SANTO DOMINGO.- The Dominican Air Force is responsible for the protection of the country’s airspace from drug traffickers or any other threat, with the necessary equipment and crews trained for that task, and any plane which fails to identify itself is subject to being “disabled.”
Dominican Air Force (FAD) chief of staff Rafael Peña today said the beginning of the delivery of the Super Tucano fighters bought from Brazil is part of that mission. "We have the constitutional right to defend the airspace; we have the pilots, the base ready for that.”
He said for that reason the Armed Forces are in the process of purchasing air surveillance radars, in addition of acquiring the planes from Brazil.
He said any plane in Dominican airspace whose pilot fails to identify it after being warned is subject to being “disabled,” though when asked to specify, the military official only responded “there are many ways.”
The legislation to establish the protocol for the downing of planes which violate the country’s airspace is currently being debated in Congress.
The Air Force chief, interviewed in the Hoy Mismo program on Colorvision, also said the population growth around the previous aerial firing range at Bani (south), has made it necessary for the Air Force to discard it, and is looking to areas of the Caribbean sea with the use of floating targets.
In another topic, the senior officer added that U.S. Air Force F-16 exhibition fighter planes will come to the country for an air show on Saturday, at San Isidro Airbase, slated to begin at 10 a.m., with the participation of local planes and parachutists, as well as international participants.
Written by: Belial, 13 Feb 2008 10:47 AM
From: United States, Texas
Under the regime before Leonel, the DR transferred sovereignty over its airspace to the US Air force which can now interdict or attack any vessel at sea or in the air within the DR territorial limits without the permission of DR authorities.
If the DR begins to pretend to be boss in the DR's territorial limits, this situation will likely invite conflict with the US imperialists who now exercise supreme power over the DR's airspace.
The DR can jawboned the Haitians, but the DR can't jawbone the DR's masters, the US imperialists.
Written by: Rafael, 13 Feb 2008 11:54 AM
From: United States
Cafta-Nafta-DR- Its all part of global government not just global economy anymore.
Changing laws and so on. We have to keep an eye in Europe as events rolls down to us in Americas. Are RFID chips ready yet? lol
From: United States
I’m for it, with US supervision !!!!
Written by: zooma, 13 Feb 2008 4:19 PM
From: United States
This claim of protection is nothing more than sabre rattling on the part of the Dominican Air Force as they have a new toy. They will be just as ineffective as Dirección Nacional de Control de Drogas ( CNCD) with its efforts to "disable" the rampart drug trafficking taking place on terra firma.
It is the government entities that are disabled.
From: United States, Port Washington, LI (New York)
We are on the way to be civilized and competitive and lots of people don't want to agree or be in our own satisfaction territory.
Everybody is seeing the information so clear like a drop of water in a glass of water on any beautiful sunshine day.
Metro is on the way, The Tucanos planes are on the way and lots of investment on the island.
What else Dominicans want??? Foreigners welcome only with a good invitation, proactive mentality and constructive will and dedication.
MR TexasBill: your wisdom is well respected and watched with honor by everybody...............
You are the only unbiased and clear mind on these forums.............
From: United States
Cry baby, Cry !!!!!!!!!!!!
Written by: dagtan, 13 Feb 2008 10:57 PM
From: United States
With the money invested in a weapon that it has no need and /or relevance on national security is simply a waste of money. Sometimes I wonder if the DR government really thinks that they will one day be under attack by any of its neighbors. It does not make any sense and it is a waste of resources that could be redirected to our nonexistance eduation system, health care system and social welfare system. It has been quantified that learning does not take place in hungry and malnourish person. Finally, the fact that the U.S. coast guard already takes care of this problem is yet another reason not to waste such sums of money. The DR government is lacking so much common sense that it is amusing and laughable at how they simply waste the funds, while people go hungry, do not have jobs, medical insurance, people are dying because they can not by medication or pay for doctor and they concerned about something that the U.S. wiil more than happy to do us. PLEASE LOOK AT THE PEOPLE FIRST.
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
I would ask ONE simple question---Which country would you rather have (in addition to your own) help in defending your borders against unwanted and unwarranted incroachment?
