It should be mandatory for all Presidents to be on the battle field. It should also be mandatory for all members of congress and the senate to rotate in and out of the battle field.
President of Chad Killed on the Battlefield
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Re: President of Chad Killed on the Battlefield
#22It is extremely rare for the head of state to die as a direct result of battlefield engagement.
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Re: President of Chad Killed on the Battlefield
#23Is this good or bad for people of Chad?
"Reports from N’Djamena, the capital, suggested that in the wake of Déby’s death, parliament has been dissolved and the government replaced by a transitional military council led by Déby’s 37-year-old son Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, a general" The short-term at least, sounds worse.
It calls into question who the enemy on the battlefield might have been.
Re: President of Chad Killed on the Battlefield
#24It is extremely rare for the head of state to die as a direct result of battlefield engagement.
My extreme cynicism makes me doubt it happened this time either. Not giving a victory speech and instead rushing into danger only to heroically die sounds like a cover-up of either a natural causes death or an internal coup.
The rebels claimed to have wounded him during the fights so this is more of an admission than a cover-up.
Re: President of Chad Killed on the Battlefield
#25Is this good or bad for people of Chad?
"Reports from N’Djamena, the capital, suggested that in the wake of Déby’s death, parliament has been dissolved and the government replaced by a transitional military council led by Déby’s 37-year-old son Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, a general" The short-term at least, sounds worse.
According to the linked opinion [1], not sure if it is worse. The old guard may have been the equivalent of a bad military council, and the new may have less military resources, may be a better leader, or may be more afraid of the populace.
[1]: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/aug/14/p...
Re: President of Chad Killed on the Battlefield
#26It is extremely rare for the head of state to die as a direct result of battlefield engagement.
My extreme cynicism makes me doubt it happened this time either. Not giving a victory speech and instead rushing into danger only to heroically die sounds like a cover-up of either a natural causes death or an internal coup.
More likely this was a "show up at a forward base and visit the troops" type thing and the other guys got their hands on his itinerary and a) dumped a bunch of mortars on his general location b) threw every available asset at said forward base and overwhelmed it.
Re: President of Chad Killed on the Battlefield
#27It should be mandatory for all Presidents to be on the battle field. It should also be mandatory for all members of congress and the senate to rotate in and out of the battle field.
Wouldn’t this be akin to a military based government?
Re: President of Chad Killed on the Battlefield
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Reports from N’Djamena, the capital, suggested that in the wake of Déby’s death, parliament has been dissolved and the government replaced by a transitional military council led by Déby’s 37-year-old son Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, a general" The short-term at least, sounds worse.
According to the linked opinion [1], not sure if it is worse. The old guard may have been the equivalent of a bad military council, and the new may have less military resources, may be a better leader, or may be more afraid of the populace. [1]: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/aug/14/p...
I'll admit to not knowing the details, but dissolving parliament and putting the old guard's son in charge sounds like more of the old guard, but with more power.
Re: President of Chad Killed on the Battlefield
#29It should be mandatory for all Presidents to be on the battle field. It should also be mandatory for all members of congress and the senate to rotate in and out of the battle field.
Then the Battle of Agincourt happens and you lose something like 1/2 of all of your leaders. Then your status as a world power is lost forever.
Besides, I don't think anyone wants a government based on military service today. Military is important, but not as important as say, infrastructure, hospitals, schools, technology, engineering, or a myriad of other government services today.
I'd rather have more government officials who know the details of building road projects or high speed fiber. Or heck, maybe a few web designer politicians so that official government websites actually work
Re: President of Chad Killed on the Battlefield
#30Churchill had to be talked out of attending the D-Day Landings by King George VI - apparently he thought it unfair that if he couldn't attend the landings (which he wanted to do) then Churchill shouldn't be doing it either.
Edit: Out by one error for monarch