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MENSOIAN: OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY ILHAM ALIYEV
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/10/17/mensoian-open-letter-to-his-excellency-ilham-aliyev/
Mon, Oct 17 2011
Dear President Aliyev,
It has been nearly 20 years since the Karabagh Armenians of historic
Armenian Artsakh declared their independence.
Ever since the Bolsheviks created your country, you, your father
Heydar, and those who came before him have methodically destroyed
Armenian churches, cemeteries, and other irrefutable physical evidence
that these were Armenian lands ruled by Armenian kings millennia
before the Republic of Azerbaijan ever existed.
President Ilham Aliyev I'll let that rest for now, but I would be
a bit surprised if someone with a Ph.D. in history was not acutely
aware of these facts.
The south Caucasus could be enjoying the peace and prosperity that
all its people desire if you had accepted the legitimate right of the
Karabagh Armenians to declare their independence to live on their
historic lands. The basic fact that you should not ignore is that
the Karabagh Armenians will protect their hard-won freedom at any
and all cost if your military forces once again challenge them on
the battlefield.
Having had the good fortune to visit Artsakh again, most recently
a few months ago, I witnessed the tremendous economic strides the
Karabagh Armenians have made since the ceasefire was established 17
years ago. Politically they have established a democratic system of
government that could, quite frankly, serve as a model for your people.
But I digress. My purpose in writing this letter is to offer some
useful suggestions. You are spending billions of dollars to, as
we say in the United States, "supersize" your military forces. For
what purpose?
You are aware that no nation, other than possibly Turkey, would favor
a resumption of military operations against the Karabagh Armenians.
That being said, I am not convinced that your Turkish brothers-in-arms
think that the Azerbaijan military could mount a successful operation
against the Karabagh Armenians. That raises the question: What do
you plan to do with all the military equipment you have on hand and
that, from your constant public announcements, you plan to continue
purchasing? This is 2011. There are no new worlds to conquer, least
of all Karabagh.
Here is a suggestion as to what could be done with all those tanks,
armored personnel carriers, self-propelled artillery pieces, missile
launchers, and helicopter gunships.
Never having had the opportunity to visit Azerbaijan, I don't know
if you have "service areas" or "rest areas" along your highways as
we do in the United States. If you do, such locations would be ideal
places for a display of combat vehicles and related military equipment.
Several standard displays could be used simultaneously throughout
Azerbaijan, or a set of rotating displays might be made available.
Since there would be no need for all those men in the army, some
could be trained as military information specialists similar to
the park rangers we have in the United States. These specialists
could provide technical information as well as answer questions that
travelers may have.
However, there is both an upside and a downside to these displays-a
plus and a minus, as they say. These displays would remind your people
of the billions of dollars you invested to create the largest military
force in the south Caucasus. They might question the wisdom of this
decision or, through sheer pride in your accomplishment, might accept
you as the "father" of the modern Azerbaijan military. No one during
the 90-year history of the Republic of Azerbaijan could be cited to
challenge that distinction.
Another suggestion might be to give former service members who served
with distinction in a tank platoon the older model T-72A or T-72B
tank for his personal use. I understand the T-72M is the latest
model being used by the Azerbaijan Army. With a tank in the family
driveway, not only would the family have a means of transportation,
but the designated driver could perform first-echelon maintenance on
the vehicle that he was trained to do while on active duty. Active duty
military teams could check the vehicle, say every three months, to see
that proper maintenance had been performed, as well as provide on-site
assistance. If required the vehicle could be taken to a maintenance
depot for further inspection, repairs, etc. A loaner tank could be
provided during this downtime.
Some retrofitting would have to be done to comply with civilian safety
requirements, such as better forward vision for the driver, exterior
rear-view mirrors, brake and directional lights, etc. Special rubber
pads would be available to cover the tank treads to eliminate damage
to the highways when the family goes for a spin.
Larger families could opt for the ubiquitous 2.5-ton truck that is
used by all the world's military forces. All families with a military
vehicle could petition the government for a 1.5-ton cargo trailer
as a useful accessory to bring crops to the market, carry building
materials, etc.
The Pars 8-wheel armored personnel carrier could also double as a
civilian transport vehicle. I understand they have a cargo capacity of
eight tons if not carrying troops. A rental fleet of these vehicles
operated by a government agency could fill a niche for the transport
of goods in all kinds of weather and terrain.