I would remind you all that a great deal of the problem this country faces lies in the unpreparedness of its military establishment to meet the threats from both the air and the sea.
Heretofore, the only aviation capability lay in the helicopters which are virtually useless against fixed-wing aricraft illegally violating the Dominican Airspace. Now you have an aircraft which can, at least, intercept the average non-jetpowered aircraft and the capability to effectively (with the aid of radar) intercept those intruders.
The recent addition of ships with a limited combat capability has greatly increasaed that area of military capability. I would imagine that as retired naval vessels become available through modernization, there will be more forthcoming as an augmentation force.
So, what is the beef?
TB
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
The Fuerza Aria (forgive themistake) in combination with the Dominican Navy is gathering its forces slowly. This is to be expected of a nation which has just begun to commence anti-operations against a previously minor problem; that of a slow buildup if intruder routes into and through the DR and which now are becoming more and more significant.
I'm reminded of the old saying "Rome wasn't built in a day". This is applicable to the buildup of Dominican forces with which to combat the cartel which is invading these shores daily.
So, maybe everyone should clap their hands to the fact thata there is a force coming into being and dedicated to protecting their shores and seas against such invaders. Be thankful that the USA and GB have provided some protection toward that end instead of casting disparagements, otherwise the DR could have become a sattilite for the cartels as did Columbia.
TB
Written by: TFISKE 
, 13 Feb 2008 11:26 PM
From: Canada, Alberta
Well said texas bill
Written by: dagtan, 14 Feb 2008 8:25 AM
From: United States
TB the beef with me is that the U.S. as they have been doing in Colombia and many other countries is more than willing to provide such services. The fact that we are diverting funds to ends that yes, help our role in fighting crime, but do not help our cause on eradicating below poverty line living, is just unacceptable. The priorities are wrong TB, that is my beef, priorities, is what needs to to be told to the Domincan government. PR, is already fully protected by the U.S. and the U.S. is more than capable of providing such services to DR, since the proximity is not an issue. We in DR do not need an standing army, but what we need is a strong national police to police the state. TB, my beef is that there is is no threat of war for the and thare will never be one, therefore, we do not need an standing military force. This something that shold not be at the top of the list, however, it should be in the top fives or so. Priorities for the Domincan government should be as follow,
Written by: dagtan, 14 Feb 2008 8:26 AM
From: United States
1- EDUCATION
2- SOCIAL PROGRAMS
3- MEDICAL SERVICES
4- INFRASTRUCTURE
5- NATIONAL/BORDER SECURITY
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
dagtan;
I find that I must adisagree with your priorities in government services.
National/Border Security must ALWAYS be the FIRST PRIORITY of ANY government; whether instituted by civilian police or the military establishment.
The Infrastructure MUST come second since the other three you mentioned depend on Electricity, Water, Transportation, Waste disposal, etc. in order to be effective.
Of the other three, I would place Social Programs last.
Before the other three, I would place Government Efficiency, negation of Corruption, Cronyism and it's accompanying results in inefficiency and Transparancy of operation; for without that all else goes down the tube. That is the main problem facing us today.
Look at what has happened in countries such as Kenya, Dafur, Somalia andothers and you will see the results of weak and ineffective Security measures.
You will probably disagree with me on this, but Education and Health are vastly more important than other Social Progsrams.
TB
From: United States
The main problem relay with the Administrations not the Cartels. "Scrutiny"
Written by: dagtan, 14 Feb 2008 1:50 PM
From: United States
and of the least educated population in ever growing global community.
Written by: dagtan, 14 Feb 2008 1:50 PM
From: United States
TB our sphere of politics or geopolitical sistuation is totally differnt than that of Africa. The DR has no immediate threat as does Africa and Europe or even the U.S. the is no prime targets in the DR neither will our political condition influence world politcs as Africa, Europe and the U.S. will do in the event of any security bridge. The infrastruture TB, is the result of educated people wants, if the population is not educated, then would not understand the prupose of infrastructure, all they are concerne is about what they are going to eat tomorrow. Social services allow for the nutrition of your population, leading to better students and healthier people and loger life spands. Social services also translate into a happier and more intravert population, inlike the current population in DR which is by large margins extrovert on the needs of the country. The DR doea not have any imminent threat coming from the borders, but it does have imminent threats coming from malnutrion,
From: United States, NJ
TexaBill:
In as much as i agree with all said by you above. I think Dagtan has a very good point also on not needing an armed force that cost so much to maintained ,not only in salaries, pensions,perks as well.
