Abstract

Scandals of the State Militias

By executive order dated January 18, U.S. President George Bush authorized the Secretary of Defense to mobilize up to 1 million soldiers in the Ready Reserve, which includes the Army National Guard. Twenty-four states have set up staff and cadre for defense forces and several have attracted a motley group of neo-Nazis, survivalists, former mercenaries, militant anti-communists and violent felons. In each participating state, the governor holds ultimate command responsibility, though according to a National Guard Bureau regulation issued by Army Headquarters, each defense force must co-operate with federal military authorities and forces engaged in active military operations or charged with internal security missions within the State.