Spin doctoring is a hazardous calling, with some of the best kicking themselves in the mouth in due course of time. It happens to the spokespersons of political parties, treasury or opposition; it happens to bright officers in the Information Service; it happens to highly paid executives in corporate PR departments. So why shouldnt the militarys principal spin doctor be allowed the occasional faux pas? His suggestion for the civilian, as opposed to the military, budget to be reviewed surely cant be the stated policy of a professional standing army.
If that indeed is the case, however, it is a sign of how upside down institutional dynamics are in our beleaguered Republic. DG ISPR Maj Gen Athar Abbas also told the press the other day that those who say the militarys budget was bigger than what it should be are conspirators working against the interests of the country. Perhaps the good general and his companions could take a leaf out of the book of the political class when it comes to taking criticism. Ruling party politicians, for instance, respond to complaints with explanations, not accusations of treason. The assumption that anybody who questions the size and composition of the militarys budget and there are plenty of us does not have the nations interests in mind is horribly flawed. Gen Abbas claimed that no army in the world disclosed its development budget to the public. True, to a measure, but they certainly do disclose information to, and seek approval from, the representatives of the public. Even in military juggernaut security states like Israel.
The fact that we have four billion dollars of military spending to Indias 36 is constantly going to be brought up by the hawks. But since this is a frightfully lopsided equation, perhaps our entire security paradigm needs to be reconsidered to begin with. With odds like those, nations need to think out of the box. Since we face an existential threat from an enemy within, in addition to foreign aggressors, perhaps much of that money could be spent on civil security forces and improving the bleak social conditions that might prove to be fertile ground for the militants that are holding us for ransom. There is no shame, no treason in saying that.
