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Rules of engagement
Introduction
Always referred to as ROE, the rules of engagement are internal directives that are given on the conduct and behaviour in a military. They give a directive on the conditions, manners of use, how to use force when to use it and also the amount to use according to the circumstances. The rules of engagement are used to gauge whether there was excess use of force on civilians. At the same time, it also gives the people in service the ability to decide on when to use the force to protect themselves, property and others around them (Boyer). It offers guidance to the people in the service and gives commands to the officers on how, when and how much force to use. Some see it as rules that dictate methods of achieving a result by giving indications and rules on how to work to achieve that target. The rules of engagement are used widely and daily in their work to ensure they have a way of gauging their performance and also a directive to ensure they are successful in their missions and roles.
The Waco happening
In 1993, a siege happened in a compound that was owned by Branch Davidians, which was a religious sect which was led by the united states military in collaboration with the Texas law enforcement and also the American federal. The siege was carried out on suspicion that they had illegally owned guns and it led to the agency getting a search warrant and also warrants of arrest for the leader and his subordinates. On trying to serve them with the warrants of search, there was an intense exchange of fire, and the results were 10 deaths, six from the cult members and four from the agents of the government. There was a 52days siege after the ATF failed to execute the warrant of search and it led to an assault by the FBI. The attack was a teargas one which was believed would lead the cult members out. It resulted in a fire in the ranch and deaths of the members, children and also the leader himself.
The approach used by Eriksen
According to Eriksen, there is a need to control the amount of power and authority that is given to individuals. The need to control the power and its use is concerning the theory by Durkheim, where he feels that there is a powerful force that is exerted on individuals by society (Cohen and Erikson). Lack of control on this force is dangerous as it will make people live in a lawless community. Going by his belief, many things make up for the understanding of the behaviour of the world. The issues of the beliefs, values, and norms have a huge role in determining the behaviour and running of the world. These aspects bind the people in the community together, and it leads to a social integration where people become social beings.
Application of Eriksen approach
Despite the siege being seen to have been in the benefit and consideration of the good of the community, it led to the deaths of many innocent people, some of them unborn children (“IN 1895 Emile Durkheim Wrote a Book Called The Rules of Sociological Method Which Was Intended as a Working Manual for Persons Interested in the Systematic Study of Society”). The government expects to have support for their actions as they may claim they were doing so to protect their citizens and also as a reaction to the first approach which led to the 51 days siege in the ranch.
Critique of the approach
There are sometimes when the government takes actions based on the reaction and the reception they get. The first approach led to the deaths of the people in service. There are occasions where the use of power cannot be limited to the desires and wants of the people. It may lead to the deaths of people, but it is sometimes the only way they can achieve the results they want.
Works cited
Boyer, Julie. “‘Wayward Puritans: A Study in the Sociology of Deviance’ by Kai Erikson.” Crime & Punishment, 24 Mar. 2015, julieboyerbee.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/notes-on-the-sociology-of-deviance/. Accessed 17 Nov. 2020.
Cohen, Stanley, and Kai T. Erikson. “Review of Wayward Puritans: A Study in the Sociology of Deviance.” The British Journal of Criminology, vol. 7, no. 3, 1967, pp. 346–348, www.jstor.org/stable/23635034?seq=1. Accessed 17 Nov. 2020.
“IN 1895 Emile Durkheim Wrote a Book Called The Rules of Sociological Method Which Was Intended as a Working Manual for Persons Interested in the Systematic Study of Society.” Www.Radford.Edu, 1966, www.radford.edu/~junnever/articles/wayward.puritans.htm. Accessed 17 Nov. 2020.