Region – RegioSec https://regiosec.com Regional Security Fri, 25 Nov 2022 08:10:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.7 https://regiosec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-logo512-32x32.png Region – RegioSec https://regiosec.com 32 32 Western powers in Russia-Ukraine war https://regiosec.com/western-powers-in-russia-ukraine-war/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=western-powers-in-russia-ukraine-war https://regiosec.com/western-powers-in-russia-ukraine-war/#respond Wed, 23 Nov 2022 21:00:05 +0000 https://regiosec.com/?p=2236

WESTERN POWERS IN RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR - 2 main mistakes of western countries

Western powers have a big role in Russia-Ukraine war. First and most important fact – there is no justification in attack to sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent country! There is no doubt. But in this war between Russia and Ukraine, there is a big (as a mountain) mistake in the western world, and we have to be aware of that.

Russia declared a special military operation on the territory of Ukraine for its own reasons. We can debate how good reasons are they or did Russia had the right to do that but we won’t. Many do that and if you want to read about it, you can easily find blogs and texts on that topic.

bombing_a_bridge

We believe that looking deeper into the reasons, there is a big mistake or mistakes made by the west that led to this scenario where the hardest blows are taken by Ukrainian people (and Russians too), but it has an impact on the whole world. Especially in underdeveloped countries. It is very hard to be in a position to influence the world, which western powers have, but there is also a big responsibility for the people of, in this case, Ukraine, but also every other country and its people, that are affected by this crysis.

Here is an alternative opinion on 2 main mistakes made by western powers that led to the escalation of the ongoing conflict:

Table of Contents

Bending the international law

This hasn’t started in 2022, or 2014. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, western countries, the EU, and NATO are trying to weaken the Russian impact in every corner of the world. And every time it is perceived as a fight for democracy although it was always a fight for the market and resources. But every time Russia wanted to get stronger and take some earlier power back it was perceived as a tremendous security risk for global security.

The bombing of Yugoslavia – 72 days of war between David and Goliath, wasn’t an attack on the territorial sovereignty of an independent and internationally recognized country, according to western media and politicians. Although the main goal was to take 20% of that country and give independence to separatists and terrorists! 

devastation_of_war_in_Ukraine

With no act in international law to give them the right to do that. But there is no law in security policy and international politics. It is, and has always been – MIGHT MAKE RIGHT!  Or, it will be as mighty countries decide. They decided to recognize an independence of a breakaway country with no law to back it up, and in that situation it was OK. It was, as they say even today, SUI GENERIS – or unique case.

The hypocrisy behind that words – SUI GENERIS is as big as the sun. Sui generis or the „unique case“ is a case where there is nothing in legal norms to back the decision and then they say „Yes, maybe it is slightly against the law but it is SUI GENERIS“. Can you see the comedy behind that words? It would be a comedy only if it doesn’t have an impact on so many innocent and poor people. There is no cost for the west that they will pay for their interest.

Devastation_of_war_in_Ukraine2

In the biggest challenge of 2022, the RUS-UKR war, „the west will fight against Russia until the last Ukrainian“. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time, and that is the main justification of Russian diplomats when talking about this „special military operation“.

The „Arab spring“ that took action in the second decade of the 2000s (after the mentioned bombing of Yugoslavia) was a series of actions, financed by the western countries to take down totalitarian regimes.

But the result wasn’t what expected. It led to chaos and regional unrest that continues to these days.

Tunisia is maybe the only country that has a positive outcome. Egypt has still a big problem with corruption (looking at the Corruption perception index it is in 117th place of 180 countries according to Transparency International) and that is also one of the better outcomes. Libia (172th’180), Yemen (174th/80), and Syria (178th/180) and that is only about corruption. There is still a pang of hunger, humanitarian catastrophe, and war going on. That shouldn’t be the legacy of western investment in democracy.

This is why the East isn’t satisfied with the western influence and attempts to spread western values.

