IN THE “Art of War,” we are told to think… and we should think in the way of our enemies. PNoy in his speech was so disturbed in the slaughter of dozens of SAF operatives. They are heroes and deserve spot promotion (financial assistance also.)
I am sure that a producer and a movie director would come up with a film “Hanapin si Marwan at Usman.” If a gun battle inTukanalipao (setting of the movie) be made bloody cheerful with serene elegiac beauty (not for more fun in the Philippines) and to evoke the claustrophobic feeling up to the edge of the mind, it should be this.
Just like in any war movie, there will always be a question to be resolved as a part of the plot. “Who briefed SAF 392 and barked the order?” Any legitimate mission is supported by a mission order.
Our policemen are no mercenaries. They always follow a chain of command.
It is a SAF SOP to understand the need for a team to train together all the time, in order to establish unit integrity and to ensure that every element is prepared to dance the intricate choreography of an assault.
I have read the book of Richard Marcinko, “Rogue Warrior.” It is clearly stated there that prior to deploying on a mission, it is not unusual to build mock-ups of their target to practice their assault choreography. They build up a model of their target area: terrain, infrastructure, anticipated obstacles and always consider their vulnerability during the firefight.
Just like in the movie, heads will roll. The operatives are the elite men of PNP Special Action Force. We expect them to be experts in counterterrorism such as close-quarter battle, infiltration and seizure techniques, rappelling, lock-picking, covert intelligence gathering, hostage-rescue assaults and explosive breaching methods.
If I were a commander I could have assured myself that my men are best in hand-to-hand combat, explosive ordnance disposal, high-speed driving, and in high-tech surveillance methods. SAF 392 should know that they are fighting terrorists and terrorists don’t operate by any rules. Terrorists believe that, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
In the “Mamapasamano Massacre” the issue is not the Bangsamoro Basic Law, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. The meat here is on the preparedness of our government troops. Who gave the order? Did he give a serious study on what will happen to the troops the moment they are in Mamasapano? That commander should see the movies like “Enemy at the Gates,” “The Red Badge of Courage,” “The Guns of Navarone” and give order like George S. Patton… “Always attack, never back down.”
PNoy and Secretary Mar Roxas will patiently wait for the report of a special board of inquiry. I agree with Rep. Garry Alejano that the MILF leaders should identify who among their men are involved in that meticulously choreographed mass attack scene. Those identified should be nested (also ordered to return their loot) while waiting for the result of the inquiry.
I hope that what happened to SAF 392 will not demoralize society by showing a government’s inability to protect its own troops, its own citizens. Terrorists are agents of change. They use violence and fear to achieve an objective. It is that goal that drives them to threaten, frighten, kill and destroy. Should we allow ourselves to be bullied by the “tango” and the “crow”?
If this is a holy war for the terrorists, then let’s fight like saints. Any action taken against terrorism must be swift, forceful, and aggressive. This time, there is no more misencounter! It is an order!