Lt. Gen. William E. Ward, who four months ago was assigned to assist the Palestinians with their security services, described a difficult and at times frustrating experience of trying to reorganize a "dysfunctional" system of individual fiefdoms and an almost nonexistent chain of command. The Palestinian police also have little infrastructure or communications equipment, much of it having been destroyed by the Israelis in the past four years. ...
Why is it, that for PA security force, 4 years and 100s of millions of dollars are never adequate to buy a few new radios, so we must always hear again how Israel destroyed everthing? Perhaps the non-existant chain of command is more relevant to the situation?
Ward testified that about 20,000 of the 58,000 Palestinians with security jobs show up for work. Over time, he said, the security services had turned into a "social welfare net," with payments being made to people even if they did not contribute to the day-to-day security on the streets.
"Over time" would imply that they originally had a different purpose. Evidence, please? Massive patronage of many different groups, who were set against each other, with all the money being controlled at the top, that was Yasser Arafat's style of government. But nevermind. Who needs to bother with understanding the past. Not reporters!
No mention of the PA FM's recent announcement that terrorists with weapons are "legitimate" either, I see.
Well, at least it's one step away from let's pretend and towards reality, even if it falls far short.
In answer to Ed's conclusion
Until the Palestinians get serious about putting their security forces under clear civilian control and eliminating the militias, they cannot handle the responsibilities of sovereignty and statehood.
I would say, isn't it obvious that they don't WANT to handle the responsibilities? They want the rights of the statehood without the state so that nobody can make them responsible for anything! They have been paid for many years to be irresponsible, they are not going to change voluntarily. |
