A narrower thinks national security is all about police in uniform, boots and guns. A widener in national security takes a 360-degree look at security. This kind of person asks what are the security elements in health? What are the security elements in politics?
That is why there is a problem. Whenever someone talks about security elements in politics, he is perceived to be a politician.
There are things in politics that border on security. For instance, political violence borders on security. There is also national cohesion, which is brought about by politics.
So whenever security officers comment on anything that involves politics and borders on security, they are perceived to be partisan. So all this depends on how an individual politician perceives security.
If someone is a 'narrower', he will talk about police, chiefs and county commissioners being involved in politics. This person believes security is about guns, boots and uniforms.
On how officers in the security sector should conduct themselves when attacked by the political elite, there is only one way to go. Where I was trained in Israel, there is a saying, 'It doesn’t matter what the Gentiles are saying, what matters is what the Jews are doing.'
So, in this regard, security officers should simply ignore negative vibe by politicians because they will keep on talking and piling pressure.
People must appreciate that a police officer or a county commissioner enjoys discretionary powers. The moment you enjoy discretionary powers, you always become a subject of debate.
That is why now the Interior ministry, which enjoys discretionary powers, is always the subject of debate. A police officer has power to arrest, forgive and warn an individual. When they warn someone, people are likely to jump to the conclusion they have been bribed.
So anyone who has discretionary powers and decides what needs to be done when is always a subject of debate. The best way out is to ignore and continue to do what is good for the republic, not individuals.
The Israel-trained security expert spoke to the Star
(Edited by V. Graham)
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