you don’t appear to be democratic in your own functioning, then how can you say you sent your armed forces to establish “democracy” in another country.
I will not allow myself to create a total mess and then blame the soldiers for the aberrations or horrible acts that become a distinct possibility in such a scenario. If any such Haditha-like act takes place, I would take the full responsibility and put in my papers. Because I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Thank you for your patience, Ladies and Gentlemen! And now I come back from the dream world to being just an opinionated, blabbering journalist not completely aware of the huge and challenging task ahead for President Bush in real life!!!
Swaraaj Chauhan describes his two-decade-long stint as a full-time journalist as eventful, purposeful, and full of joy and excitement. In 1993 he could foresee a different work culture appearing on the horizon, and decided to devote full time to teaching journalism (also, partly, with a desire to give back to the community from where he had enriched himself so much.)
Alongside, he worked for about a year in 1993 for the US State Department’s SPAN magazine, a nearly five-decade-old art and culture monthly magazine promoting US-India relations. It gave him an excellent opportunity to learn about things American, plus the pleasure of playing tennis in the lavish American embassy compound in the heart of New Delhi.
In !995 he joined WWF-India as a full-time media and environment education consultant and worked there for five years travelling a great deal, including to Husum in Germany as a part of the international team to formulate WWF’s Eco-tourism policy.
He taught journalism to honors students in a college affiliated to the University of Delhi, as also at the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication where he lectured on “Development Journalism” to mid-career journalists/Information officers from the SAARC, African, East European and Latin American countries, for eight years.
In 2004 the BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST) selected him as a Trainer/Mentor for India under a European Union project. In 2008/09 He completed another European Union-funded project for the BBC WST related to Disaster Management and media coverage in two eastern States in India — West Bengal and Orissa.
Last year, he spent a couple of months in Australia and enjoyed trekking, and also taught for a while at the University of South Australia.
Recently, he was appointed as a Member of the Board of Studies at Chitkara University in Chandigarh, a beautiful city in North India designed by the famous Swiss/French architect Le Corbusier. He also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students there.
He loves trekking, especially in the hills, and never misses an opportunity to play a game of tennis. The Western and Indian classical music are always within his reach for instant relaxation.
And last, but not least, is his firm belief in the power of the positive thought to heal oneself and others.