THE AFTERMATH OF 20A20 ATTACK THE GLASS IS HALF FULL
Posted on December. 5. 2020
“Whether your glass is half full or
half empty, hope can fill it up.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo
Z. S. Andrew Demirdjian
After the fateful Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, many people will consider The Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war with Azerbaijan the nadir in the recent history of the Armenian nation. The debilitating surprise attack started on Sunday morning on September 27, 2020.
Compared to the agony of territorial loss, the emotional toll for the dead and injured is far greater in grief –for the sad desperation and helplessness of constantly losing our ancestral lands and lives to the acquisitive Turkish government through unjust wars and heinous treatments has been palpable.
Of greater pain is particularly the loss of many of our brave soldiers deployed against a multiplicity of forces assisting Azerbaijan. Armenian forces were all alone, left in the lurch by its so-called ally. At the front line, Armenian soldiers were bewildered by the bombs raining on them from all directions, fired from modern precision weapons.
Additionally, the shattered feelings and anger of many Armenians are deepening for not knowing in advance that Armenia was not ready to face a superior enemy but that the Armenian government had failed to rectify the deficiency in due time.
Most Armenians feel frustrated and tend to forget that we are also to blame for the losses of life and territory for being complacent and even lazy to prepare our homeland against Azerbaijan’s military superiority as was shown in the summer of 2014, in April of 2016, and in July of 2020 clashes with Armenia and Artsakh. Since then, most of my articles had to deal with warnings and strategies for the impending war with militarily advanced Azerbaijan.
It should also be noted that the Armenian Diaspora slumbered on, since the Armenian generals assured us that they were ready to face the enemy at any time. But, why mislead the people when Azerbaijan was stockpiling its state-of-the art armament? It boggles the mind!
Our military leaders have failed to alert us against an imminent danger of an onslaught by the genocidal Azerbaijani compound armed forces. Like the Potemkin village, the Armenian army was presented as invincible up until September 27, 2020 when the facade came down in response to the combined attacks of Azerbaijan’s forces.
Military officers who have misrepresented the adequacy of our army and the quality and efficacy of the Armenian army’s weapons should face court martial when the dust of the war settles.
The effect of the Azerbaijani blitzkreig was disastrous on the Artsakh Defense Forces. The conglomerate Azerbaijani army has also wreaked havoc on the unarmed civilians and their infrastructure. The whole tragedy has been a bitter pill to swallow by Armenians around the world.
To be forward looking, how can we pick up the pieces despite our soldiers have put up a valiant defense against an octopus enemy comprising of Azerbaijan, Turkey, ISIS jihadists, and mercenaries including Pakistani Islamic Brotherhood volunteers. Here are some ideas to remember:
Practice Unity. Let us not just believe in unity and give it lip service, let us practice it for a change. First of all, before we do anything we should have the right attitude toward unity. Unity, Unity, Unity for there is strength in unity to get us ahead synergistically. There is power in numbers; through our unity, we can get ahead to tackle challenges facing our nation. Otherwise, we would be doomed to another tragic military defeat. Please remember that unity for a group is achieved when members become good followers.
Evaluate Strengths and Weaknesses. Before we plan to move forward, let us analyze Artsakh’s strengths and weaknesses. In the aftermath of the war, Artsakh has many weaknesses to be addressed immediately such as the humanitarian plight of the displaced people. As for an example of strength, the Armenians of Artsakh are a resilient bunch of rugged mountain people who are still in command of their homeland. The people of Artsakh will rise again from the unholy war of 2020.
In terms of weakness, although miles away from Artsakh, Armenians should stop living in the shadow of a colossal danger: the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant. We need to dismantle it for the sake of our national security when the enemy strikes again. We do not want Artsakh to remain in the sphere of danger of the nuclear plant, either.
Explore Ideas. As you know, ideas have changed the world; ideas, new or old, can help us become stronger. So, let us follow this simple formula: Conceive, Concentrate, and Complete. Conceive an idea, for example, to recruit females into the army. Concentrate on making it possible without distractions. Complete the project to have a division of the army consisting of female soldiers for non-front line position deployment. Ideas must be the engines of progress for Artsakh.
Assist Diaspora. For example, help with the Armenian Diaspora attempts at invalidating the points 2,6,7,9 of Statement of 9th of November, ceding to Azerbaijan parts of Artsakh, especially Shushi by signing up a petition authored by Lt. Col. Armen Zalinyan of Armenia. There is a worldwide committee spearheading a campaign to invalidate those parts of the agreement signed by the tripartite of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to halt hostilities for five years.
Out of psychological reasons, we need to get Shushi back. Also, help with the attempt at getting the Organization for Security and Cooperation of Europe’s Minsk Group mediators from Russia, France and the United States to continue with their mandate to find lasting solutions for the safety of the people of Artsakh from future Azerbaijani/Turkish aggression.
Appreciate Soldiers. We should let our soldiers know that we appreciate them as patriots and heroes of the Armenian people and ease their return to civilian life. Also, we need to do the same for our fallen soldiers’ families. We need to thank and assist the grieving parents and family of our brave fallen soldiers. When the time comes for donations, let us contribute as much as possible to relieve them of financial burdens arising from their sons’ and daughters’ absence.
