Military Rule And Human History

Regular readers of this site and Afghanistan War will be aware that editorial comment is rare. My general approach is to cascade, signpost and provide a platform for views which I find of interest. These are generally related to modern history and current affairs. There are two reasons why I rarely platform my own views.
1. I feel it is a bit narcissistic. I notice that not many other bloggers share this reticence
2. I am pretty lazy (although not as lazy as Fat Johnny In Dublin who is supposed to be helping me run these sites and hasn't provided any copy for 4 months).
But occasionally I have an inspired thought which I think it is worth the trouble to type up and share. The recent events in Tahrir Square offer a case in point. I fear the worst for the good people of Egypt. They are not asking for much but are now confronted with a military junta who don't see any good reason to hand over power. The army would be justified in asking one question certainly- hand over power to whom? To nice citizens with their kids on their shoulders? Probably not. Whoever controls the guns controls any country provided there are enough people with weaponry who are like-minded. I am sorry to say that this seems to me (a student of history, ancient and modern for some decades now) a universal phenomenon. Charles De Gaulle persuaded the Communists, who held most the guns in France after the war, to hand them in. Not many Communist Governments in France since 1945 I hear you say but De Gaulle enjoyed almost uninterrupted power.

The first kings were successful military commanders. Going back long before Cyrus and Darius and, later, the Roman Emperors (all with military backgrounds). We learn from the Anthology of Stobaeus that at one time it was the custom, when a Persian King died, to allow a week of anarchy to let the people see what it would be like with no King and no laws. Leaders, even bad ones, are a necessary evil it would seem. Machiavelli took this precept for granted. I am not saying might is right - just that it is unavoidable. The Egyptian demonstrators might be lucky and end up with an enlightened military regime with a sense of responsibility. But they will have to be very lucky. If I was religious I would pray for them.