“None climbs so high as he who knows not whither he is going.” — Oliver Cromwell

MANILA, Philippines — There is an increasing demoralization, anger, criticism, and pessimism among the rank-and-file soldiers and young officers not only at the corruption in the military, with a few generals threatening to resign, but also mounting doubts on the leadership qualities of their Commander-in-Chief, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

While the cup has not runneth over, so to speak, the confluence of negative events and the large number of soldiers killed and wounded in Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Lanao del Norte have brought the country to the brink of war against the MILF.

Truth to tell, the nation faces warfare on three fronts, namely, the Muslim insurgency, the NPA armed struggle, and lawlessness which have defied solution, and seemingly nowhere near successful resolution.

First, while the Muslim separatists and NPAs are waging a protracted "guerrilla" warfare, the AFP is sticking to its traditional positional strategy and indiscriminate bombing. Historically, Filipino soldiers are not known as nocturnal fighters, unlike the US Seals.

Second, President Benigno Simeon Aquino should abolish all the existing peace panels and ad-hoc entities. He should instead appoint new panellists and negotiators who are proactive, energetic, creative, youthful, and aggressive. The current peace appointees appear to be jaded, fatigued, and inertia-bound.

Third, to paraphrase Winston Churchill in World War II, "give us the tools and we will finish the job."

The Filipino soldiers, whether AFP or PNP, are confident that they can handle the situation and finish the job provided there are no kickbacks, no politics; the ammo is not "fake"; there is adequate firepower; the man have high morale and are better feed.

As Napoleon Bonaparte would aptly put it, "The army marches on its stomach."

Fourth, former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada is gaining support and popularity for his "let's go to war" advocacy and get it over with. The treachery of the MILF cannot be condoned. This is a national sentiment, and not partisan politics.

It is recalled that former President Corazon Aquino pursued a delicate, unpopular, and fragile modus vivendi with the Left and the Muslims during her term.

Her successor, President Fidel V. Ramos preferred to follow a "democratic space" strategy of dribbling the ball while CCP-NPA-NDF Chairman Jose Ma. Sison was in exile. The interlude brought about quietude in the battle front against the local communist movement.

After arduous efforts and patience, the Ramos administration was able to sign a peace agreement with the major Muslim faction, MNLF, while neutralizing and confining the nascent MILF and Abu Sayaff inside their camps.

Then, President Estrada came along and decided to go to war against the Muslim rebels by which time the MILF had come into their own; the Abus went on their merry ways kidnapping-for-ransom; and the MNLF declined into oblivion.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo thereafter picked up the pieces and problems left behind by President Estrada.

Alas, the Arroyo administration was tragically marred by President Arroyo's controversial assumption of the presidency; allegations of electoral fraud; pervasive corruption; and coup attempts from which President Gloria Arroyo never recovered in terms of satisfaction and trust ratings.

The long and short of it is that President Benigno Aquino, fighting on three fronts, namely the MILF, NPA, and lawlessness, now faces the ultimate acid test of his one-year administration which will challenge his leadership, sincerity, courage, and intellect.

While an all-out shooting war is not advisable against the MILF and Islam for it will not yield any victor but financial extremis, territorial sovereignty of the Republic must be firmly established in Muslim Mindanao.

Thus, President Benigno Aquino must now show who is the boss and quash the rebellion.

Then, an honorable and credible peace accord can be forged towards a lasting peace.

You be the judge

(For comments and views, please e-mail: chaff_fromthegrain@yahoo.com.ph)