We are not going to fight any one not even Haiti. As far as the the 6 infantry grigades we now have plus 2 auxiliary totaling 8 are there for the salary & pension, plus an air force that is not allowed to engage the traffikiers .Dagtan is looking at it from the economical point of view.Since it seems to me it would be redundant having a paid military while the USCG & the UK do all all the work .
Since you mentioned other countries affected by not having a standing army, you failed to mention COSTARICA,which has no military and has their priority correct Money that could had been used towards military went towards education which paid off ,since all are citizen police,health,social programs, American retirees there, plus tourist without giving an inch of sea front
From: United States
I hope they don't confuse an airliner with a cessna !!!!!
Written by: dagtan, 14 Feb 2008 7:31 PM
From: United States
The bottom line is that for some reason people believe that infrastructure comes before the wants. If you look at every empire or modern country, the infrastructure came as a result of the needs and wants of a highly advanced society. A lot of people here have it the other way, in way can any country develope fundamentally without and educated population that it is there to preserve and give continuity to the already achieved goals. The amount of resources and man power that goeas into a unnecessary military is simply not smart. I once again say it, the DR does not have any imminent or even possible enemy that would ever attack the island. Even in the event that some country attack the DR, the U.S. will never allow anyone to do that in their sphere of interest. If you look at the caribbean, the DR is the only one with such an extensive military that has no use or need whatsoever. Cuba on the other hand has reasons to have an standing army to defend itself agains the,cont..
Written by: dagtan, 14 Feb 2008 7:35 PM
From: United States
cuban pressures and real threats from the U.S. However, I am sure that it would be reduced once things chnage and the U.S.'s cubans are no longer a threat. All the resources that are put into such waste should be used to create a strong and ethical national police, create an effective and deserving educational system, create a medical system in which hospitals will ask people put the money up front before getting treatment, create social services helping the high rate of young mother that is present in the DR, create programs in which those people that did not get an education or trainiingn have access to these services, implement a dual language policy Spanish.English, since our country is so close to the U.S.
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
Dagtan;
While I agree with everything you have said, just allow me to interject this thought into the equation you have presented.
The economic well being of any country isALWAYS dependent upon the fact that an integrated INFRASTRUCTURE is in place and functioning.
Without such, there can be no industrial progress nor expansion. It is this element that provides the monetary influx which, through taxation, will provide the wherewithal for supplying all the other "Social" supports you point out as being necessary for sustaining progress, both economic and social.
Without the necessary funds which will provide for the ospitals, clinics, schools, teacher salaries, and all the other expenses necessary to support "Social Programs" you wouldn't have zip.
Industries and businesses provide the jobs for society and depend heavily on the systems of transportation, electricity, water, sewage disposal and other elements ofthe infrastructure to survive and progress.
TB
Written by: dagtan, 15 Feb 2008 2:36 PM
From: United States
Yes, TB, as you clearly indicated, I think that infrastructure does have a higher priority than cesuring borders and the so called national security in DR. TB, you must also, remember that withour wants, there is no industry to fullfil those wants. An educated society will always look for ways to preserve and expand the good things about an educated class. Moreover, they will also force that particular society to industrialize in order to secure their progress. If you look at the industrial revolution it came about the needs and wants of scholars, the american industrial boom it came about the needs and wants of scholars and the greatest infrastructure ever, put together by the Roman Empire, it came about the needs and wants of an educated elite class. So TB, an effective infrastructure is a bi-product of an educated society.
From: United States, NJ
Dagtan ;
I second that 100%.
