If our government is starting to use a private merc company

[shadowknows69]

for our army and giving them lethal force authorization over us. Why can't we start a volunteer militia answerable only to state or even city officials or even a private organization? To provide security during times of crisis. Not a minuteman scenario but more of a "real national guard" with no reliance or alleigance to the US army (or blackwater) too tin foil?

[Roachman]

1. Just because they are mercs doesn't mean they are evil.

Wait a minute...

They take money for killing...

They obey no oath to the constitution or morality or justice...

Hmmm...

Ignore this post.

[sarcasmo]

2. The only reason this is being done.

Our Guard is spread to thin and they had no choice but to use Merc's.

[NYC]

3. Bring back the Guard.

Send the mercenaries overseas.

[Roachman]

4. I don't know...

Do you really think that's a good enough reason to use mercs?

Why not offer the money (On Democracy Now, I think they said it was about $350 a day) that mercs make and give to people whose expertise is in helping in this sort of situation instead of in, I don't know, torture and killing...

[bee]

5. of course ~we~ know thats the truth...

but * says Iraq had no effect of the NOLA quagmire at all. So then, does anyone know what *'s justification is for sending in the assassins? I mean, if we're supposed to believe what he says is true (which its not) then why the hell is black water there?

[Coastie for Truth]

6. Some states have a "militia" that is NOT the National Guard

It's a shadow, clone, or little sibling of the National Guard - but without the Federal money or Federal "recognition" (i.e., in times of conscription" - it "doesn't count."

In the states that have them -- used mainly for major disasters and for ceremonies.

NO PAY/NO RETIREMENT - It was described to me as "Like the volunteer fire departments and the ambulance corps and the auxiliary police, but with Army uniforms"

Motivation - camaraderie -- plus the opportunity to use the real National Guard firing range -- plus play with "expensive" toys (heavy construction equipment, the big snow belt snow plows, high powered radios, etc.) as in "The only difference between men and boys is the price of the toys."

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