Monday, May 9, 2011

On Child Soldiers and Bullet Expenses in War

Bear in mind that your enemy technically suspended your rights during armed conflicts. You can't shield yourself with a human rights claim when your enemy comes to your place to kill you and your children. That's how legally and morally violative armed conflict is.

During armed conflict, women and children have rights to bear arms to defend the community and fight the invaders. Those who are willing to fight must be armed by any means. There is no age, gender, or religious limitation to an individual person's right to protect own life.

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Habang binabasa ko ang book of Numbers Chapter 31 ng Bible, nawalan ako ng ganang maniwala sa Dyos kung eto man ay totoo. Ang Dyos na nasa isip ko ay hindi ganito. Pero maaring ang tao lang ang gumagamit ng pangalan ng Dyos para ma-justify ang kanyang kasamaan. I'll elaborate it in one word --- Moses used the name of God to comit GENOCIDE.

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Sa Pilipinas, maraming hindi nakaka-intindi ng principle of "fiduciary trust" and "loyalty representation". Mga brokers hindi alam kung kanino sila loyal, sa buyer ba or sa seller. Mga government employees hindi nila alam kung kanino sila loyal, sa superiors ba nila or sa kanilang legal mandate. Mga politiko hindi alam kung kanino sila loyal, sa sumuporta ba sa kanilang campaign or sa taong bayan.

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Waging a war is not only about firearms, but more about ammunitions. I have heard that "For each insurgent killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, 250,000 shots are fired that hit absolutely nothing." That is around 3,000 kilogram of ammo for 1 kill. The more ammo you have to waste for suppressive fire, the more capable you are to gain more square meters of grounds.

QUESTION: Sir John, what is a suppressive fire? ANSWER: Suppressive fire is when you switch your firearm to fully automatic mode and fire a series of multiple rounds ammunitions in 30 seconds without actually shooting people with it, just to make the enemy duck their heads for cover while your soldiers maneuver into next strategic positions in the battle ground.

In battle you only carry around 300 ammunitions. Automatic firearms can fire around 700-1000 bullets per minute. Your 30-rounds magazine is over in 4 seconds with automatic fire. So if you only have 300 and you fire it like rambo, you no longer have bullets after 5 minutes gunfight and you are left with your dagger. So practically you seldom use automatic mode, especially in combat that lasts for days.

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QUESTION: Sir John, tanong ni nanay bakit hindi ka raw nag comment sa recent news ng pag-baba ng popularity rating ni PNoy? ANSWER: Wala akong paki-alam sa PERSONAL popularity rating niya. Hindi yan relevant sa welfare ng taong bayan. Relevant lang yan sa P2B-govt-funded communication/advocacy group niya sa Malacanang na walang ginawa buong araw kundi mag-isip ng publicities to increase his popularity.

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QUESTION: Sir John, how do we make Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCTP) effective? Diba ginagamit itong program na eto para pumasok sa school ang mga bata? ANSWER: It can't be effective. The beneficiaries are too many, the amount given for each is too small to start-up a small business that can create and sustain new jobs. Bene receives a P1,000 pesos, she buys grocery, then wala na, maghihintay uli next month. Off-election popularity buying lang yan a version of vote buying. Jokingly, CCTP is just a Campaign Communication Target Project. Pag maging beneficiary ka nyan, nasa database ka na ng pwede padalhan ng campaign messages in the next election.

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I dedicate this blog to my friends who celebrate their birthdays.

Alexander P. Libarnes, Andres Bonifacio, Farrah Keith Petalcorin, Janice Nan Tropanq Gahi, Jed Mancera, Jericho Darryl Mancera, Juan Antonio Petalcorin, Mae Maya Chona Lastimoso, Marinella Barrera Fabregas, Rhex Mansag, Rich Gutierrez, Roche Angon, Ryan Abs, Smashejen Oist, Whinner Endaya Esteban x Aiiybee DoOn, Cookie Ramonal, DHamii Catoera Cabal, Edis Mharga Villahermosa, Genesis Sy, Grace Lacson, Janine Erica Casurra, Joanne Dela Vega Reovoca, Juviemay Biol, May Chung