I also have noticed Southern Dominicans are bellow average when it comes to quality of life, when compared with the rest of Dominicans .It is nticeable in W.H. Bx,B'klyn. No matter how schooled education they have they lack the propper home enviroment.
They don't think twice before opening the car window and toasting a bottle out into the streets as
well as garbbage,on the sidewalk,while their parents don't reprimend them, since they don't know any better, therefore he can not teach their children the propper moral conduct .
As you well know quality of life is taught at home ,not in any school or University as some people
pretend to do."(My son is well educated ,he went to university )" in the mean time he is opening a car window and toasting garbbage out as well as urinating on a side of a house or by a phone pole,like dogs.
I don't mean this offensively and i appologise for it ,but am Dominican myself and it hurts.
Written by: dagtan, 15 Feb 2008 6:15 PM
From: United States
Mrthelmo, I agree with you 100%, however, becareful when bringing things like that up on this forum, since there are people that will consider you non-dominican if you dare to bring up the negatives. I have gotten a lot flack around here for pointing out the negatives and hardships that Dominicans in NYC are going through.
Written by: Belial, 15 Feb 2008 6:28 PM
From: United States, Texas
"urinating on a side of a house or by a phone pole,like dogs."
0000
In a wireless society, what other use is there for a phone pole, anyway?
From: United States, NJ
Thanks dagtan : I will keep that in mind,
It was meant as a constructive critisism as you will see ,not to make them feel bad or offensive, since am Dominican who emigrated at the age of 13.
There is a saying "you can not blanket out the sun with the palm of you hands" If the shoe fits wear it . It was not meant for all my country men/women but for those that resist the changes.
I am sure we all went thru hardships as imigrants but we tried to go with the flow and pick up new culture with out losing ours or imposing ours into others.
Another thing, by having a METRO does not make them superior in culture to the rest of of the Dominicans, just luckier, with national fundings from loans which they will never pay back.
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
Dagtan;
I think you have misinterpreted the "progress" of Rome by equating the infrastructural expansion to the "desires of the elites". In fact, they instigated the infrastructural expansion through necessity to serve the ever expanding population of the city itself and the needs of the Legions to deploy rapidly into areas of interest to Rome (government).
The roads were constructed promarily for those reasons and became secondary to the trade of Rome with participating elements. The aquaducts, as was the sewage disposal systems, were constructed out of the necessity to serve the city's ever burgoning population and for sanitary reasons. Likewise, the establishment of a "police authority" to mitigate the criminal elements within the city itself. These three elements of Transportation, Water supply, sewage disposal and internal secutrity fostered by an ever increasing population explosion to the city. Cont'd
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
Then in order to siphon off the inherent unrest of the population, the Collesium and Hippodrome were built.
Early on in the development of the City, the Forum was established as the commercial and Administrative center in order to facillitate those activities.
Throughout the entire history of Roman development, social programs, as we know them today, were never a consideration of the government. Such objects were ancilliary to the overall development of the Empire and of Rome itself since theprimary objectives were incorporated into the ever increasing acquisition of new territories and economic expansion.
Thus, the motivation for the infrastructural establishment wasn't for the sake of the city population, nor for it's overall population, but rather as a natural occurance of the expanding Empire and the evolution of it's policies.
Likewise with other "civilizations" and individual nations.
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
The "Industrial Revolution", which began in England in the early/middle1700's was driven by the economic demands of "Merchantilism", the system of economics embrased by the British Empire of the time and to establish a center of commercialism from which all goods in trade were, in turn, imported then re-exported as finished goods to the Empire's colonies. There was very little manufacturing in any of the colonies at that time since the Crown prohibited such by the colonies. The latter element provided the "raw materials" to the Empire's manufacturing centers which were returned as "finished goods' with the incumbent profits and taxes to the colonies worldwide.
Eventually, such a scheme was recognized as being inefficient and was modified to allow certain goods to be manufactured locally, but still subject to being shipped to England then re-shipped back for consumption.
Cont'd
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
History will show that there was little infrastructural expansion in any of theEmpire's colonies during the period mentioned and it was only after Independance was gained that this situation was addressed by the incumbent governments of the former colonies. As an example, India had virtually NO infrastructureal amenities until the late 20th century. Likewise theEmpires other former colonies with the exception of the USA.