I understand that you are increasing the number of Matador and
Marauder four-wheeled armored personnel carriers. Although both are
sharp looking vehicles, style-wise they don't measure up to the Humvee
used by the United States Army. However, if you could retrofit them
for civilian use, they might become very popular with the young people
for cross-country recreational activities. This would be a healthier
alternative to their intended use on the battlefield. What a statement
a modified civilian model of either one would make parked in someone's
driveway. Another suggestion would be to use them as armored transport
vehicles for the movement of money, other valuables, and important
people. These services are provided by companies such as Brinks,
Loomis, or Dunbar in the United States
Given your oil resources, you wouldn't have to worry about the use
of these gas guzzlers. Your government could afford to subsidize
the price of diesel fuel and gasoline to operate the vehicles. Since
more people would have the means to travel in all kinds of weather,
it would create a demand for service stations, restaurants, motels,
shopping centers, amusement parks, etc. You would be responsible for
an economic expansion that would surely endear you to your people
and make neighboring leaders envious.
Here is a suggestion for your helicopter gunships. Some could be
modified for civilian use as sightseeing helicopters. Such helicopter
rides are very popular over the Grand Canyon, New York City, and
other places in the United States. A quasi-public entity could be
formed to provide commercial tourist flights over some interesting and
beautiful landscapes throughout Azerbaijan, such as the city of Baku,
the Mingachevir Reservoir, the towering Caucasus Mountains, the oil
rigs in the Caspian Sea, or the farmlands on the Kura River floodplain.
No doubt you would still have a sizeable catalog of military
equipment remaining. But the only problem with a sizeable military
force is finding a productive use for it. Unfortunately war is not a
productive use. Maintaining a supersized military establishment is a
costly business. Equipment has to be constantly upgraded and replaced.
Enlisted men and officers must continually undergo classroom training
and participate in meaningful field exercises to remain combat ready.
New recruits have to be trained and indoctrinated. It is a never-ending
enterprise and costs keep escalating. I am sure you already know
this. However, there is a real danger you may not have considered in
having a large combat-ready military force that has little to do.
If you, supported by a coterie of privileged families, continue to
rule in an imperious manner, enjoying the wealth produced by your
citizens and ignoring the grinding poverty that many of your people
experience, this combat-ready force may come to the realization that
the only enemy that Azerbaijan has is you.
Knowing this, shouldn't the Arab Spring give you some cause for
concern?
Respectfully, Michael G. Mensoian .
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/10/17/mensoian-open-letter-to-his-excellency-ilham-aliyev/
Mon, Oct 17 2011
Dear President Aliyev,
It has been nearly 20 years since the Karabagh Armenians of historic
Armenian Artsakh declared their independence.
Ever since the Bolsheviks created your country, you, your father
Heydar, and those who came before him have methodically destroyed
Armenian churches, cemeteries, and other irrefutable physical evidence
that these were Armenian lands ruled by Armenian kings millennia
before the Republic of Azerbaijan ever existed.
President Ilham Aliyev I'll let that rest for now, but I would be
a bit surprised if someone with a Ph.D. in history was not acutely
aware of these facts.
The south Caucasus could be enjoying the peace and prosperity that
all its people desire if you had accepted the legitimate right of the
Karabagh Armenians to declare their independence to live on their
historic lands. The basic fact that you should not ignore is that
the Karabagh Armenians will protect their hard-won freedom at any
and all cost if your military forces once again challenge them on
the battlefield.
Having had the good fortune to visit Artsakh again, most recently
a few months ago, I witnessed the tremendous economic strides the
Karabagh Armenians have made since the ceasefire was established 17
years ago. Politically they have established a democratic system of
government that could, quite frankly, serve as a model for your people.
But I digress. My purpose in writing this letter is to offer some
useful suggestions. You are spending billions of dollars to, as
we say in the United States, "supersize" your military forces. For
what purpose?
You are aware that no nation, other than possibly Turkey, would favor
a resumption of military operations against the Karabagh Armenians.
That being said, I am not convinced that your Turkish brothers-in-arms
think that the Azerbaijan military could mount a successful operation
against the Karabagh Armenians. That raises the question: What do
you plan to do with all the military equipment you have on hand and
that, from your constant public announcements, you plan to continue
purchasing? This is 2011. There are no new worlds to conquer, least
of all Karabagh.
Here is a suggestion as to what could be done with all those tanks,
armored personnel carriers, self-propelled artillery pieces, missile
launchers, and helicopter gunships.
Never having had the opportunity to visit Azerbaijan, I don't know
if you have "service areas" or "rest areas" along your highways as
we do in the United States. If you do, such locations would be ideal
places for a display of combat vehicles and related military equipment.
