To all those gods that prohibit model(s) and examples:
Jeff Cochrane wrote:
For those that would like to play God and therefore get excited over reference to a workable model or United States cited as an example, please forgive me for I live in the real world where models form paradigms and I think the progression of local militia to National Guard in USA as Jeff cited is exactly the kind of vision the security feature of the PC proposal would take Sierra Leone to. Just as the US National Guard in the beginning underwent hurdles, we must anticipate a new security arrangement in SL would undergo problems. I think the key issue would be what is there to provide safe-passage through the hurdles. This should form the basics in our minds in considering the restructuring of the SL army to better serve the people as a whole.
Jeff Cochrane wrote:
If this was the case, SL will definitely not be in the mess it finds itself today. The new security feature depicted in the PC proposal vividly explored this. Assuming the village guards have been trained, disciplined and indoctrinated in the fashion of the military thinking and goal which is to protect its people, the first three rebels that crossed Bo Njeilaa, Borbomhun, Wakadaa, all along the Manor river boundary with Liberia, would not have gone back to get their friends. The trained and indoctrinated village guards would have put up resistance, sent message to the neighboring village guards, alerted surrounding chiefdoms who in turn will alert other chiefdoms particularly along the border, and informed the RSLMF of the situation.
The news of the impending rebel invasion would have spread quicker, tactics rehearsed, positions secured.
Couple of things to remember:
(1) the invaders or rebels in the beginning did not enter the villages in large numbers with large firing powers; mostly three, two in front and one behind to send message for reinforcement if the situation warranted it. Those messages could have been intercepted by the village guards with the proper equipment;
(2) the rebels entered at points where people are vowed practitioners of faith.
Trained and indoctrinated village guard is immured to threatening shots in the air.
(3) The village guard knows the roads leading to the caves, to the barns, the bury ground; he knows how to climb those tall trees to watch;
(4) The village guard is protecting his wife, children, parents and grand parents and in short, protecting the village including himself. There is enough motivation to do it right and he will.
If the front-line villages could succeed in containing this rebel situation, there wouldn't have been NPRC, over crowded Kenema, Bo or Freetown, or the need to support families in rebel camps, or needless elections at this time. That being the case, I would say that the situation on the ground in Sierra Leone would be substantively different for the better. I am happy. I could take a vacation to Malema and Soro-Gbema chiefdom for that matter - visit the beach in Sulima where I could bathe in the sun without fear of pollution, sucking on the mango that just fell down. I am happy. The government could give out all the mining concessions it wants. I am happy. The ground is safe and I have my people around me. I could even bs about helping the kids come to America.
Saffa Kemokai @ Browns Mills, NJ