I therefore submit that infrastructural demands by the population was not a significant factor in the development of such, but was the result of a recognition of the need for such to foster economic growth by the country's government andsuch always came after the gaining of both internal and external security was realized.
I rest my case.
TB
Written by: dagtan, 17 Feb 2008 2:55 PM
From: United States
TB, once again you left the main ingredient in the desire of these people to exploy the goods of the earth and their position in society. EDUCATION and KNOWLEDGE, motivated this people to better, therefore, pormpting the development of infrastructure in order to expand their culture and increase their sphere of influence. The Romans, only recognizzed their abilities after capturing Greece and learning about civilized societies and the never ending need of civilized societies to expand. After going through that period of enlighment, the Romans wanted to expand in oder to preserve their highly educated society. Infrastructure is a natural progression of knowledge, you seems to ignore this in your explanation above. By the time British began their industrial revolution, they were a whealth of knowledge and modernization. Once again, they wanted to expand in order to mantain their life styles and protect what they have built. The were motivated by their scholars and not their, cont
Written by: dagtan, 17 Feb 2008 3:01 PM
From: United States
generals to expand. If you look at the early colonizers like Rhode, they were all enlightened people my friend. You did not see the peasants coming up with the ideas of modernization and development of infrastructure. Just like in the DR, you do not see Dominican nationals managing and designing the complicated infrastructural projeacts that are taking place in the island right now. Maybe you want to give me the name of the dominican engineer who designed your beloved metro or the bridges or highways. TB, you must understand that people with no education and who are struggling economically are not thinking about the next frontier or the next bridge to be built, they are trying to survive. Without an educated base, infrastructure is not possible, unless you import the brain power to get them done, as is being done in the DR right now. We need to develop this educated class so they become our future engineers and scientist to further develop our infrastructure.
From: United States, NJ
Dagtan am with you 100%;: In DR
Knowledge had to be imported since the 1930's ex: the armament industry from the Zcheks and
Hungarian Know how in San Cristobal as well as the salami,cheese industry in Sosua with importation of the Jews.Just to show you ,one leads to the next. The needs was there by Trujillo to make weapons and he did, since no one will sell him any. Same as Salami & cheese and they took full advantage of it to the present.
Again education & know how plays a big roll in any country's developement. A country can't rely on
others to do it for them at an astronomical cost as is the case of DR and most Latin American countries including PR. It is not to the advantage of the more develope countries to bring them up to the 21st century as to always depend on them and keep them as" Banana Republics".
A good example: where is the weapon industry? I am sure the generals were forced by the power to be to desmantle it & scrap it to avoid competition they were selling 200k
From: United States, NJ
I might sound like a broken record with the "armeria Dominicana". Now that we took a leap forward with the METRO, parts will be needed for repairs same..
That was the start of DR industrial revolution in a small scale.Same as CHAVEZ bought Russian weapon factory plus 300,000 AK47. I can't see buying rifles if you are going to make them.
Like all the others: ARGENTINA started their atomic research in 1950 but certain things had to be imported from EUROPE and they made a mistake of using a Norwegan ship to bring it over The ship never made it to ARGENTINA and stayed in NYC port for 6 months INSPECTED despite of ARGENTNA's protest .Would you call that piracy? Didn't ARGENTINA see it coming before tackling the BRZ in LAS MALVINAS? The US still comes to UK's aid despite been free of them. A good example is WW1,2,LAS MALVINAS.
You see Mr BHA knowledge is power and the Gringos know it,GERMAN scientists to built the "A" bomb",MANHATTAN PROJECT" ,V2 rockets to put them in the moon.
