By Fathi Al-Fadli, a Libyan writer
Which army do we want?
We want an army that refuses to turn into a big stick in the hands of rulers, regimes and governments. We do not want an army with which to intimidate people under any circumstances, and pretexts, or an army to turn into a peacock with which tyrants flex their muscles and brag about it in front of their people.
We want the soldier and the officer who understand that human blood is far more sacred than orders. We want the soldier and the officer who would lay down their arms if they were ordered by a lunatic to kill civilians, be they his fellow countrymen or others. We want the officer and the soldier who says: ‘These weapons, armoured vehicles, tanks, war planes, guns, bombs, boots, spears, rockets and helmets, which the Libyan people paid to purchase with their blood, cannot be used to slaughter Libyans’.
The homeland does not want forces that kill, intimidate and terrorize people under the pretext of carrying out orders and under the pretext of discipline, command and orders. We want the soldier and the officer who believe in and respect the faith of the people and respect the norms, traditions and customs of the Libyans. We want an army that is able to fight wars, and if it is defeated, it acknowledges defeat, studies its causes, recognizes and documents it, and holds the negligent accountable, on one hand. And on the other hand, if it wins wars, it won’t go tyrant, perpetrating rape and setting stones, bodies and trees on fire and loot on earth.
We want an army that loves the citizens, the country, the homeland. We want an army that knows missions, goals and duties of the armies. We want an army that refuses to point its guns at chests of civilians, regardless of the reasons, motives and causes. We want an army that believes in the unity of Libya's land, history and people, and preserves the unity of the country, the homeland and the people.
We do not want an army that is seeking power, abolition of constitutions and coups, and protection of murderers, aggressors and tyrants. We don't want a "quantitative" army, we want an army of modern "technology", modern strategies, modern training, modern weapons, modern tactics. We want an army fit for the 21st century.
We want an army governed by human values. An army aligned with the people and the homeland. We want an army that believes in the honour of being a soldier, the value of being a soldier, and the mission of being a soldier. We want an army that cherishes the blood of the martyrs who fell in defense of Libya and the honour of Libya against the military regime that tasted the country and the people, horror, perdition and woe. We want an army that can appreciate, feel, and sense the suffering, torment, and pain of orphans, victims, widows and the persecuted people who were the fuel for the February 17 revolution. We want an army that understands that one of its greatest tasks is to protect the property, honour, blood, sanctities and values of Libya and Libyans.
Whoever is not able to build such an army, let him make way for those who can, for the country cannot tolerate being crushed for further decades.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Libya Observer
