From: john grigg (starman125@hotmail.com)
Date: Mon Mar 20 2000 - 14:25:40 MST
Mike Lorrey wrote:
Given a contest between the 1 million armed infantry soldiers the US Govt
could field if it called up all National Guard and reserve units, and the 80
million gun owning individuals and/or households, I would bet on the people.
(end)
This is an interesting subject to consider and not just for the U.S. but
other nations. If a U.S. president or general were to make a 'bid for
dictatorship' for whatever reason, first of all I don't see all or even many
of U.S. troops following them. With perhaps the exception of some sort of
major national disaster. But then many troops would want to go home and
watch out for their families.
But please keep this in mind. If not in the U.S. (and it could) then
elsewhere, a military can terrorize and keep under control a much larger
general population. Mobile and highly trained units of various types could
be kept on standby to strike at population centers that get out of hand for
local police. A government that does not care about casualties (and the
populace knows this) could be held in check by the fear of facing these
forces.
In your scenario the whole nation is up in arms against the unlawful use of
military force. In this case even our military would have a nearly
impossible time, even if it were loyal to some maniac (highly unlikely).
But if a initial act of terror cowed the general populace into submission,
then with mobile and heavily armed forces you can keep the populace in line
and defeat what generally weak resistance will come. Mechanized infantry
backed by air support would mop the floor with a group of untrained
civilians trying to put up a fight.
But of course when you have guerilla warfare going on then it is much harder
for a military to focus its power on anything substantial. I am thinking of
insurgencies in places like Latin America. I hope we never witness such
things in the United States. I remember hearing a reporter once say how he
found it amazing after having travelled the world, that the U.S. could have
transfers of power without armed revolution and tanks surrounding the White
House.
sincerely,
John Grigg
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