So what happens to the other 260 generals?

El Senado aprobó ayer en segunda lectura el proyecto que modifica la Ley Orgánica de las Fuerzas Armadas, el cual reduce de 300 a 40 los generales en los cuerpos castrenses, y cambia los nombres del Ejército Nacional por Ejército Dominicano, y de la Marina de Guerra por Armada Dominicana.

Much needed changes. Marina Dominicana sounds much better than Marina de Guerra.

I thought Chicken Shit Lie-onel was afraid to go after the Narco Generals because they would overthrow him?

quote "So what happens to the other 260 generals?"

They are reduced in rank to colonels, maintain the pay level of general and are given 40 acres - 16 hectares of farm land.

If the law is finally passed 130 or more generals will be retired immediately, and the remaining paced out in two years.
The headline might not be entirely correct, as of last count there where about 230 generals in the armed forces, not including the police. The total is more than the entire US Navy, and the high ranking officers (over the rank of major) more than NATO.
The law creates the ministry of defense, that could be run by a civilian as well, even though this function is not entirely new, in two occasions in the past the secretary of the armed forces has been a civilian.

The change, if approved, is an improvement but should not be the final solution. We only need one general for each branch of service, and that should be the highest rank for two years, for the minister, before retirement.
Ideally, all DR armed forces should be condensed into just one branch, the DR national guard, with capabilities for air, sea and land functions.
The police should be demilitarized and split into two sectionals, one civilian, the other paramilitary, and sectioned off into sub-branches for each section of the country, and each city.
For example you could have the police of Zona colonial, the police of Arroyo Hondo, the police of Bani, and so forth.

Josean you always try to put the PLD goverment down no matter waht goods he does...what a sore looser..lol get a dam life!!!

General, in my opinion, you should be the only General, presiding over these botella types.

Generoso,

Yes, one General per branch is sufficient. The other changes you suggest would be an improvement. Having so many "Generals" has only allowed the black market to thrive in DR.

But until DR takes on with a strong long term investment plan towards education, we will continue to have many difficulties in professionally manning these positions. Having less of them will surely help as it's easier to get a few good candidates than 300.

if these changes do materialize, it will be a great start, in the right direction. the Dominican Government payroll has gone from 29 billion pesos in 2004, to 80 billion pesos, today. almost tripled!! government is the biggest employer in the country. add to that the reality that the DR ranks number 2 in the world in wasteful government spending, and you will see that a drastic need exists to reduce government overhead. now that the egomaniac has left the building, it is time for sanity to prevail, and for someone to run this country like a businessman would, but also being mindful of initiatives which will help elevate the poor.

This change was long overdue.

That's 260 with full benefits. Remind's of that old saying "Too many chiefs and not enough Indians".

Can someone tell me,
what was the last real military action undertaken by the Dominican Republic and when?

dreadlocks
I believe that Danilo will start by shrinking the governmental payroll, mostly of the high level botellas,since he has no other choice, where to get the money for the 4% for education.
That is the reason he has been so silent, is that the changes that are coming are humungous, that need a lot of citizen support, since he will be sending home a lot of people, including the bums in the diplomatic corps,
Savings of such measures will be reinvested, to provide jobs for the unemployed in different areas.
The changes in the military and inefficient and overcrowded police will also provide needed liquidity, for the new government.
PS: I will accept the post of defense minister, if offered, with a one peso a year salary, lol.

"Written by: JMONTILLA, 10 Aug 2012 9:07 AM
From: United States
Josean you always try to put the PLD goverment down no matter waht goods he does...what a sore looser..lol get a dam life!!! "


You just don't get it do you Moradito!

It’s those of us who constantly, point out the contradictions, corruption and hypocrisy of the political royalty that force, the PURPLE NARCOS you love and Defend so much, to move ever so slightly to do what should have been “HIT on the head with Brick” obvious to them 12 years ago!


PS

While I am looking for a "dam life" see if you can Find a dam BRAIN!!!!!

I have always been surprised that we have not had Field Marshals and a large number of Brigadiers but I had better keep quiet in case I put an idea in someones head . Roy I am quite happy to have a small armed force comprising navy and airforce and army ,,,times change these days so quickly , that I think a small mobile and mechanised force should be retained , so if the need comes , we still have some basic leadership

and nice posting from generoso ,,,but rather sorry that Dreadlocks puts generoso and Josean in the same basket ..or was he joking in his earlier description of Josean

says Generoso

PS: I will accept the post of defense minister, if offered, with a one peso a year salary, lol.

if you charged them, they could not afford you.

dreadlocks
Putting the uniform on is probably the highest ritualistic experience that any man could wish for. You feel empowered, different, serving a higher purpose, you sit up and walk straighter, talk with more measure and tone of authority, take care that the neatly pressed uniform, and that the shoes are clean, shining and perfect, even when undressing you are careful about storing it, and where you hang it.
That is the "esprit de corps" that has been lost in the DR, and the pride of belonging to the armed services. The soldiers duty is to serve, even with their life, for the honor of the country that they represent, not to take advantage of others, and abuse their power and respect, not to be above the law.
I saw a photo of the DR high ranking officers, honoring their boss, and it was a pathetic and even funny snapshot of a crowd of fat, pot bellied, out of sync, and physically disgusting bunch.

