Tuesday, April 19, 2011

State Defense Forces: a Heritage Foundation perspective

James J. Carafano in the March 23, 2011 Washington Times hit the nail on the head regarding the usefulness of the 32 USC Sec. 109(c) State Defense Forces.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/23/carafano-small-answers-to-big-problems/?page=1

His information on the State of Alaska's SDF is a bit dated. The Alaska State Defense Force was disarmed by MG Thomas Katkus with the full authority and blessings of our Republican Governor Sean Parnell. It should be noted that this governor is the second governor to continue to diminish and the policy of an unarmed State Defense Force. The first governor to actually disarm and begin the diminishment of the ASDF was former Governor . . . Sarah Palin, that staunch 2d Amendment proponent.

The ASDF is losing people steadily. The goal of the Alaska Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs is to see the ASDF go away. The National Guard Bureau seems to be implimenting a pogrom against the State Defense Forces nationwide with a program to encourage the State Adjutant Generals to disarm their SDFs and to diminish their relevancy. The goal is a federal only disaster response. Seemingly, the feds do not want a state only military to exist.

The Alaska Republican Party platform plank regarding military force structure:

"C. We recognize Alaska’s strategic military location and unparalleled training opportunities and welcome the expansion of forces in Alaska, including our Active Duty, Reserves, Alaska National Guard, naval Militia, Coast Guard and Alaska State Defense Force."

Therefore, two governors, Sean Parnell and Sarah Palin, both Republican governors have acted to diminish and disarm the Alaska State Defense Force in the face of their own party platform's expression to the contrary.

Mr. Carafano's article is excellent, and accurate, if a bit dated where Alaska's SDF is concerned.