Written by: dagtan, 17 Feb 2008 9:52 PM
From: United States
Mr.Thelmo, yes you are right and thank you for affirming my point when it comes to the importance of knowledge above all in the developmental process of any society. However, I must disagree with your assertion that the METRO is DR breakthrough to a new age of industralization. If you reacall the rise of the TIGERS in Asia, Hongkong, Formosa, S. Korea, Shanghai, just to name a few. The reason why these places and countries have been able to develop to the point of becoming competitive world wide, eventhough their size is similar if not smaller than that of the DR is due to their excellent knowledge base and heavely educated population. The Argentines, managed to overshodow the rest of Latin America because of their attraction of foreigners, but they never developed their natives. The knowledge in Argentina was a trasnplanted one, not a home grown one, therefore, it was hollow and weak, so when tested it was bound to break. However, you look at Cuba and that is an example of, cont
From: United States
The recipe for development: One part of "Rule of Law" added to One part of "State of Law", everything else follow.
Written by: dagtan, 17 Feb 2008 10:01 PM
From: United States
home grown educated society and people. If Cuba had the access to all the benefits of the western world, their process would have been profound and competitive with first world nations. The Malvines situation was not only a disaster for Argentina, but a clear sign of the weakness of their overly superficial society. The fact that they decided to challenge the British was a simple mistake and a desire to embarass the British by a bunch of Italians and Germans nationalists that have set shop and given the country by the native Argentines/Argentinians. Argentina is finally coming into terms with their mistakes and is finally concentrating on Argentina and not importing people to make themselves look superior to the rest of Latin America. Finally, if Chavez gets his way in Venzuela, they have a real shot at becoming the most educated and technologically advance nation in Latin America, due to the fact that they already have what Cuba does not, LIQUIDITY, AND PLENTY OF LIQUIDITY.
From: United States, NJ
dagtan:
Please read my poster again. i said the' ARMERIA DOMINICANA 'was the start of DR industrial revolution to make parts for the METRO since they took a leap forward by bulding one.
As far as VENEZUELA having plenty of liquidity it is true if they don't give it away as they have been doing,(every thing has a limmit), as long as you have a consumer and you have the buyer it is ok.
providing they don't do to him like they did to CASTRO and the embargo.Don't forget Cuba was a
mono-cultivist of the Caribbean by producing 6mn metric tones of sugar and nothing else to feed
its people untill Castro changed all that since they did not have a buyer and the USSR was #! in
sugar beet production.
As to VENEZULA: going back to education,skills and know how they are no diferent from ARGENTINA since they did not start a program of education like CUBA under CASTRO. For what i understand VENEZUELA has to import all kind of proffesionals including CUBANS so that is also weak & hollow.
Written by: dagtan, 17 Feb 2008 11:19 PM
From: United States
Got it, thanks for the clarification. I am sure that we are on the same wavelength.
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If the DR begins to pretend to be boss in the DR's territorial limits, this situation will likely invite conflict with the US imperialists who now exercise supreme power over the DR's airspace.
The DR can jawboned the Haitians, but the DR can't jawbone the DR's masters, the US imperialists.
Changing laws and so on. We have to keep an eye in Europe as events rolls down to us in Americas. Are RFID chips ready yet? lol
It is the government entities that are disabled.
Everybody is seeing the information so clear like a drop of water in a glass of water on any beautiful sunshine day.
Metro is on the way, The Tucanos planes are on the way and lots of investment on the island.
What else Dominicans want??? Foreigners welcome only with a good invitation, proactive mentality and constructive will and dedication.
MR TexasBill: your wisdom is well respected and watched with honor by everybody...............
You are the only unbiased and clear mind on these forums.............
I would remind you all that a great deal of the problem this country faces lies in the unpreparedness of its military establishment to meet the threats from both the air and the sea.
Heretofore, the only aviation capability lay in the helicopters which are virtually useless against fixed-wing aricraft illegally violating the Dominican Airspace. Now you have an aircraft which can, at least, intercept the average non-jetpowered aircraft and the capability to effectively (with the aid of radar) intercept those intruders.
The recent addition of ships with a limited combat capability has greatly increasaed that area of military capability. I would imagine that as retired naval vessels become available through modernization, there will be more forthcoming as an augmentation force.
So, what is the beef?
TB
I'm reminded of the old saying "Rome wasn't built in a day". This is applicable to the buildup of Dominican forces with which to combat the cartel which is invading these shores daily.
