FOCUS ON REAL ISSUES

Re: “PM defends weapons budget”, (BP, July 2).

To get the most value for taxpayers’ hard-earned money, we should follow one of Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which goes, “Begin with the end [goal] in mind”. That is, before we start any task, consider what’s needed to reach the desired objective. For the military, as PM Prayut notes, “[The military’s] mission is to protect the nation’s sovereignty along the borders, and we have to be prepared for any skirmishes or fights, no matter if they will happen or not.”

So, our first job is to determine which of our borders might be endangered, the type of danger, and what’s needed to suppress the foe.

Historically, we’ve fought only Burma and Japan, and nobody thinks we’ll do so again over at least the next decade, nor are there any other potential adversaries on the horizon.

That leaves only our southern unrest and seaborne smuggling, which is where we should focus our efforts and spending. The southern violence is a guerrilla action, relying mainly on intelligence from the locals — not conventional warfare.

So, we don’t need F-16s, but more work to win hearts and minds. Tanks are worthless to fight roadside bombs — but we must be more attentive to local needs in education and agriculture, putting locals in charge at the provincial level.

To combat smuggling, we need coastal patrol ships and aircraft, not submarines or landing craft — so that’s where funds should go.

PM Prayut, begin with the end in mind.

Burin Kantabutra