By: Rommel K Manwong
Area: Security and Resiliency Management, Applied Criminology, Investigations
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This insight, I’m speaking about is the whole world War Against COVID-19. Everyone has a source of power on which it depends on. So, when we look at our opponent, we seek the root of the source of that power – the center of gravity, that holds the entire structure together. Hitting it there will inflict a disproportionate damage and pain. That is where we should strike! Robert Green in his strategies of war has illustrated this in detail.
But, what do we know so far about COVID-19 as an adversary? The target of our strategy should be less the powerful-army-virus we face than the source of its weakness. If we understand how it works, we have the key to deceiving and controlling it. The words from an African leader - President KAGUTA MUSEVENI of Uganda described it all, as he warned his people misbehaving during this COVID-19 period:
God has a lot of work; He has the whole world to look after. He cannot just be here in Uganda looking after idiots… In a war situation, nobody asks anyone to stay indoors. You stay indoors by choice. In fact, if you have a basement, you hide there for as long as hostilities persist. During a war, you don't insist on your freedom. You willingly give it up in exchange for survival. During a war, you don't complain of hunger. You bear hunger and pray that you live to eat again.
During a war, you don't argue about opening your business. You close your shop (if you have the time), and run for your life. You pray to outlive the war so that you can return to your business (that's if it has not been looted or destroyed by mortar fire.
During a war, you are thankful to God for seeing another day in the land of the living. During a war, you don't worry about your children not going to school. You pray that the government does not forcefully enlist them as soldiers to be trained in the school premises now turned military depot.
The world is currently in a state of war. A war without guns and bullets. A war without human soldiers. A war without borders. A war without cease-fire agreements. A war without a war room. A war without sacred zones.
The army in this war is without mercy. It is without any milk of human kindness. It is indiscriminate - it has no respect for children, women, or places of worship. This army is not interested in spoils of war. It has no intention of regime change. It is not concerned about the rich mineral resources underneath the earth. It is not even interested in religious, ethnic or ideological hegemony. Its ambition has nothing to do with racial superiority. It is an invisible, fleet-footed, and ruthlessly effective army.
Its only agenda is a harvest of death. It is only satiated after turning the world into one big death field. Its capacity to achieve its aim is not in doubt. Without ground, amphibious and aerial machines, it has bases in almost every country of the world. Its movement is not governed by any war convention or protocol. In short, it is a law unto itself. It is Coronavirus. Also known as COVID-19 (because it announced its destructive presence and intention in the year of our Lord 2019)
Thankfully, this army has a weakness and it can be defeated. It only requires our collective action, discipline and forbearance. COVID-19 cannot survive social and physical distancing. It only thrives when you confront it. It loves to be confronted. It capitulates in the face of collective social and physical distancing. It bows before good personal hygiene. It is helpless when you take your destiny in your own hands by keeping them sanitized as often as possible.
This is not a time to cry about bread and butter like spoiled children. After all, the Holy book tells us that man shall not live by bread alone. Let's obey and follow the instructions of the authorities. Let's flatten the COVID-19 curve. Let's exercise patience. Let's be our brothers' keeper. In no time, we shall regain our freedom, enterprise and socializing."
** The whole statement from the Ugandan President in this article was extracted from the Facebook post of a friend, Dencio Acop, posted 22 April 2020 **