Return to Artsakh. Besides appealing to their patriotism, to their love of and devotion to their country, we should find incentives to encourage the 100 thousand Armenian refugees to return to Artsakh. Three kinds of incentives will be effective: one is financial assistance; the second is the redistribution of land; and the third one will be assurance of safety and security from the enemy aggression.
Entice Settlers. There will be some people who will choose not to return to Artsakh; instead, go to Russia for work and security. To beef up Artsakh’s population, the government should come up with a home- or vacation- steadying program for all Armenians. Entice those looking for vacation place, farming acreage, etc. by giving land free or at a fraction of its market price to beef up the population of Artsakh on record. You do not have to live in Artsakh to be counted in as a resident. Also, try to relocate Hemshen Armenians from the Black Sea area and Kyrgyzstan to Artsakh.
Let us not forget how Australia built its population by adhering to the slogan “Populate or Perish,” and by enticing settlers through free land distribution from the four corners of the world. Artsakh needs the population to turn the country vibrant and prosperous. Besides, we need able- bodied citizens to defend the country as well.
Depend on Ourselves. We should learn from our big mistake of depending on others to come to the rescue. For example, we depended on Russia, but it came too late to curb any further loss of the people of Artsakh. Get sophisticated arms through either local production or by importing them. The Armenian Diaspora can set up an Artsakh Defense Fund to equip its army with the cutting-edge weapons, especially the use of long-range types and UAVs (unmanned air vehicles), which proved to be devastating on our soldiers.
Use Non-Military Defense. We should learn to apply methods other than military to overcome the enemy. We should not depend on our soldiers alone to protect Artsakh. For instance, we can devise strategies to get Azerbaijan implode from within by motivating other minorities to rise up for freedom and independence such as the Lezgins and the Talyish ethnic groups, which are both waiting in the wings to become independent.
Rationalize the Truce. There is a need to counter the irrationality of those who are harshly criticizing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the 9th of September truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Reportedly, when Prime Minister Pashinyan sat down at the negotiating table with President Vladimir Putin and President Ilham Aliyev, Artsakh’s war casualties were already over 2,500 soldiers out of a combined total of 5,000 soldiers perished in this war on both sides. Furthermore, 25,000 Armenian soldiers were about to be trapped by several concentric Azerbaijani troupes heading in their direction to encircle them with their back against the wall, so to speak. Mr. Pashinyan had to save them from annihilation.
Had Mr. Pashinyan not signed the hateful “Statement” for a truce on the night of September the 9th, the loss of our soldiers would have amounted to a total massacre. Twenty-five (25K) thousand Armenian solider were saved. Those who are adding fuel to the crisis, we need to rationalize with them so that they could see as to why our prime minister had to sign the unpopular, lopsided truce with the genocidal enemy, knowing full well the opposition would try to crucify him later. It takes moral courage to act unselfishly in the face of unpleasant situations.
Campaign for Artsakh’s Recognition. We must expedite the drive for Artsakh’s international recognition as a free and independent republic. We should ride on the good news that on November 25, 2020 the French Senate passed a landmark resolution (305 to 1) to recognize the independence of Artsakh. However, in order to keep its neutrality as a member of the Minsk Group mediators to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict politically, the French government refused to recognize the independence of the Republic of Artsakh. Still, the French Senates’ approval is a feather in Arsakh’s hat.
Despite the French government’s setback, we should concentrate our efforts to get Canada, Australia, the United States among others to follow the same gesture the French Senate has shown the beleaguered Armenian people, bullied by Azerbaijan and its genocidal ally, Turkey. Naturally, it would be great if the governments of each of country listed above were to recognize the independence of Artsakh as well. Their recognition will send a strong message to Azerbaijan and Turkey that they should leave the indigenous Armenians of Artsakh live peacefully in their centuries-old historical province.
The forgoing suggestions to do for Artsakh after the disastrous aftermath are exemplary, not exhaustive by any stretch of the imagination. I am sure you as the reader have also some ideas. Why not share them with the rest of us? Let us all work on damage control through reconstruction, recovery of Artsakh. We should regain our composure and begin to pick up the pieces to solve our national security problems.
Internal dissent weakens us during and after war time; it will distract and disorient us from tackling pressing problems. Any issue that will divide us further should be tabled for the time being. How to rehabilitate Artsakh should be the only burning item on our agenda.
Pointing fingers for blame assignment is counterproductive. To prevent internecine fights, we must first pick up the piece for Artsakh. Later, we will have plenty of time for soul searching and quarrelling as who was responsible for the military fiasco in the hope of correcting the problem from happening again.
To concoct a plan and work in concert to finish the job requires the spirit of cooperation and collaboration. Otherwise, we would regress to a point worse than where we were before undertaking any corrective or remedial measures.
History tells us that in the aftermath of an upheaval event, when the shooting stops, recovery begins. Let us always remember that the worst thing we will do is to believe in unity and yet remain disunited. Inaction is the cancer on a nation’s health chart: Each and every Armenian’s responsibility, in the aftermath of this unholy war, is to contribute to the rebuilding of the evil effects of the enemy’s destruction, material or spiritual alike, into something enviable for all of us to be proud of.
After all, the glass is half full but not empty, which inspires us to respond to the call to pick up the pieces and rebuild Artsakh into something beautiful and prosperous. Through faith, hope, and unity, we shall fill up the glass full again.