A Case for Decentralization of Military Decision Making
In one of my earlier blogs I had mentioned about how our liberty is being trampled upon in the current times. The current structure of democracy does not seem to be achieving the results expected by the citizens. If you observe the decision making process in the Military organization, one can easily see the utter lack of liberty. Does it make sense for democratic governments to continue such a serious breach of the core fundamentals of a democratic country.
Liberty and Military
Liberty for the masses from repressive authorities has been gained mostly militarily or by mass uprisings. Protection of Liberty against external and internal forces has been the duty of the military. Historically these military units were built using the resources of the society they protect, so most if not all of the members were volunteers joining the military of free will. Men historically would formed small military unit to ensure protection of their values and freedom. These small units appointed their leader to make decision on their behalf and everyone in the unit owed their allegiance to this leader. This leader now had the responsibility of ensuring protection of the values and freedom of the Society, and his decisions would be made in accordance of this responsibility. Everyone in the unit has a right to question the decision of the leader and could choose to stop being a part of this unit if they disagreed.
Todays definition of military discipline means obeying orders from superior officers, without questioning. Unwillingness to execute an order is called Dereliction of duty or in severe cases Mutiny, which can be punished by death. Todays organized military does not have place for practice of Liberty in its own ranks. The soldiers who go through any war are most definitely very brave. But they have no option of not fighting for a cause and it is not for them to judge if the cause is Just or simply Blunders. This decision is being made for them and imposed on them by higher ranking officers.
Lord Tennyson wrote a poem memorializing the events in the Battle of Balaclava which was fought as a part of the Crimean War. This Battle involved British, French and Turkish troops against the Imperial Russian Army. The Russians had charged and had defeated the Turkish troops in Number One Redoubt. The Russian were preparing to remove the naval guns captured from the Turks in the redoubts. So the Commander in Chief, Lord Raglan gave the order for the Light Brigade to advance rapidly to the front, and try to prevent the enemy carrying away the guns. The text did not make sense to Lord Lucan in-charge of the Light Brigade, as the preparations for the removal of the guns from the redoubts could not be seen from the valley floor. Lucan asked the message bearer Captain Nolan which enemy and which guns Raglan was referring to. Nolan is reported to have incorrectly pointed out in the direction of the Russian cavalry force now positioned behind its guns at the end of the North Valley. The rest of the story has been immortalized by Lord Tennyson's poem.
There is no doubt in my mind about the bravery of the 676 horsemen of which only 195 managed to return back. The total number of men fallen was 294, of these 113 were killed, 134 wounded and many fell prisoner. There is no greater act of Bravery and Courage than honoring ones commitment to your fellow soldiers in the face of imminent death.
But should and could Lord Nolan have questioned the order and used his judgment?
One might say if obedience is not mandated the cannot be any army. I disagree with that, I think large armies cannot exist without the laws of blind obedience. Armies should and are built in small groups, with the soldiers giving their allegiance to their immediate regiment and regiment leaders. These regiment leaders have to ensure the safety of their soldiers, they do not serve this primary purpose by leading in front and being the first to die for a blunderous decision made by a higher ranking officer. They must question and strive to ensure the cause and the decisions are just and appropriate.
The American War of Independence (information as gathered from books) was fought by such leaders who ensured that the soldiers in their armies were volunteers. All in all, it was fought by soldiers who decided by their free will to fight for liberty. Some leaders fought legal battles in English courts and also ensured help from larger powers by some shrewd tactics. Conscripting soldiers for a fight for freedom makes no sense. So when we have countries selling wars for liberty by conscripting soldiers, their arguments seem like an oxymoron if not simply moronic.
Liberty and Military
Liberty for the masses from repressive authorities has been gained mostly militarily or by mass uprisings. Protection of Liberty against external and internal forces has been the duty of the military. Historically these military units were built using the resources of the society they protect, so most if not all of the members were volunteers joining the military of free will. Men historically would formed small military unit to ensure protection of their values and freedom. These small units appointed their leader to make decision on their behalf and everyone in the unit owed their allegiance to this leader. This leader now had the responsibility of ensuring protection of the values and freedom of the Society, and his decisions would be made in accordance of this responsibility. Everyone in the unit has a right to question the decision of the leader and could choose to stop being a part of this unit if they disagreed.
Todays definition of military discipline means obeying orders from superior officers, without questioning. Unwillingness to execute an order is called Dereliction of duty or in severe cases Mutiny, which can be punished by death. Todays organized military does not have place for practice of Liberty in its own ranks. The soldiers who go through any war are most definitely very brave. But they have no option of not fighting for a cause and it is not for them to judge if the cause is Just or simply Blunders. This decision is being made for them and imposed on them by higher ranking officers.
Lord Tennyson wrote a poem memorializing the events in the Battle of Balaclava which was fought as a part of the Crimean War. This Battle involved British, French and Turkish troops against the Imperial Russian Army. The Russians had charged and had defeated the Turkish troops in Number One Redoubt. The Russian were preparing to remove the naval guns captured from the Turks in the redoubts. So the Commander in Chief, Lord Raglan gave the order for the Light Brigade to advance rapidly to the front, and try to prevent the enemy carrying away the guns. The text did not make sense to Lord Lucan in-charge of the Light Brigade, as the preparations for the removal of the guns from the redoubts could not be seen from the valley floor. Lucan asked the message bearer Captain Nolan which enemy and which guns Raglan was referring to. Nolan is reported to have incorrectly pointed out in the direction of the Russian cavalry force now positioned behind its guns at the end of the North Valley. The rest of the story has been immortalized by Lord Tennyson's poem.
| The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred Tennyson. Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. "Forward the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!" he said. Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. Forward, the Light Brigade!" Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the soldier knew Some one had blunder'd. 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. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of hell Rode the six hundred. | Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd as they turn'd in air Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while All the world wonder'd. Plunged in the battery-smoke Right thro' the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reel'd from the sabre-stroke Shatter'd and sunder'd. Then they rode back, but not, Not the six hundred. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell, They that had fought so well Came thro' the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred. When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wonder'd. Honor the charge they made! Honor the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred! |
There is no doubt in my mind about the bravery of the 676 horsemen of which only 195 managed to return back. The total number of men fallen was 294, of these 113 were killed, 134 wounded and many fell prisoner. There is no greater act of Bravery and Courage than honoring ones commitment to your fellow soldiers in the face of imminent death.
But should and could Lord Nolan have questioned the order and used his judgment?
One might say if obedience is not mandated the cannot be any army. I disagree with that, I think large armies cannot exist without the laws of blind obedience. Armies should and are built in small groups, with the soldiers giving their allegiance to their immediate regiment and regiment leaders. These regiment leaders have to ensure the safety of their soldiers, they do not serve this primary purpose by leading in front and being the first to die for a blunderous decision made by a higher ranking officer. They must question and strive to ensure the cause and the decisions are just and appropriate.
The American War of Independence (information as gathered from books) was fought by such leaders who ensured that the soldiers in their armies were volunteers. All in all, it was fought by soldiers who decided by their free will to fight for liberty. Some leaders fought legal battles in English courts and also ensured help from larger powers by some shrewd tactics. Conscripting soldiers for a fight for freedom makes no sense. So when we have countries selling wars for liberty by conscripting soldiers, their arguments seem like an oxymoron if not simply moronic.
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