Otto von Bismarck used to say that wars are won not by generals but school teachers and priests.
The four-day Artsakh war forced to perceive the issue of overcoming the systemic defects of our state almost universally as imperative. Eventually, the classical of military thought, Carl Clausewitz, defined war as a continuation of policy…
As a result of the bravery of the Armenian soldier, the rival was unable to make any fundamental changes the available status quo. However, the government itself come to the conclusion that it has committed serious mistakes, mistakes that are consequences of wrong systematic decisions and systematic errors in decision-making mechanism. Shortly after, the responsible for army logistics, communications and intelligence were dismissed from their posts.
It is noteworthy that Azerbaijan which initially failed to achieve the implementation of its objectives, as well as got very painful counter-attacks by the Armenian side, the myth of its absolute technical superiority disappeared, however, we did not see any “organizational result.” We would hardly see, of course, as the neighbor is guided by the principle «труба есть – ума не надо» (brawn instead of brains). But it is up to them. Incidentally, Ukrainian users of social networks were attracting attention on this fact noting Armenia’s ability timely to make conclusions as compared with Azerbaijan. There is no cause here for delight. No doubt, at least in our case, that the Azerbaijani standard cannot only be a ground for any rational person but it cannot also become a reason for complacency and self-satisfaction. We should not forget that the other side too, however, makes a conclusion, at least a very simple conclusion for sure: the number of forces and means involved in the four-day war were not sufficing to solve the problem, there are major gaps in the governance.
Accordingly, next time, the opponent will definitely attract substantially more forces and resources. Hence, the Armenian side a day before should be ready for such development of events. But this will remain a purely abstract judgment or a kind wish if no specific actions are followed that fit within the strategy adequate to the situation. The problems of combat actions in the frontline seem to be discussed and obtain solutions. However, it is difficult to say whether there is the perception that the presence of serious problems in the rear today (in a broad sense) excludes the intelligence, communications, logistics and in general, all areas related to the army, in conformity to modern requirements. The spirit and the courage of the soldier and all this appreciation, admiration can exist along with the clearly functioning system rather than instead of it.
There is no corruption is the original frontline but it bears and will bear all countable, measurable and, of course, sad consequences of non-competency of regime and corruption in the rear. Due to circumstances, we do not have resource and durability supply to allow unpunishable mistakes. After all this, quite a natural question arises as to whether Armenia and NKR can bring their combat readiness systems to a new level if “common” practices, methodology and “standards” of domestic policy, economic policy and foreign policy remain the same as they were before April 1, 2016. It seems that the answer is unequivocal but the reality as we see is more complicated. We see a smug, cynical, provincial and greedy broad mass, which like the French Bourbons not only have forgotten anything and did not learn anything at all. For them, the 4-day war was an undesirable “misunderstanding” just as, let’s say, the hail on the tomato crop and not much, and most importantly, is to solve the issue for the remaining of the “harvest”, let’s say, “to see it in Moscow in time” and life will continue as before. The four-day war revealed the inadequacy of this entire class, even the political insanity. The task of society is to get rid of this ballast for the sake of staying away from new casualties. And it is here that the functional qualities of the society are due to the fact of what is propagated over the years by these Bismarck mentioned “teacher and priest.” And as to what qualities this average statistic teacher and priest carry, it is already a subject of another painful conversation…
Ruben MEHRABYAN,
“Aravot” daily