Written by: Ricardolito, 10 Aug 2012 10:48 AM
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
and nice posting from generoso ,,,but rather sorry that Dreadlocks puts generoso and Josean in the same basket ..or was he joking in his earlier description of Josean "


Do I detect a bit of jealousy?

The President is the first in charge, Dr. Jacinto Mañón. The seccond will be that chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the third, the three departmental Generals ( Chiefs of Staff.). The Minister of Defence only represents the president, holds no defense position or rank.

Dreadlock "Dominican Government payroll has gone from 29 billion pesos in 2004, to 80 billion pesos, today. almost tripled!! government is the biggest employer in the country. add to that the reality that the DR ranks number 2 in the world in wasteful government spending"

As long as DR continue to be run by liberals and not conservatives like in the past the trend of wasteful spending will continue with no end until we become just another Greece. Because of constant debts the country used to be invaded by foreign nation. The only time in our history where our finance was straighten out (counting out the turbulent years of 1961-1965) was between 1930-1978 by conservative Governments. The first liberal Government in modern time ( PRD)Antonio Guzman spent 1.47 Billion in just four year to the external debt and saw the Peso equal to the American Dollar jump from one to four. The next president Jorge Blanco destabilized the country so much that the country went almost into a civil war

"Written by: GoneNative, 10 Aug 2012 11:21 AM
From: Dominican Republic
The President is the first in charge, Dr. Jacinto Mañón. The seccond will be that chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the third, the three departmental Generals ( Chiefs of Staff.). The Minister of Defence only represents the president, holds no defense position or rank."


However, the one really in Charge is the one with the Money to Buy them ALL!

@josean. And looking at pictures of the Minister, he must have a lot of money, the rooineck.
How can these people call themselves soldiers? They are too fat to move, let alone march into war.
A general does not have a job for life, he has a job until death! (Old soldiers never die, they just fade away!)

Gonenative
The photo in the caption is old, these guys look fit. Find the newest one in the Listin, and you will be disgusted, the generals resemble the beginning class of the TV show "The biggest loser", all porkies, jumbos, slobs, fatties, elephant men.

The General in charge of AMET was a private in the U.S. Army. He came home and they made him a GENERAL!

Ciber

Are you kiddin ? If true he holds the world record on @$$ kissing or as they say "it's who you know".

vacanos, the reason why the payroll has gone up has nothing to do with conservative or liberal leanings. it has to do with a president that gave jobs to his friends, and relatives, and friends of friends. stop with this ignorance about liberals and conservatives. you watch too much Fox News. the Democrats were the only party to balance the US budget in recent times.

The government needs to extend this across the entire administration. Just get rid of 99 percent of the botellas!

Dread
You need to read my comment thouroughly then make an argument on it. I was commenting it on DR history. The record is there hasnt gone anywhere. In 1966 Balaguer was the first president after the civil war of 1965 to implement austerity programs that eliminated all unnecesary spending and reduced all gubernamental jobs salaries across the board including himself when he lowered his to $3,000 a year and did it again in 1986 after the collapse government of Jorge Blanco.

About your comment, why arent you giving the republican congress any credit for forcing Bill Clinton to sign the balanced budget they created that included welfare reform?

DaveB

Good point.

Big government doesn't create jobs which ='s more tax revenues.

Big gov. only creates more non functioning positions in all branches of gov.

Vacanos

Good insight.

Fox news gives one different prospective views on issues that effect all.....then one is able to decide for themselves. Does "Fair and balanced" mean anything any more ?

You must mean Fox SKEWS!

This is an over-inflated/staffed Army. We need to “beef up” the country’s law enforcement institutions in order to deter crime. (Soldiers are not law enforcement officers).

They are reduced in rank to colonels, maintain the pay level of general and are given 40 acres - 16 hectares of farm land.

You need to add “the mule”; which equals to one (1) tractor trailer (patana).