The lack of diplomacy

Is there a logical answer to the question – Why do we need a war going on in the 21st century? Haven’t we evolved enough to understand that everything can be solved only when we respect the other side? And we keep electing ignorant people (and persons that put their interests as more important)  to lead us, and the most mature answer in most of the security policy challenges we get from China, a country that doesn’t have democratic elections. Isn’t that comic?

United_Nations

Western powers keep pushing their own interests regarding the message they are sending, but when someone else tries to use a similar logic – it’s not by international law. Especially in the case of Ukraine.

In every possible way, they said how NATO expansion to Ukraine was a security threat to them but no one wanted to listen. Western countries pushed Ukraine into open conflict with the other side being many times stronger and better prepared. And who is suffering? Ordinary people! Ordinary people in both warring states, and most of the world.

Leading people in those western countries are not standing for the people that they are representing. If they would be in concern for their people, this would be over after a few days. Smart leaders would find a way to end this global humanitarian catastrophe, and the main question is: WHERE IS DIPLOMACY HIDING?

The answers like „Russians wouldn’t talk“ or „They don’t want the end of the conflict, only the escalation“doesn’t really stick. Everyone has his own goals but negotiations have to be conducted! As much as it is hard to sit with the other side, it is essential to do it if you want this insanity to stop! Where the responsible leaders are hiding? Those who will step out and try to take it to the next level, where no one should die!

Yes, it’s hard. But hard only in a way that you should „suck it up“ and sit at a table to stop this crisis that affects the whole world. And I am certain that, if that happens, if leaders just stop measuring their muscles and start thinking about the greater cause and peace – everything is possible.

World_printed_on_hands_PEACE

In the end, as Eleanor Roosevelt said: Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. So why wouldn’t we start to discuss ideas instead of stubbornly sticking to the views we have?

„Be the change you want to see in the world“ – Mahatma Gandhi

]]> https://regiosec.com/western-powers-in-russia-ukraine-war/feed/ 0 Covid 19 and law enforcement https://regiosec.com/covid-19-and-law-enforcement/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=covid-19-and-law-enforcement https://regiosec.com/covid-19-and-law-enforcement/#respond Wed, 08 Apr 2020 19:00:42 +0000 https://regiosec.com/?p=1846

Covid 19 and law enforcement agencies during the pandemic crisis

Five biggest challenges

There is a tremendous influence between pandemic crisis of COVID 19, and law enforcement agencies. The fact that law enforcement agencies are one of the most important parts of the government after the health system, in a pandemic crisis like this in early 2020, we have to understand what are the mutual challenges of every country regarding the inner security of the state. The problem of quarantine, health self-protection, ongoing and new criminal investigations, reorganization, and civic disobedience are only some of many. The pandemic crisis is not very common, and unlikely other types of crises that law enforcement agencies deal with, this one is not short – we can say that it is a protracted crisis that can last for months. Here, we will try to identify interdependence between COVID 19 and law enforcement agencies, and 5 challenges for security and law enforcement agencies that have to be dealt with during the crisis and what is essential for them is that we have to conduct them in time – before they erupt and evolve from challenges to threats

  1. Lockdown / Quarantine

There is a big One of the least popular measures that the government can oppose but a significant number of countries have made this step, is a quarantine. One after another, countries have closed schools and universities, interdict sports and cultural events, gatherings of more than a specified number of people (depending on the country)… Many countries first imposed quarantine to people who were infected and with minor symptoms or the ones who were in contact with an infected person. That quarantine was between 14 and 28 days and for those who had no, or suffered minor symptoms, quarantine was a self-isolation. This also affected police forces, but we will come to that. Some countries, after realizing that it will be difficult to keep people in their homes, relying only on their common sense, reached out to a lockdown and curfew. 
Stay at home

This will additionally burden the law enforcement agencies that had little time to prepare and organize. Stucked with daily jobs and obligations these agencies now have to deal with controlling thousands of people in self-isolation and the whole population during the curfew. A big challenge that requires enormous effort.

