I was watching General Kimmit's briefing this morning and heard him say this:
"We have a very strong policy and a very direct policy towards militias. Militias are inconsistent with a democratic and sovereign nation with a central government." (link - this statement is just past half way down:
http://www.dod.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040405-0579.html)
That statement stuck in my mind all day. I thought the US was in favor of building Iraqi militias to help the US soldiers in the "fight against terrorism". I went through my archives and sure enough, I found this article from the December 3, 2003 USA Today:
U.S., Iraq consider new militia
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi political parties and coalition authorities are discussing the creation of a 1,000-member militia to bolster the U.S. military's fight against a guerrilla insurgency, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Wednesday.
The militia would be formed by uniting fighters from five Iraqi political parties under the joint leadership of the U.S. military and the emerging Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, American officials in Baghdad and Washington said on condition of anonymity.
<snip>
If created, the paramilitary battalion would represent a significant policy reversal by Washington. The United States previously declared private militias illegal and called on Iraqi political leaders to disband the groups.
link:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-12-03-iraq-council_x.htmThe Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines "militia" as "a : a part of the organized armed forces of a country liable to call only in emergency b : a body of citizens organized for military service".
So, is an Iraqi militia a good idea? Was it a good idea at one time, when the CPA thought they could control it? Who does a militia take their orders from? Who arms them? Who do members of a militia owe their allegiance to? Can a citizen join and leave a militia at will? Can people who are not citizens of the country in question serve in a militia? Are militia members accountable for their actions under any law? If a citizen acts as a member of a militia can they be prosecuted for murder and other crimes committed on behalf of their militia? Are the civilian "contractors" from Blackwater really a militia?
The Second Amendment says "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." How does that jive with General Kimmit's statement that "Militias are inconsistent with a democratic and sovereign nation with a central government."? If Kimmit speaks for the US policy, does that mean the Second Amendment is obsolete?