Can We Have Success?
Absolutely!
It all depends on the policy options that are chosen. Two things seem to be important:
(1) the military are capable of winning almost any war; but,
(2) implementing a successful relief and development program is a very different matter.
The management of social change is little better now than at any previous time in history, and is certainly
not going to be done very well by a strategy that has soldiers being the main actors.
But the modern world has two very important tools that need to be deployed:
(1) an amazing technology to manage and communicate important information; and
(2) a population that can understand a lot more now than at any time in history.
The war is more about ideas and values than it is about brute power and bullets.
While explosions get on the evening news, the quiet battle of ideas and values is
playing out ... and it is important that this battle is won with freedom winning.
Freedom is a powerful value ... and difficult.
Difficult mainly because it requires that others have a freedom for themselves
that I want for myself. It takes time to understand freedom and to embrace it ...
but when it is embraced it is very powerful.
This is not just freedom to vote ... but freedom to live ones life in ways that can
improve the socio-economic situation of the family, and freedom to worship,
and freedom to discuss and participate in a wholesome society, and to decide
what are the norms of society ... without sidelining freedom. It is not easy ... but
it can be done. Freedom is something that people love to have.
Freedom is the incentive more than anything else that will facilitate a win.
What about greed and oil?
Greed and oil are the big challenges. Greed will win and oil revenues will be
diverted to anti-societal activities if freedom loses, and if information is hidden
and everything of importance become secret.
So far the money flows have not been open to clear scrutiny ... nobody seems able to track fund flows, and
without this, there will be problems ad infinitum. With transparency there can
be an open dialog, and people can be held accountable. With accountability, it is
likely that a more just society will emerge.
|