2. Spreading panic/False news

Panic button

 

False news or misinformation is not a new phenomenon in the 21st century, but in a time of crisis, it can bring unrest and panic into the population, which can then result in a threat to the security. By addressing this problem we will stop, or at least reduce misinformation that leads to panic. Traditional media are not the problem – the problem rests in the social media. Social media is the place where everyone can write or share the information which we can use as a benefit but on the other had it can be an enormous problem for the public order. When some news, from a questionable source, is shared a couple of thousands of times, it gets more accepted and as adopted by readers, as the news from a recognized media company. This presents a major problem when the news is about the number of deaths, the number of infected people, deficiency of medical supplies, etc. 

The law enforcement agencies and different departments that deal with cybercrime, have to participate in finding the sources of that misinformation, especially if that misinformation can be a criminal act, and process it. Also, the government has to publish this effort and to notify the public of most of these processes, because in that way the citizens will have information about the false news, and they will be more aware of the existence of such information.

1.      3. Internet crime

Connected with previous, is internet crime. Sharing false news, and putting them in a context where people take them as truth is not a crime. At least not a big one. What we mean with this internet crime, is more like organized scams, and even pedophilia and other types of crime where predators lurk through the social networks and different forums, seeking for a victim. It is not yet proven, but we have to suspect that this kind of crime will unfortunately rise. Why? Most of the countries imposed measures like lockdown, quarantine, and curfew. These measures can raise the usage of home computers, the internet, social networks, forums, etc. If this is so than it is expected that this type of crime will also rise.

The bigger issue, if we look cybercrime, was presented by the Interpol, where they explain three very dangerous types of cybercrime in this pandemic crisis – Malicious domains, Malware, and Ransomware (read more)

Hacker

4. Guidelines for law enforcement agencies

Closed police station

The job of courageous people in law enforcement is to protect citizens from various threats and crime with prevention but also with bringing to justice of those who committed a crime. But to successfully do this, we have to know how to protect them. Men and women who are in constant contact with citizens and with each other. For that, agencies have to make a very important decision on how to protect their workers. And this is not only the equipment. Strict guidelines on how to act when in contact with an infected or suspicious person. Men and women who work in law enforcement have to keep the work even in these kinds of situations. They’re not as endangered as the ones in the health system but still – “in the first line”.

Secondly, reorganization and prioritization inside the agencies, because of two things

  • lack of people because of new assignments and prioritizing between departments (patroling, speaking with citizens and giving them directions, patrolling and checking the ones in self-isolation, etc),
  • minimizing the number of people in shifts (because of necessary social distancing regarding curtailment of infection).

Of course, this shouldn’t be done at the expense of the purview of law enforcement, and this is why it is so challenging.

5. The economic impact of a lockdown and quarantine

Many experts think that after this pandemic is over we will face another recession on a global scale, and this is not without arguments. The economy is slowing down, some companies are temporarily closed, and some are working but with reduced capacity. It would be extremely optimistic if we think that economy will exit this crisis without consequences. And, even though this is not an issue of the law enforcement agencies, if we look deeper we can predict social disturbing and unrest amid this situation. Governments are preoccupied with the current situation, but experts in law enforcement shouldn’t sit tight and wait for turmoil to come, and not only the riots but different types of misdemeanor and crime, violent and non-violent. The time after the pandemic crisis, some governments can be more challenging than the pandemic itself. For others, it will still demand commitment and expertise.

What are the biggest challenges for law enforcement will face

In the end, what can we learn from this situation?

Even though this crisis came unexpected and hit most of the countries, globally, we still have to learn from this. To get out this situation with some knowledge. First, we should never forget this situation as we did before. Governments should always keep in mind that this could happen. Law enforcement agencies, who are the foundation of security and safety of the country and its citizens have to have in mind the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and keep exercising with the knowledge from 2020. This knowledge should contain primarily from experience in reorganization and prioritization of work. This experience is valuable in every kind of crisis from time to time those agencies should train and conduct exercises and in that way stay alerted. With this valuable experience, we should be prepared to act before the challenge grows to be the threat.

