tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post1081066388688056518..comments2024-03-26T00:37:34.943+01:00Comments on Venezuela News And Views: When armies decideDanielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-91283921537000455892011-02-22T08:00:45.258+01:002011-02-22T08:00:45.258+01:00I agree with Firepig on this one. I think I said ...I agree with Firepig on this one. I think I said it in another comment a week or so ago, but it bears repeating. Armies are composed of citizens. They do not exist in a vacuum and are influenced by the political climate of the country.<br /><br />Even if the top brass wants to support a tyrant, if the lower ranking officers and enlisted men will not obey the orders to fire on their own people, the military becomes useless as a tool of oppression. When this happens, assuming the top brass want to keep their jobs, they are forced turn on their boss and "decide" that the existing regime's days are finished.Roynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-42384815561853013792011-02-20T22:32:48.312+01:002011-02-20T22:32:48.312+01:00Good analysis FP.
But this is Venezuela where norm...Good analysis FP.<br />But this is Venezuela where norms do not apply.<br />Gerry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-44069349735049817982011-02-20T18:07:28.378+01:002011-02-20T18:07:28.378+01:00The question is how deep is the support in the arm...The question is how deep is the support in the army;not so much of the top military and other officers, but of the common soldiers themselves ?<br /><br />If a situation presents itself once again where there are large demonstrations, the officers might be willing to order their troops to fire on the demonstrators to protect their privileges, but for the troops themselves to kill their fellow citizens they need to have an authentic belief in the virtues of Chavez's revolution.<br /><br />Although the troops are drilled in saying "Socialsimo Patria or Muerte", they also have family living in the barrios and to the degree that the support for the government weakens in the barrios, it takes away the aspect of class warfare that Chavez promotes.firepighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15158275219887987252noreply@blogger.com