Caucasus Region as a Place Full of Political Tension and Insecurity - Essay Example

Oil, natural gas and deposits of rare metals in the region are the main attraction for the world powers. Azerbaijan needs help to modernize its oilfields, production of which has fallen from 8% of the USSR total in 1965 to 0.

6% by 1988. The estimated reserves estimated in Azerbaijan are 240,000 billion dollars (Atlas, p86-87). Nine million emigrants in USA and Syria is another asset. Her other main problems are Nagorno Karabakh (N.K). Armenia is over-dependent on imported energy and raw materials and fought a full-scale war on N.K with Azerbaijan in 2003 and this issue dominates national life in both countries (Atlas, p74-75). The USA has a good opposition unity to help resolve the issue of N.K. and win the appreN.K.tion of both countries.

She can also increase her exports of raw materials to Armenia, thus economically influencing the latter. There is a war and politics for oil and mineral resources and all players are applying military components according to the demands of the situation. USSR has not given up its struggle to regain influence in the region. Iran is yet another silent player. But South Azeri People’s Army (SAPA) created problems in northwestern areas where the emergence of an independent state is in offing. This State of “Ahurastan”, comprising northwestern Iran and western Azerbaijan, has a revolutionary anti-American and anti-West agenda. 

It may challenge Azeri's claim over the Caspian Sea area and can disrupt the oil exploration process in the region. From this perspective, the task of the military component is enormous and challenging. A UN soldier with the mandate of peace the eeping has to give top priority to the following issues.1. Protection of oil pipelines, especially BTC, and bridges from blowing up by SAPA. Such sabotage acts harmed the economies of the regional countries a lot in the past. They publicly condemn US support efforts and have waged a propaganda campaign against ‘American’ presence in the region. 2. Protection of oil exploration ships of the West, Azerbaijan, and Turkey in the Caspian Sea from these revolutionary forces.

who also challenges Azerbaijan's claim to a portion of this sea3. Keep watch over the military activities of radical forces in “Ahurastan” and keep them within limits, using strategic and direct methods. Should have full preparation and strategy for armed conflict with these forces. Winning peace after war or a war-like situation like this is the most difficult of all tasks. For this National Command Authority is obliged to give a well-thought-out end-state with definite termination criteria to the Theater Military Commander (web, Soucy & Shwedo).

In the instant case, for a member of a peacekeeping force e the following Course of Action (COA), is to be followed which would redeem him in his uphill task.1. First of all a UN soldier has to offset the popular resentment of his presence of foreign land. The political leadership of the international community and Public Relations The epartmeRelationss unit can help him in this context. Prominent media men of the region may be contacted in some way and briefed accordingly.2. He has to make his military strategy compatible with local policies.

He must realize that by and large reactionary forces come into being due to conflicting foreign interests. 3. He should practically assume the role of the peacekeeping force and not pose as superior to the local forces. Help in public works and the development of infrastructure can win the confidence, heart, and mind of the civil society and the common man.4. He should study and understand the local culture and respect the religious and behavioral trends of the local people. 5. He should prompt his political leaders to corroborate initiatives on the war front.

Russia particularly needs to be further convinced that the US presence in the Caucasus is “no strategy” against them, as once admitted by Putin on record (web; Waal). 6. Should develop a network of human intelligence to keep in touch with the day-to-day everyday-to-day military point of view. 7. He should not assume an aggressive posture to initiate war at any cost. He is, however, obliged to remain at the highest level of preparedness to handle any crises arising unexpectedly, apparently out of nothing. Under the “war for peace” formula, strategic planning for full-scale war should be in place in case of demanding ground realities. 8. In case of armed conflicts he should ensure to fight back only the war forces and avoid civilian casualties and human rights violations.

War crimes can irreparably tarnish his public image, not only locally but internationally as well, due to awakening global media. The end state of peace without compromising on principles or showing weakness to opponents could be achieved only by the simultaneous application of all three components of the strategy. None of them should be applied in isolation lest it should be counterproductive. It should be a “three in one” package. Political manoeuvering with economic support accompanied by an option of use of military might as a last resort, will work and give the desired results.