Hi Matarr:

I hope you don't mind me jumping into the fray since this message was posted
for Buharry.  But this topic has piqued my interest.  Your level of
frustration with the farcical regime we have back home is echoed by the
majority of this forum.  In fact, this same strategy crossed my mind before
reality hit me smack on the forehead.  This thought of mine was a mere
fantasy that I had spun.  A means to an end that would be very difficult to
put into action.

Before we go into the pros and cons of this strategy, I would like to ask a
simple question that you folk might not want to answer: How do intend to put
this plan into action, and how will you garner the logistics to carry out
such an operation?  Our country is surrounded on all sides by Senegal, with
the exception of the Atlantic ocean.  For diplomatic reasons, our neighbors
will surely not let anyone stage an offensive on their cousins next door from
their shores.  This leaves two options: Either a seaborne offensive or an
internal uprising.  Both these options would be suicidal at worst and
laughable at best.

To add, there is alo the logistical issue.  How on Earth do you plan to get
the funds, equipment and manpower to run such an operation?  Unless, you plan
to fight with cutlasses, knives and spears, the cost for the ammunitionand
equipment required for such an assault would run into the millions.  Sadly,
unlike countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia, we do not have diamond and
gold rich areas that, if captured, could sponsor a short term war.

And then there is the  very important issue of tactical planning.  The GNA
will have to be engaged on all fronts at the same time.  A small invading
force cannot afford to attack on one front and consequently risk being
outflanked or surrounded by a more well armed and numerical superior force.
On the other hand, I have no doubts that the slightest hint of an internal
conspiracy to either overthrow or fight against the current regime will be
met by overwhelming and merciless force by the current regime.

OK, though the prospects of an armed revolution are slim, I will give you the
benefit of the doubt and assume that this strategy is possible.  Let's deal
with the pros and cons of such a strategy: First, aside from the
pre-independence struggles that most of Africa want through, there has never
been a "truly successful" armed conflict.  From John Garang's struggle
against the ruling Muslim oppressors in Sudan to the conflict against Morocco
in Western Sahara, wars in Africa have left a legacy of human suffering.
Human displacement, starvation, economic despair, malnutrition are just a few
of the terrible afflictions that have befallen the victims of civil wars.
Well, my friends, our country is a lot smaller and much more economically
fragile than most countries.  Consequently, a civil war would undoubtedly
have disastrous consequences.

Matarr's article outlined the reasons why an armed struggle by any means
necessary is the only way to reverse the horrible fate that has befallen poor
Gambia.  And also quotes Benjamin Franklin to make a point.  Nevertheless,
the people back home, as evidenced by the events of late, stood up for their
liberties and paid the ultimate price for it.  Furthermore, an armed struggle
would definitely be the antithesis of Franklin's statement, because would
surely suffer a worse fate than losing their basic liberties during the
duration of this hypothetical war that is the result of an overly active
imagination by some of our contributors.

My two cents on this issue is that we have a bunch of people  here blowing a
whole bunch of hot air.  I don't even think most of you have ever fired a
gun, looked down the barrel of a gun, or lost close friend due to gun
violence, unlike some of us.  But now you say that you want revolution!  Yes,
the present regime is barbaric, but their barbarism does not mean that our
people have to suffer the terrible consequences of a civil war.  There are
other alternatives to this strategy!!

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