So, maybe everyone should clap their hands to the fact thata there is a force coming into being and dedicated to protecting their shores and seas against such invaders. Be thankful that the USA and GB have provided some protection toward that end instead of casting disparagements, otherwise the DR could have become a sattilite for the cartels as did Columbia.
TB
2- SOCIAL PROGRAMS
3- MEDICAL SERVICES
4- INFRASTRUCTURE
5- NATIONAL/BORDER SECURITY
I find that I must adisagree with your priorities in government services.
National/Border Security must ALWAYS be the FIRST PRIORITY of ANY government; whether instituted by civilian police or the military establishment.
The Infrastructure MUST come second since the other three you mentioned depend on Electricity, Water, Transportation, Waste disposal, etc. in order to be effective.
Of the other three, I would place Social Programs last.
Before the other three, I would place Government Efficiency, negation of Corruption, Cronyism and it's accompanying results in inefficiency and Transparancy of operation; for without that all else goes down the tube. That is the main problem facing us today.
Look at what has happened in countries such as Kenya, Dafur, Somalia andothers and you will see the results of weak and ineffective Security measures.
You will probably disagree with me on this, but Education and Health are vastly more important than other Social Progsrams.
TB
In as much as i agree with all said by you above. I think Dagtan has a very good point also on not needing an armed force that cost so much to maintained ,not only in salaries, pensions,perks as well.
We are not going to fight any one not even Haiti. As far as the the 6 infantry grigades we now have plus 2 auxiliary totaling 8 are there for the salary & pension, plus an air force that is not allowed to engage the traffikiers .Dagtan is looking at it from the economical point of view.Since it seems to me it would be redundant having a paid military while the USCG & the UK do all all the work .
Since you mentioned other countries affected by not having a standing army, you failed to mention COSTARICA,which has no military and has their priority correct Money that could had been used towards military went towards education which paid off ,since all are citizen police,health,social programs, American retirees there, plus tourist without giving an inch of sea front
While I agree with everything you have said, just allow me to interject this thought into the equation you have presented.
The economic well being of any country isALWAYS dependent upon the fact that an integrated INFRASTRUCTURE is in place and functioning.
Without such, there can be no industrial progress nor expansion. It is this element that provides the monetary influx which, through taxation, will provide the wherewithal for supplying all the other "Social" supports you point out as being necessary for sustaining progress, both economic and social.
Without the necessary funds which will provide for the ospitals, clinics, schools, teacher salaries, and all the other expenses necessary to support "Social Programs" you wouldn't have zip.
Industries and businesses provide the jobs for society and depend heavily on the systems of transportation, electricity, water, sewage disposal and other elements ofthe infrastructure to survive and progress.
TB
I second that 100%.
I also have noticed Southern Dominicans are bellow average when it comes to quality of life, when compared with the rest of Dominicans .It is nticeable in W.H. Bx,B'klyn. No matter how schooled education they have they lack the propper home enviroment.
They don't think twice before opening the car window and toasting a bottle out into the streets as
well as garbbage,on the sidewalk,while their parents don't reprimend them, since they don't know any better, therefore he can not teach their children the propper moral conduct .
As you well know quality of life is taught at home ,not in any school or University as some people
pretend to do."(My son is well educated ,he went to university )" in the mean time he is opening a car window and toasting garbbage out as well as urinating on a side of a house or by a phone pole,like dogs.
I don't mean this offensively and i appologise for it ,but am Dominican myself and it hurts.
0000
In a wireless society, what other use is there for a phone pole, anyway?
It was meant as a constructive critisism as you will see ,not to make them feel bad or offensive, since am Dominican who emigrated at the age of 13.
There is a saying "you can not blanket out the sun with the palm of you hands" If the shoe fits wear it . It was not meant for all my country men/women but for those that resist the changes.
I am sure we all went thru hardships as imigrants but we tried to go with the flow and pick up new culture with out losing ours or imposing ours into others.
Another thing, by having a METRO does not make them superior in culture to the rest of of the Dominicans, just luckier, with national fundings from loans which they will never pay back.
