After March 9, the Government emerging from the ballot box can and must address the security and defense problems our country is experiencing. The state of affairs of our Armed Forces and the strategic milieu we face will demand that the new Government take at least ten measures during its first one-hundred days. We at GEES consider that the measures should include the following:

 

1. The repeal of the Organic Law of National Defense is necessary for several reasons: firstly, because it was passed without consensus. Secondly, it is an obsolete law, which goes against the Armed Forces and national interest. It also it denies JEMAD the operational control of forces – which goes against the agreement currently applied globally. Finally, it renounces the current and dynamic concept of security and defense, and it is necessary to propose a new one.

 

2. The Military Career Act must be repealed, because it was introduced without waiting for a consensus between society and political parties. It contemplates an extremely controversial all-body resizing and a modification of promotional rules, in detriment of all segments, without considering the consequences. Furthermore, it weakens and degrades military education.

 

3. The abolishment of the National Defense Council must take place. It is an institution under the direct command of the Defense Minister, and is as ineffective as the previous National Defense Board.

 

4. The dissolution of the Military Unit of Emergencies is also extremely important. It is an illegal and illegitimate fire brigade created to glorify this Administration’s Prime Minister. It enjoys power above the Law of National Defense, and outside the military command structure. Moreover, it takes away four thousand necessary soldiers from the military forces. 

 

5. They must put an end to performance restrictions on our Armed Forces stationed overseas, thus ending the submission of the Spanish troops’ presence to the approval of the U.N. Security Council. Also, since it requires parliamentary authorization, the Government eludes its own constitutional responsibilities and reduces the speed, flexibility and operational capacity of our troops to respond.

 

6. These measures also must include the creation of a National Security Council. It is essential to have a permanent body, subordinate to the office of the Prime Minister for decision-making regarding security and defense issues. It must coordinate and prepare policy and be able to resolve any crisis. This body would coordinate and secure the cooperation among diverse administrative agencies and ministerial departments, including Foreign Affairs, Defense and Interior Ministries.

 

7. There must be an elaboration of a National Security Strategy; a document assembling the criteria and objectives of security policy and Spanish defense with the Prime Minister as the top commander in charge of this policy. The Minister of Defense, by delegation of authority, will be the person in charge of executing this policy as well as of the military administration. This strategy must address the need of preemptive action in certain circumstances.

 

8. It is imperative to begin the enforcement of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, in Lebanon, where our soldiers were sent under the absurd promise of carrying out a peacekeeping mission – one that has never been neither clear nor realistic. In a hostile environment, our Blue Helmets have to assume the responsibility not only to pursue those who are a threat to security but also to carry out Hezbollah’s disarmament.

 

9. There must be an increase in our presence and commitment in Afghanistan and with NATO. There should be an end to the restrictions imposed by the Government regarding the use of military force beyond our borders – the so-called caveats – that undermine our performance. The success of the mission is paramount not only for thousands of people in the country, but also for the Western world.

 

10. It is also vital to increase the Defense budget. It is necessary for future objectives. In addition to the increase, the budget also requires better management.

 

©2008 Translated by Miryam Lindberg