BAC Ambiguity Case Study

The stories of the former members of the BAC speak of an operational environment in which the patrolling activities to create a secure and stable environment interlinked with the sensitivity and compassion over the suffering of the Haitian people. Their stories clearly show how performing efficiently their role as blue helmets implied an ambiguity between the soldier role and the variety of civic actions that in the end they carried out to avoid the use of force. The military were seeking professional recognition in a complex domestic scenario marked by the processes of democratization and demilitarization. Although the civic actions gave them a positive self-image, more in keeping with the “Argentine” way of being, that is, kind, generous and compassionate, it also reinforced the image of the “civilian” soldier, which they saw as a threat. Additionally, the operational flexibility contributed to the ambiguity that challenged the traditional warrior role. They sought recognition as military professionals, and were against the civilianization of the armed forces.

Ten years after Haiti, the accounts of the former Argentine blue helmets still show the need to clarify and resolve the ambiguities and inconsistencies of that invasion of civic traits in their military functioning, linking their experience in Haiti to their
In their case, the civic actions are seen as crucial to the effectiveness of the mission, and are included in the doctrine of military intelligence under the name COSACO operations. The latter are a form of psychological operations that uses strategies of communication and assistance to “reach out to” the local population. Therefore, in their accounts the peace mission is interpreted as a military operation, and seen as an opportunity to boost their professional careers as leaders of combatant soldiers, even though the latter use words instead of