Opinion
E-Mail 'Barsoumian: Confronting Abuse in the Armenian Army' To A Friend
Email a copy of 'Barsoumian: Confronting Abuse in the Armenian Army' to a friend
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1. From the public literature I read that beatings are a way of life in the Russian army. It seems the Armenian Army is copying the Russian style of discipline. The excuse for this style of “training” is given the reason: “It prepares the soldier for real battle ahead”. How else do you hurl tens of thousands to their death at the German lines at Stalingrad? I’m sure there are other historic reasons going back to Spartan times.
2. Beatings have been a way in many armies. For example: My uncle Yervant was a Corporal in the Turkish Cavalry. He had a framed photo of himself in uniform in his living room. One day, after serving in the Air Corps Enlisted Reserve, and waiting to be called to active duty I was curious about his training, I asked him about the picture and how he served etc..
He told me he was in charge of a detail of Turkish soldier. He told me if they didn’t obey he would beat them!
3. One day in the early ’60s I walked into a Newton Shoe Repair shop owned by an Armenian. To my pleasant surprise a magnificient photo of Andranik “Katch” hung on the wall in a prominent position.
“My mother was from Shabin Kara-Hissar, he was a great General”, I said expecting approval from him. Instead, I heard him say, negatively, shaking his head, “He would beat his men!”.
“How do you know”, I asked annoyed at this lmage of my hero. “I was his chauffeur!”.
In my mind the Spartans were training for hand to hand combat. I wonder if General Patten was thinking “Spartan” when he slapped a crying wounded GI?
So if beatings are a way of training, much work lies ahead.
Give the Armenian Army a break! It is not an easy task to make good soldiers out of incorrigible cowards and shirkers.
If this guy was deported from US for long criminal record then we probably shouldn’t blame for what happened on the abuse in Armenian Army. If he wasn’t drafted in the Army he probably would’ve committed this crime on the streets.
Even with all its problems the Armenian armed forces have made great progress during the last five to ten years. Our military is considered to be the finest in the region. Sadly, unfortunate occurrences will happen from time to time. This tragedy is being used by anti-government interests in Armenia to fan the flames of unrest.
There are similiar stories, right here in the USA, it’s strange how people behave when they are in the Army.
I agree with Armen_yan .
Why can’t be more organized ,why should others think we are behind ,corruption until when ?i think its enough .
Small countries like Armenia and Azerbaijan annoy me, Russia should just annex Nagorno Karabakh for herself and be done with it..
Seems we have another provocateur in our midst.
A video of abuse in the Armenian army can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu_HHBMS5AM