We don't even need the remainding 40 generals. In fact, we don't need an army!
What we need is a para-military force to guard our border and a Coast Guard to intercept druggers.
Nada mas!
There's absolutely no logic in supporting an army and navy, such as it is, with it's antiquated equipment and no clear raison de etre.
the money totally wasted, on this obsolete government folly, can be put into the educational fund we sorely need. ...I wonder how much of their GNP, the Costa Ricans invest in education!?

we don't need an army!
think u do need an army and police force,
but not like u have have u
at this time they bring their own wave to the people of the dr. these so-called police and army guys.

asks vacanos

About your comment, why arent you giving the republican congress any credit for forcing Bill Clinton to sign the balanced budget they created that included welfare reform?


why? because the President can veto bills, that is why. get the picture?

more rational good sense from RonEvane

There's absolutely no logic in supporting an army and navy, such as it is, with it's antiquated equipment and no clear raison de etre.
the money totally wasted, on this obsolete government folly, can be put into the educational fund we sorely need. ...I wonder how much of their GNP, the Costa Ricans invest in education!?

yes, Costa Rica seems to be doing quite well without an army, thank you.

i live in the florida keys, not one home or apt has bars around them, in face iam living here for about 11 years i dont lock my home up when i leave,
think its bull?
sorry for u and let me tell u some thing else it feels great to live this way,

dreadlocks,
I agree with your last comment. Moreover, I think the main problem of our military is that they don´t have a clear ¨peace time¨ mission. I believe that in order to justify their current existence they should downside and specialize in tasks like ¨search and rescue¨ and/or ¨disaster relief¨ . Or maybe something similar to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain and support our current infrastructure. Or they could become the enforcement and research arm of the environmental ministry. They could monitor the levels of pollution of our air, soil and waters.

Anything would be better than what they currently do.

Arcangel, i also could not agree with you more. that is exactly what they should be trained to do. come hurricane season, should we be struck, we should not be waiting for the Dolphin helicopters coming in from Borinquen, PR. our guys should be the ones doing the heavy lifting. outside of that, what is their purpose?

dreadlocks
The DR armed forces are called as a last resort for police action, in cases of upheaval, major strikes or civilian unrest, such as in 1984 after the signing of the IMF agreement, which shot prices up and depreciated the peso.
They also act as a "scarecrow effect" to control certain infrastructure works. Notice that in the toll stations there are army soldiers, not police. Also in power stations, dams, and so forth.
Costa Rica has a population of 4.5 million and an army of 7,000 without heavy weaponry.
The DR could very well function with a similar national guard, with air and sea capability of a total of 30K men.
Haiti had an army until the USA disbanded it, and there has never been any more peace and order there since then. True that they where coup d' etats and thievery, but when the army hit the streets, they calmed down, because they respected the army, and where afraid of them as well.

When the government of a poor country employs a large defense force, when there is no tangible external threat, and has a friendly super-power neighbor to call on, one must wonder who they are defending themselves from - their own citizens? In this case, not without good reason.

Soldiers, sailors an airmen risk (and often sacrifice) their lives believing they are defending their homeland, way of life, families and loved ones. They are not. They are defending their government. Occupying forces rarely mean harm to ordinary citizens unless they fight against them. Sacrificing one's life to one's government is almost as stupid as sacrificing one's life to one's imaginary friend in the sky - god or gods.

ARMY...
WHAT U NEED IS AN EDUCATION FOR THE YOUNG.
some amercian history.
thomas jefferson was a proponet of free public schools and education for all the people,alexander hamilton championed that only the wealthy should be educated, but in private schools. thomas jefferson won the debate.
until u get the education for the young
super heroes for the young will be the home made drug dealers.
choo choo train.
all aboard
WORLDS DUMBEST ARE GETTING DUMBER BY THE DAY.BUT AT LEAST THE DUMB HAVE A NICE CHOO CHOO TRAIN TO RIDE AND PRES LEO BUILT SOME NICE ROADS FOR THE DUMB TO RIDE ON.
CHOO CHOO TRAIN.

"WORLDS DUMBEST ARE GETTING DUMBER BY THE DAY.BUT AT LEAST THE DUMB HAVE A NICE CHOO CHOO TRAIN TO RIDE".......

........And the DUMBEST of them all, pay big bucks to buy a car at high interest rates, must maintain it regularly, pay annual fees for plates and registration, pay exorbitant insurance, @ $5.50USD per regular gallon of gas, risk life and limb fighting traffic on a daily basis, pay tolls, is liable to get hijacked or vehicle stolen, and a constant worry about finding parking, dealing with AMET, getting towed, etc, etc.

Are you SMART, Mr. Trotter?...Because, I may be real dumb to think this Metro makes sense. Please tell me why I'm being so obtuse!?....Por favor.

I really wonder about the officer’s promotions system in the DR. Here
in the States each promotion is “linked” to an academy or training requirement (OBC, Adv-course-CSC....). Same applies to promotions within the NCO (non-commissioned officers) ranks . Not to mention certain “unwritten rules “ such as time “down range” (deployments) and Skill Identifiers (SI), such as Ranger training/ Operations Forces training.

