Mao's rules for soldier's conduct toward civilians:
The Three Main Rules of Discipline are as follows:
(1) Obey orders in all your actions.
(2) Don't take a single needle or piece of thread from the masses.
(3) Turn in everything captured.
The Eight Points for Attention are as follows:
(1) Speak politely.
(2) Pay fairly for what you buy.
(3) Return everything you borrow.
(4) Pay for anything you damage.
(5) Don't hit or swear at people.
(6) Don't damage crops.
(7) Don't take liberties with women.
(8) Don't ill-treat captives.
Mao knew his success depended crucially, on the support of the civilians where his soldiers were operating, so these rules were reinforced continuously, with the officers leading the soldiers in reciting these rules, every morning. Violations were punished severely.
Our soldiers, in Afghanistan and Iraq, are routinely violating these rules, especially the "points of attention" # 1,4,5,7,8. Every day, there are news stories, about our soldiers "taking liberties with the women" (using the standards of the locals, which is the standard we should be applying). |
