Sunday, January 08, 2006

Why Not Just Fire Admiral Cain? (BG Spoilers)

The Corner discusses why, on the season premiere of Battlestar Galactica, the President doesn't just fire Admiral Cain, rather than urging Adama to kill her. I believe that the reason for this is that the 12 Colonies follow a Turkish model of civil-military relations, rather than an American model.

It is apparent from the context of the show that President Roslyn is not the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. As the head of state, she is empowered to give the military broad direction. She could ask Adama to change a policy or to take an action, and he would give her views due consideration. She can declare war or make peace, and in this the military is obliged to follow the civil government (note that the military did not press the war against the Cylons even though the peace was obviously just a breathing space for the Cylons to rebuild overwhelming power). However, it seems that the military and civil governance maintain separate spheres of power relations - and that the military has the upper hand on most questions, not the civilian. As in the Turkish model, the professionalism and civic spirit of the military forestall abuse of the system and prevent a military dictatorship.

Americans often forget that our model of ultimate civilian control over military questions is not the only viable model. I believe it is the best model - it would be a lot harder for us to fall into a military dictatorship than it would be for Turkey to do so - but the Turkish system works well, too. Under the Turkish model, the culture and training of military officers becomes very important in ensuring the existence of a relatively free state.

And Battlestar Galactica does explore that issue, in the interstices between exploring free will vs. determinism, atheism versus a creator God, and good vs. evil. Which is one reason among many that it's the best show on television.

Update: Welcome NRO readers. Look around, lie on the furniture, kick the cats. Make yourself at home.

Update 2: Welcome readers from SailorBob.com. As I can't read your forum, not being a naval officer, I have no idea what the link there says; I am praying to God that it isn't "hey, check out what this complete idiot has to say". Go Navy!

4 comments:

Gahrie said...

I tend to agree with you. In fact, that's the explicit deal Adama makes with Roslin at the end of the mini-series: "You'll be in charge of the fleet, military decisions stay with me."

President Roslin never orders Commander Adama to do anything, she asks and persuades him. When Adama is shot, and Col Tigh takes command, Roselin makes no attempt to remove Tigh from command, even when he declares martial law and has her imprisoned.

It certainly appears that the military has much more independence from civilian control in BG than in the US.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Is it entirely clear that Admiral Cain isn't being bad-mouthed by a Cylon infiltrator - her own XO?

Gahrie said...

1) You haven't watched enough.....they aren't from earth.

2) Their problems aren't a product of the military-industrial comples, they're the fault of a fifth column infiltrating and undermining their military and society. The crucial traitor was a scientist, not a businessman, and he was after fame and prestige, not wealth.

3) The only thing the current series has in common with the original series are the names. The series has absolutely nothing to do with exo-squad.

Don't look now, but your ignorance is showing.

teh l4m3 said...

Nitpick:

"The crucial traitor was a scientist, not a businessman, and he was after fame and prestige, not wealth."

Actually, they took advantage of his being after some leggy, blonde Cylon trim.