The deadlock is so intractable, and the mistrust so deep, that the entire process of adapting the military to a changing world is at risk of paralysis.
One reason for the deep-rooted public mistrust which, until now, has blocked privatisation in Ecuador is that some of privatisation's political backers have a long history of using public policies to promote private interests.
But mistrust runs so deep on all sides that even the prelude to the negotiations has been a study in the kingdom's divisions and suspicions, and suggests a difficult route toward any possible accords.
The local community health council CHC has warned in its consultation response that there was "a clear mistrust" of the health board by the public and deep misgivings about the willingness of managers to take account of consultation responses.