大理坡觀察者 | The Dalibor Observer
The Dalibor Observer is an independent, investigative broadsheet print and digital news organization based out of the nation's largest city, Yingu.
The organization reports mainly on national political and general news.
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15 September 4879
Various defense analysts, nation's military raise concerns about growing influence of foreign firms in police and military institutions
Since their arrival in our nation three years ago, many within the national defense and law enforcement communities have expressed concern about Broadshore's influence in both aforementioned institutions, remarking that their power could grow untenable - allowing for gross repeats of corruption or possibly far graver outcomes.
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by:
Colonel Han Song (DAFR - Ret.)
Senior Defense Analyst and Commentator
Dalibor has long had a history of ill-equipped police forces, a stagnant military, and corruption sowing inefficiency in both institutions. That much is on the written record. When strong measures against anti-corruption were passed by the nation's legislature it led to an unfathomable amount of arrests - vast groups of men that'd been in both the nation's law enforcement and defense agencies were suddenly swept out of their offices in handcuffs, and placed before trials by jury and military courts respectively. New, capable administrators filled the gaps that'd been created, and the later guidance and advice from foreign security and defense firms, namely the Broadshore Security and Defense Consulting Group that the Interior Ministry secured an indefinite contract with resulted in a steady rise in efficiency, a steady decrease in both violent and nonviolent crime, alongside better tactics and training being enlisted to our own armed forces.
But there comes a time where such a welcome is worn out. In just three years, said firm has, through various means and opportunities, exercised it's growing influence over these two institutions, much to the alarm of defense and law enforcement officials. Anonymous reports have trickled out, as they often do, and while the government denies their claims, the material is somewhat damning - made even moreso by some military staffers reaffirming their veracity. The latest findings are especially worrying - alleging that members of the firm and specifically the leader of their detachment here in Dalibor, Andrew Livingston, have through a network of bribes and simple intimidation, secured a web of kickbacks, assurances of personnel, and connections to the few corporations that have yet to fall under the axe of the government's regulation plans.
The most credible voice for concern on the matter has been General of the Army of the Republic, and the nation's current minister for National Defense, Luo Tai. He spoke at length during a limited press meeting about the possible dangers such wanton influence could entail - and urged the cabinet and the President to take effective action.
General of the Army of the Republic, Luo Tai wrote:While it is often the norm to question material that is anonymous, as it frankly should be, from my time spent as both a man of the army and within the cabinet, I know firsthand that these claims hold weight to them. The help of Broadshore has been gracious, there's no lie in that - But their influence into our institutions, which are supposed to be impartial and wholly unfazed by such idle threats made by unscrupulous forces, is cause for great concern. The images these reports paint are dire, and they absolutely require immediate action on behalf of the cabinet's justice ministries and a prompt investigation. I urge both my fellow members of the cabinet and the President to take immediate action against this grave issue before it ever has a chance to expand beyond our control.
Corruption is one thing - but the intent of unknown elements is another, owing to their wholly unpredictable nature. The specific mention of assurances of various defense and law enforcement personnel - what does that allude to? Assurances of what - Loyalty, silence? The possible ramifications are damning, and paint a picture of either blatant or willing ignorance on behalf of the government, very easily able to escalate into a scandal, breaking the carefully managed trust the Democratic Progressive League assured to its voter bases - which have been historically rigid, making their victories all the more astonishing.
However, another factor may yet come into play, and that is the matter of possible exploitation by the firm. Dalibor may be reforming itself, and has swept most issues underneath the rug, but the government is still in the process of strengthening itself - leading to weaknesses here and there. Ones that can easily be pounced on by skilled operators. Of course, as mentioned earlier, both the firm and the government itself have denied such claims, almost aggressively I might add. There's far more than scandals, a tarnished reputation, or the would-be mismanagement of state funds, although each of those issues are severe in their own right.
It's the integrity and sovereignty of the nation that may be at stake in the most gravest nature - and that is a most dangerous uncertainty.
General of the Army of the Republic and current Minister for National Defense Luo Tai speaks to a group of cadets at the Yingu National Military Academy last year. Recently, he has expressed concern about the growing influence of foreign security and defense contractors within the nation's military and police institutions, namely from Broadshore.