The global challenge
The possibility of genuine peace and better understanding of all nations have been a pursuit of the world for generations often without success. Famous idealist, soldiers and statesman have tried hard but the problems of exception management and leadership in so many tragic situations encountered so often — as for example in Northern Ireland until recent years, the conflict in Spain of the Basque separatists, the racial wars we know of in the case of the disintegration of Yugoslavia, the tragedy of the Vietnam war and so many other well known in the countries of the blue diamond in Africa and indeed the release from apartheid of the people of South Africa. There is also the terrible test to major powers and the human race in the struggle for identity and freedom in the Middle East, so well known to Australian military even in the case of Afghanistan, Indonesia and the small micro states more familiar to Australians in the South Pacific.
The use of force
The Australian forces and indeed those of the main powers including associate countries such as Canada and New Zealand, the UK and the major democratic power the US, have been give terms of engagement to use force of arms to resolve conflict (when first implelemented pretty well indefinitely) but little attention has yet been paid to develop an appropriate strategy of peace which indeed which we should not loose sight of in Australia as it is an important democracy. There has been too much emphasis on containment only rather than understanding and rapport with the various aspects of diversity and change and so familiar in the Australian case but often too great a hurdle for the inexperienced or volatile areas of the underdeveloped countries particularly of Africa and the Middle East.
The lack of Australian power but not leadership skills.
Australia simply does not have the capacity or power of the European States, America and a great society such as China. So some of the prospects for change we can offer to others are limited but nevertheless we have gifts as a federal (a diverse) society that should be celebrated and explained to countries that need to change from violence.
Australians are best equipped therefore to help such societies to understand the benefits of resolving conflict primarily through the electoral process and indeed without violence or sabotage of each other – pointing out there has never been a civil war in Australia-and that the Australian forces in this country do not play a political role — this would be a significant change in many conflict ridden countries because the national standing Army for example or indeed guerrilla groups has been the main channel relied on by many vulnerable societies to develop leaders — but Australians can demonstrate such reliance to develop leaders is mistaken and counter productive-our leadership programs ( found in commerce, government, the forces and the trade unions) offer many more chances and encourage diversity and therefore provide the right approach to the functioning of a robust public domain and the wider nature of democratic government — which should be the expectation for all men and women, making possible through living in harmony but in open competition of ideas and leadership skills to secure solutions — particularly in the big picture areas critical to national leadership and also where necessary — to support other societies but this should be only of a temporary nature as armed occupation as undertaken in the Middle East-should only be a temporary means to secure order so peace can follow.
What should be done?
If the implementation of military force looses context i.e. peaceful government then is unattainable, military intervention should be strongly criticised on moral and humanitarian grounds— this now seems to have occurred in many critical aspects of the violence in the Middle East. Many nations need to benefit from a reality check that reconciles the ideals of personal conscience and tolerance (internal peace) and military control — usually through martial law (the big fist) until democratic government can thrive where there was once a battlefield.
This indeed has already happened in the case of South Africa so it is achievable but it needs courage by Government to bring men at arms and civilians, back from the brink, so the immediate questions are one of governance and not loss of life and injustice. A world based series of meetings and initiatives is needed to bring forward the context for peace especially in the Middle East — too many young soldiers for example have died to justify unquestioning commitment to militarism and any misunderstanding particularly of the world’s important religious faiths and the wonderful diversity of the many races. The possibilities for peace need much more exploration and implementation in the decision-making processes of world leaders.