Guess what?, physicians have to go through the same process in order to get promoted to the senior ranks. My question is: How in the hell some of these “illiterate elite” (analfabetos funcionales )get promoted?. Do not get me wrong, we have especial programs in FT Benning, GA such as “Escuela de Las Americas”, and some of these guys had attended some of these “‘career advancement training”. But the fact is, the majority of these promotions are political.

RoyStone:
In answer to your question on 10 Aug 2012 at 10;29am . DR has never participated tn any conflict
abroad except the contingent to Irak when Hipo was President and it was under Spain's umbrella,
therefore no general would had valenteer for such action ,too coward. After Spain withdrew its commitment to Bush after the 3 R/R Stations were blown up in Madrid and its Prime Minister voted out,then DR presence went back home.It was more of a show piece as a proove of loyalty

Generoso 10 Aug 2012 at 10;34 am;
Absolutely If we could get rid of 90% or so diplomatic corps ,it will show tremendous savings.Don't
count on that since those botellas are already filled, before he takes over as the new President,as
repayments for helping him get on board.

Very accurate statement!!! these guys were just used to pulled guard duties on fixed installations. No combat role whatsoever. Until Spain pulled out. Basically, they augmented one of our NATO allies which had just recently admitted into NATO. DR will never be part of NATO!!!!!! SORRY...

Ricardito Aug10 2012 10;47;
What do you think those 1 sar generals are but Briggadier General?,commanding 5,000 men which is the size of a Briggade, So no more than 6 are needed,unless they have a back-up of 5 to a Brggade. You never know anything could happen in DR as well as admirals. instead of a commodore of light ships,where an admiral is when you have lots of heavy ships which is not the case.You are right ,don't give them any more ideas of grandious .As it is they have too many 4 stars Generals that never went to Military academy,they are there for the heffty pension and power.

GoneNative:
The Secretary of Defence is responsable for allocating required fundings for the Armed Forces,and usually is a professional Civilian and is a good administrator.

Ingles23 @5;04pm 8/23/2012;
Correct in every count, Also there is non commision officers that due to their time and knowlege
in service are given the title of "Warrant Officers "You will find those at head quarters mostly,in my days,
I know DR will never be part of NATO since they don't belong in Europe,but failed to mention what country was just taken in? Was it Turkey,Poland,,Zcheck Republic ?

Thanks for the info, Thelmo

as I suspected, these guys have no real defense role, other than perhaps to defend a corrupt government from its people should the day come (heaven and the church forbid) that they wake up?

Only 40 thieves and drug dealers left!

@jasfalon. Is the pun with the story " Ali Baba en the 40 thieves" intended or coincedence?
Alí Babá, un pobre leñador de Arabia, oye por casualidad a una gran banda de ladrones (cuarenta en total) visitando el escondite de su tesoro en el bosque en el que cortaba madera. El tesoro de los ladrones está en una cueva cuya boca queda sellada mágicamente: se abre con las palabras «Ábrete, Sésamo» y se cierra con «Ciérrate, Sésamo». Cuando los ladrones se marchan, Alí Babá entra en la cueva y se lleva parte del tesoro a casa.

"If we could get rid of 90% or so diplomatic corps ,it will show tremendous savings"

Ours is, obviously, a bloated, top-heavy, government that must redirect money from the ridding of parasites to where it will do the most good, namely: better salaries to teachers, "good" policemen, social services for the poor, (health care, family planning, job training,housing, etc.).

Because we're cursed with entitlement mentality, the ridding of "botellas" will be difficult for Medina.
He needs to do so quietly and stealthily so as not to alert the generals and cause a coup.

Medina needs to talk with Hillary about his intentions and secure the US's backing so he can rule fron a position of strenght and do what's logical and beneficial for the people at large.

The generals and perennial botellas, must be made to understand the futility of an uprising.They must be put in their place as servient to the people, not the other way around
.
If Medina's head and heart are in the right plac

"Medina needs to talk with Hillary about his intentions and secure the US's backing so he can rule from a position of strenght and do what's logical and beneficial for the people at large."

Good idea, however the US taxpayer is sick of funding freedom and democracy in other countries, so despite the worthiness of the cause, Uncle Sam may not have a mandate for US intervention in the Caribbean again. Likewise the uneducated deluded Dominican masses could easily be convinced that American intervention is against God, country and freedom. When the Hippo can get almost half the vote in a recent election, their stupidity cannot be over estimated.

"Likewise the uneducated deluded Dominican masses could easily be convinced that American intervention is against God, country and freedom."

True enough, Roy!
I don't mean an all-out "invasion" by US marines! I'm talking a covert complicity to deflate any potential move by those unhappy with radical changes in our government.
The CIA, DEA, UN, OAS, et al, can work together to secure a peaceful change in how we alter politics for the good of all, and set a precedent for good governance.

I think the whole world knows what afflicts us and what the solutions are. What is holding us back, is fear. Fear of getting deposed, assassinated or worse!! ....God forbid!