In the end, we cannot forget international cooperation. Many countries were hit by the COVID-19 crisis and even though they had a similar situation, some of them experienced bigger challenges and diverse problems. With that in mind, it is essential to exchange experiences and knowledge because that is the way we will meet the next crisis a bit more prepared.

]]> https://regiosec.com/covid-19-and-law-enforcement/feed/ 0 COVID-19: Who is more responsible? Government or citizens? https://regiosec.com/covid-19-who-is-responsible-government-or-citizens/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=covid-19-who-is-responsible-government-or-citizens https://regiosec.com/covid-19-who-is-responsible-government-or-citizens/#respond Wed, 18 Mar 2020 18:54:11 +0000 https://regiosec.com/?p=1824

COVID-19: Who is more responsible? Government or citizens?

COVID-19

A new virus Covid-19 is not at our doorsteps anymore; it came into our houses and we all have to be serious and fight it together. It is a contemporary threat to the state that every one knows about today.  If we really want to blame the others, we will have plenty of time after we take a victory over this threat. We can, of course, say that China didn’t take proper measures at the beginning, but we also can say that neither Italy nor Spain did. Or any other country that has an immense problem with the virus today. But let us not. Or at least save it for better times.

The weakness of the countries, in these cases, is that they are led by politicians who, even when they want the best for the country, aren’t immune to thoughts of what impact the decisions will have on the party or the current government. If the government loses the trust of its citizens, every measure imposed by the government will be questioned, and that is the situation that has to be avoided.

We all have to be socially responsible today!

All citizens have to take measures in their micro-world. If we see our selves as responsible for our community, it will be easier for the government and state agencies to stop the spreading of the virus. Be the one who cares! Be the one who is going to change the world. Yes. The governments’ job is to protect us, but this fight is more about how every one of us can contribute to the fight. If government requests of every citizen who could be in touch with the virus, to stay at home, and 90% listens, it is not enough. That means that if 5000 people are requested to stay at home, and 4000 listens – 1000 won’t. That 1000 will get in touch with the next 5000 or more, and that is how the virus will still spread.

Most of us will probably be in contact with the virus. Some before and some later on

Some experts say that we have to expect that around 60% of people will be infected with Covid-19 at some point. If 7% of them need intensive care that is an enormous burden for any health care. Even the greatest ones. So the fight isn’t only to stop spreading the virus but to reduce the number of people who needs intensive care at every moment. To try to evenly deploy the ones who have the virus, over time. Let us all contribute to this fight! For every elderly person. For every person with a health problem that is dangerous if combined with Covid-19. For the feeling that we have contributed to the fight, and did our best to save people from our community. For the healthier surrounding; not only physical but mental as well. Let us not look for the guilty ones, but stand one next to the other and be kind and full of empathy.

Girl with the mask

In the end, who is responsible?

Comunity is everything

The responsibility is on every one of us. The government has to do its job and take measures to maintain public health, and to take care of every other aspect of its responsibility, but every one of us has the moral duty to help this fight and to commit to the community in every way we can.

After all, as Mahatma Gandhy said: „Be the change you wish to see in the world“. In these harsh times, only if every one of us does what is best for all, will make us beat this turmoil that will not be over when the virus is gone. The crisis that will probably occur after this fight is where we will see if we are matured and evolved as human beings to the level where we say we are.

 As we can see, there are many security challenges that are different than traditional threats. Although we have examples where some countires have these kind of threats on their doorsteps, we can say that most of the countries have to deal with other issues that involves contemporary security challenges. All this challenges and influence on certain countries we will try to explain and also we will strive to give answers to this threats. That is our goal.

Take care and be good – RegioSec 

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