Several standard displays could be used simultaneously throughout
Azerbaijan, or a set of rotating displays might be made available.
Since there would be no need for all those men in the army, some
could be trained as military information specialists similar to
the park rangers we have in the United States. These specialists
could provide technical information as well as answer questions that
travelers may have.
However, there is both an upside and a downside to these displays-a
plus and a minus, as they say. These displays would remind your people
of the billions of dollars you invested to create the largest military
force in the south Caucasus. They might question the wisdom of this
decision or, through sheer pride in your accomplishment, might accept
you as the "father" of the modern Azerbaijan military. No one during
the 90-year history of the Republic of Azerbaijan could be cited to
challenge that distinction.
Another suggestion might be to give former service members who served
with distinction in a tank platoon the older model T-72A or T-72B
tank for his personal use. I understand the T-72M is the latest
model being used by the Azerbaijan Army. With a tank in the family
driveway, not only would the family have a means of transportation,
but the designated driver could perform first-echelon maintenance on
the vehicle that he was trained to do while on active duty. Active duty
military teams could check the vehicle, say every three months, to see
that proper maintenance had been performed, as well as provide on-site
assistance. If required the vehicle could be taken to a maintenance
depot for further inspection, repairs, etc. A loaner tank could be
provided during this downtime.
Some retrofitting would have to be done to comply with civilian safety
requirements, such as better forward vision for the driver, exterior
rear-view mirrors, brake and directional lights, etc. Special rubber
pads would be available to cover the tank treads to eliminate damage
to the highways when the family goes for a spin.
Larger families could opt for the ubiquitous 2.5-ton truck that is
used by all the world's military forces. All families with a military
vehicle could petition the government for a 1.5-ton cargo trailer
as a useful accessory to bring crops to the market, carry building
materials, etc.
The Pars 8-wheel armored personnel carrier could also double as a
civilian transport vehicle. I understand they have a cargo capacity of
eight tons if not carrying troops. A rental fleet of these vehicles
operated by a government agency could fill a niche for the transport
of goods in all kinds of weather and terrain.
I understand that you are increasing the number of Matador and
Marauder four-wheeled armored personnel carriers. Although both are
sharp looking vehicles, style-wise they don't measure up to the Humvee
used by the United States Army. However, if you could retrofit them
for civilian use, they might become very popular with the young people
for cross-country recreational activities. This would be a healthier
alternative to their intended use on the battlefield. What a statement
a modified civilian model of either one would make parked in someone's
driveway. Another suggestion would be to use them as armored transport
vehicles for the movement of money, other valuables, and important
people. These services are provided by companies such as Brinks,
Loomis, or Dunbar in the United States
Given your oil resources, you wouldn't have to worry about the use
of these gas guzzlers. Your government could afford to subsidize
the price of diesel fuel and gasoline to operate the vehicles. Since
more people would have the means to travel in all kinds of weather,
it would create a demand for service stations, restaurants, motels,
shopping centers, amusement parks, etc. You would be responsible for
an economic expansion that would surely endear you to your people
and make neighboring leaders envious.
Here is a suggestion for your helicopter gunships. Some could be
modified for civilian use as sightseeing helicopters. Such helicopter
rides are very popular over the Grand Canyon, New York City, and
other places in the United States. A quasi-public entity could be
formed to provide commercial tourist flights over some interesting and
beautiful landscapes throughout Azerbaijan, such as the city of Baku,
the Mingachevir Reservoir, the towering Caucasus Mountains, the oil
rigs in the Caspian Sea, or the farmlands on the Kura River floodplain.
No doubt you would still have a sizeable catalog of military
equipment remaining. But the only problem with a sizeable military
force is finding a productive use for it. Unfortunately war is not a
productive use. Maintaining a supersized military establishment is a
costly business. Equipment has to be constantly upgraded and replaced.
Enlisted men and officers must continually undergo classroom training
and participate in meaningful field exercises to remain combat ready.
New recruits have to be trained and indoctrinated. It is a never-ending
enterprise and costs keep escalating. I am sure you already know
this. However, there is a real danger you may not have considered in
having a large combat-ready military force that has little to do.
If you, supported by a coterie of privileged families, continue to
rule in an imperious manner, enjoying the wealth produced by your
citizens and ignoring the grinding poverty that many of your people
experience, this combat-ready force may come to the realization that
the only enemy that Azerbaijan has is you.
Knowing this, shouldn't the Arab Spring give you some cause for
concern?
Respectfully, Michael G. Mensoian .
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress