| Summary: | The disparity between strategic aspirations and affordable resources is a strategic<br />reality confronting all militaries. Strategic aspirations tend to be international and<br />foreign policy in orientation, whilst resource decisions are made in the context of the<br />domestic political domain. Both these decision environments or realities may<br />severely affect military forces as was dramatically illustrated recently by the military<br />episode in the Central African Republic. The ordeal, in which fifteen South African<br />servicemen were killed, not only brought South Africa’s strategic aspirations in the<br />spotlight; it also highlighted a range of perceived South African political, military<br />and operational deficiencies. Some consider this to be South Africa’s Srebrenicamoment<br />and an opportunity for military strategic, operational and institutional<br />introspection.
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