Iraqi Army Recruitment Article Mentioning Sikhs

[dalsingh101]

Extract from American article about employing minorities in Iraqi army concerning Sikhs. Notice how "Sikh rebels" are contextualised.

http://www.worldpress.org/Mideast/2920.cfm#down

Decreasing Sectarianism by Recruiting Ethnic Minorities

Felix P. Sanchez

September 5, 2007

Policy Guidance on How Ethnic Minorities Can Improve National Security in Multiethnic States Based on the Indian model

Ethnic minorities have been used by various countries to maintain civil order. The example of India illustrates the role they can serve in the military. Through this model, the United States can learn how to likewise effectively utilize ethnic minorities in Iraq.

1. Minority populations can be used by national governments to maintain order and defense.

Although India is an exceptional case, the army presents an example of how minority groups can uphold the strength and numbers of a national army. In India, Sikhs constitute about 15 to 20 percent of the army, though only about 2 percent of the general population. Although they were first used by British colonists, they helped India win important battles such as the wars against Pakistan in 1965 and 1971.

2. Maintaining order may sometimes require pitting one ethnic group against another.

Strategies that India has adopted to maintain civil order involve scenarios in which an army of a particular ethnic group is pitted against another group. Sikh infantry units fought against Nage and Mizo guerillas in the 1960's and 1970's.

3. The use of integrated armies of various ethnic groups works best in areas where homogenous groups engage in violence.

When the Sikh rebellion arose in the 1980's, authorities had problems with deploying Sikh regiments into military operations. In order to overcome this problem, Indian commanders utilized an integrated brigade to reduce unit inactivity that surfaced out of sympathy for the Sikh population. A Sikh Lt. General ordered the brigade into action under the leadership of a Muslim Lt. Col. The brigade, known as the "Guards Elite Strike Force," also included Sikh soldiers and defeated the rebels holding the Golden Temple in June 1984.

4. Regiments of minorities should be a mixture of both homogenous units and integrated units.

Indian units of Sikhs comprised homogenous units and were placed into integrated formations. When fighting groups of homogenous Sikh composition, Indian authorities were most likely to deploy integrated brigades even though civil disorder was coming from ethnic groups other than Sikh. These units tended to have good morale in battle and made units more efficient in combat.

5. Take caution not to elevate too many minority officers to top military commands.

In India, the absence of Sikhs in top military posts is due to the disproportionate number of Sikh troops from Punjab. This is done intentionally to prevent a concentration of individuals from one particular ethnic group.

6. The military must be a means of social mobility and opportunity.

Many ethnic groups, like the Sikhs, join the military in hopes of securing economic benefits, social status and educational opportunities. Other groups, such as the Mahars, have also achieved social mobility by joining the armed forces.

[dalsingh101]

I'm surprised that people didn't make any comments on this.

Looks like a manual on "How to control and use dumb pindus from the Punjab for your own purposes" to me.

[mann_kaum_layee_qurbaan]

yeah that's kind of what i got out of it. so didn't comment.

[dalsingh101]

Are we this easy to manipulate?