But that is exactly the point: The COAS cannot and should not prevent criticism by a legally superior office.What he should not do is comes across as arrogant and above reproach.
under normal circumstances (pre WOT and skulls for football days) I would agree .
I even agree now forget the war for a moment. yes it appears that a junior is out of turn and breaking the code f conduct.
but do check why? for how long military has been taking the blows with its head down? day in day out every tiger of Nawaz league is taking a pot shot at the military and calling the butchers of 50k+ Pakistanis as their brothers in single breath and single sentence. do check the contents of the "criticism" as well. that defence minster is lambasting us for Kargil war in a disputed territory which has been seized by Indians when we were not even there after cease fire agreement? who secretly encroached and took over the tops of Siachin in the 80s? and what about sir creek? I wonder if blood mist in the eyes of nawaz league due to the hate for the pak army is preventing it to see that its goal post is Pakistani not Indian.
let me share something with you. there are instances where the doctor can take over the command from a ship caption or any junior officer can relieve a senior from command when there is clear evidence that the senior has lost his mind and capacity. I can give you real life American world war 2 and cold war examples but thats another subject altogether.
point is when your senior is being a jerk, apologies for the lack of term, then the junior must call him out.
short fact (in PMA during introduction the new arrivals are told to do EVERYTHING they are told by their seniors but under NO circumstances they must Drop their pants and bend over and in such cases they must report them)
He should play it smart: Say that the Army welcomes the criticism, and then provide in detail evidence that shows that it is doing a good job under difficult circumstances (and there is plenty of evidence to show that).
I agree and that brings back the memories of Gen Athar Abbas .. I wonder if you remember him. very calm, eloquent and good speaker
What the Army should NOT do, as you are too, is to equate the criticism as a licence to doubt the patriotism of a serving cabinet minister.
I agree sir, mere criticism (fair or unfair) has nothing to do with doubting patriotism. and for the sake of patriotism I would say.. one should take such criticism on the chin.
my personal take in this particular matter is that its not criticism but downright rubbish and malicious attack coming from Nawaz league leaders.
The Minister is as patriotic as you or I or the COAS.
my good sir, with all due respect
my chair is more patriotic than him ...to put it mildly.
He does have a different and critical opinion that needs to be considered and explained.
thats true and I have already explained that but you didnt approve
To call him an agent of India insults the nation, its government and the people, all for no good reason, because a free expression of opinion is the heart of progress.
I didnt call him Indian agent just like that. only pointing out at the fact that you take out his name and read his venom filled sentences and one cant tell if he is a Pakistani parliamentarian in our assembly or a member of Indian Lok Sabha addressing in Dehli.( he is being praised and quoted there a lot and getting a lot of
)
After all, the Army does not have a monopoly on what defines patriotism. It should learn to incorporate differences of opinion and play it smarter, not defensively and arrogantly like this, for this will serve no one well.
yes I agree, we all can be equally patriotic or complete douche bags irrespective of our civilian or military clothing.
but if we reverse the roles for a moment and allow ourselves for just a moment to imagine ..
what if this day in day out media smear campaign is being run by the army cursing the politicians then how much heart burn would that cause and how democracy will feel threatened? nothing wrong with criticism right?
why deny army that fundamental right?