I think you have misinterpreted the "progress" of Rome by equating the infrastructural expansion to the "desires of the elites". In fact, they instigated the infrastructural expansion through necessity to serve the ever expanding population of the city itself and the needs of the Legions to deploy rapidly into areas of interest to Rome (government).
The roads were constructed promarily for those reasons and became secondary to the trade of Rome with participating elements. The aquaducts, as was the sewage disposal systems, were constructed out of the necessity to serve the city's ever burgoning population and for sanitary reasons. Likewise, the establishment of a "police authority" to mitigate the criminal elements within the city itself. These three elements of Transportation, Water supply, sewage disposal and internal secutrity fostered by an ever increasing population explosion to the city. Cont'd
Early on in the development of the City, the Forum was established as the commercial and Administrative center in order to facillitate those activities.
Throughout the entire history of Roman development, social programs, as we know them today, were never a consideration of the government. Such objects were ancilliary to the overall development of the Empire and of Rome itself since theprimary objectives were incorporated into the ever increasing acquisition of new territories and economic expansion.
Thus, the motivation for the infrastructural establishment wasn't for the sake of the city population, nor for it's overall population, but rather as a natural occurance of the expanding Empire and the evolution of it's policies.
Likewise with other "civilizations" and individual nations.
Eventually, such a scheme was recognized as being inefficient and was modified to allow certain goods to be manufactured locally, but still subject to being shipped to England then re-shipped back for consumption.
Cont'd
I therefore submit that infrastructural demands by the population was not a significant factor in the development of such, but was the result of a recognition of the need for such to foster economic growth by the country's government andsuch always came after the gaining of both internal and external security was realized.
I rest my case.
TB
Knowledge had to be imported since the 1930's ex: the armament industry from the Zcheks and
Hungarian Know how in San Cristobal as well as the salami,cheese industry in Sosua with importation of the Jews.Just to show you ,one leads to the next. The needs was there by Trujillo to make weapons and he did, since no one will sell him any. Same as Salami & cheese and they took full advantage of it to the present.
Again education & know how plays a big roll in any country's developement. A country can't rely on
others to do it for them at an astronomical cost as is the case of DR and most Latin American countries including PR. It is not to the advantage of the more develope countries to bring them up to the 21st century as to always depend on them and keep them as" Banana Republics".
A good example: where is the weapon industry? I am sure the generals were forced by the power to be to desmantle it & scrap it to avoid competition they were selling 200k
That was the start of DR industrial revolution in a small scale.Same as CHAVEZ bought Russian weapon factory plus 300,000 AK47. I can't see buying rifles if you are going to make them.
Like all the others: ARGENTINA started their atomic research in 1950 but certain things had to be imported from EUROPE and they made a mistake of using a Norwegan ship to bring it over The ship never made it to ARGENTINA and stayed in NYC port for 6 months INSPECTED despite of ARGENTNA's protest .Would you call that piracy? Didn't ARGENTINA see it coming before tackling the BRZ in LAS MALVINAS? The US still comes to UK's aid despite been free of them. A good example is WW1,2,LAS MALVINAS.
You see Mr BHA knowledge is power and the Gringos know it,GERMAN scientists to built the "A" bomb",MANHATTAN PROJECT" ,V2 rockets to put them in the moon.
Please read my poster again. i said the' ARMERIA DOMINICANA 'was the start of DR industrial revolution to make parts for the METRO since they took a leap forward by bulding one.
As far as VENEZUELA having plenty of liquidity it is true if they don't give it away as they have been doing,(every thing has a limmit), as long as you have a consumer and you have the buyer it is ok.
providing they don't do to him like they did to CASTRO and the embargo.Don't forget Cuba was a
mono-cultivist of the Caribbean by producing 6mn metric tones of sugar and nothing else to feed
its people untill Castro changed all that since they did not have a buyer and the USSR was #! in
sugar beet production.
As to VENEZULA: going back to education,skills and know how they are no diferent from ARGENTINA since they did not start a program of education like CUBA under CASTRO. For what i understand VENEZUELA has to import all kind of proffesionals including CUBANS so that is also weak & hollow.