Is it just me or does it bother anyone else to see "patriots " in military camo when they never served in the military.
I was in the Navy a long time ago but I feel uneasy wearing "jarhead" gear because it is something you need to earn the right to wear. I was never in country and while i went into harm's way nobody was shooting at me at that time.
Someone gave me a boonie hat that were worn by LRRP's guys when I was in and I tried it on to be polite but haven't worn it since.

I spent 24 years in the US Army, all of it in combat arms. I'm entitled to wear the Combat Infantryman's Badge on appropriate occasions. Most of the guys in these militia organizations seem to be people who never had what it takes to volunteer for military service where they might actually have to put their lives on line for the nation. Doing this sort of crap makes them feel all manly and important, but, as the article points out, what they are mostly doing is chasing down people who are tired, hurting and dehydrated, and then abusing them once they catch them. We used to have a term for people who beat up on people who can't fight back, and it wasn't a nice term at all.

You will have noticed, haven't you, that none of these militias are offering to go over to the Middle East and help the Kurds fight ISIS? Says a lot, right there.

Amen Blaketin, been thinking the same thing, wondering where they were at protecting a friend of mines Ranch & the keyston XL trampled over her families land here in NE Texas, they seem to be missing from the real stuff, Love to see them standing beside the brave women in Kurdish army protecting the Exxon & Chevron oil leases north of Erbil, but that;not going to happen. Just bitch & moan, 16 years of Bush as Gov & President & the border has never been shut, because the the people making money from Mexican labor fund a political party. Thanks for your Service Blake.

Blakektn, first of all, thank you for your service. And second of all, you nailed by saying why aren't all these "patriots" over in the Middle East aiding our troops and the truly oppressed. The answer? Because they will only pick a fight against a weaker opponent. Thank you again for your service and honesty.

Exactly. Very well-said. My father served 28 yrs. He was in the Air Force. As a forward radio controller during the Vietnam War, he saw his share of action. I can only imagine the disdain he'd have for these clowns.

So how do you feel about the militiamen who fought for your freedom 238 years ago. They, by your definition, didn't deserve to wear the uniform either.

The militiamen who fought for my freedom 238 years ago fought against a superior force, not a weaker opponent. They fought the might of the British Army not a bunch of unarmed or poorly armed people suffering from dehydration and fatigue.

They fought superior numbers, that is all, not superior forces or weapons for that matter, our militiamen were farmers, blacksmiths, and bakers. Regular people who loved their country so much that they didn't need to "earn" the right to wear a specific type of clothing to fight for it.

At the time, it wasn't their country. It belonged to the East India Trading Company, under charter from Parliament and King George. And to the people who were living there before they immigrated....

Ignorance or freedom. Choose one.

Actually it belonged to my Cherokee and Choctaw ancestors prior to any European settlers setting foot on this continent. You can't even be a smart ass correctly.

And my Iroquois forbearers. I agree with you completely.

Check your history, Americans fought with superior weapons with effective ranges 3 times that of the British Regulars. They did not wear the bright red target like uniforms they wore plain clothes and employed tactics the British never saw before. They fought superior numbers only. The British commanders were not intelligent or cunning, they assumed that they could win with numbers alone. This is arrogance and inferior to American commanders. The regulars rifles were severely outdated with an effective range of less than 50 yards, American rifles averaged 200 yards. We were the first to attach sighting devices to rifles for better accuracy at range. The first gatling gun was invented by an American because of that war. If they were so superior to us how did they lose???

What does that have to do with running down exhausted people near death and killing them? The people coming here from Mexico and Central America are just looking for the jobs you don't want. They add to our economy, they don't take away from it. What our forefathers did in the American Revolution is no excuse to bully the helpless people and children coming across the Mexican border.

We run them down and kill them because what they do is illegal. They might be Mexicans, or they might be Yemen or Syrian terrorists, or Zeta drug cartel terrorists. You think it is the "right of mankind" to cross any border they wish just for a job??
Go to the Russian border asshole, and see what they think of you crossing illegally into their country. Write to me from the gulag in Siberia in which you will most likely die....LOL:))

Enjoy your laugh now. I hope you enjoy as much the running down you will experience on your last day when you meet your Judge and Maker. He is there and He demands justice in service of his command to love your neighbor.

Because France sent money and troops. Ever learn about General Lafayette? That and a 3,000 mile logistics tail.

We also celebrate Pulaski Day in IL, a Polish general who served the US army. The French didn't offer any help until we started to turn the tide of war. Benjamin Franklin was the diplomat that finally convinced France to help us. This was around 2 years before the end of the war. And let's not get overly excited about the French. Do you know why all the streets in France are lined with trees?

I think you're just showing off. You're not making any good reasons for the Border Patrol volunteers to hound the helpless people they chase.

We also fought Prussian Regulars who were some of the best soldiers in the world. To the point where when we won our Independence we went and hired Prussian Soldiers to train our Regular army.

Even still, there were multiple times we did almost lose to numbers. And that is still with using Asymmetrical warfare tactics against an enemy who has never seen it. And lets not forget that from 1776, a year after Lexington, the war was in essence a proxy war between Britain and France. The only French Naval victory against the British occurred during the American Revolution.

And I don't know where you're getting your numbers. Show me a source because the Brown Bess had an effective firing range of UP TO 100 yards whereas the Charleville we were using had a 50 to 75 yard Effective range. Effective being the key term.

The Brown Bess was also newer than the Charleville we were using. The Bess was heavier but it was shorter. The Bess used a larger caliber and on average got 4 shots a minute to the Charleville's 3 shots per minute. This is all out of Arms and Armor in Colonial America by Harold Leslie Peterson, and British Redcoat by Stuart Reid.

Also, I don't know where you get your facts. The Revolution isn't why Dr. Richard Gatling invented his gun, He invented it to reduce the size of armies so that the casualties from combat and disease would be reduced. He also invented it to show the futility of war (his words, paraphrased), Hell, Gatling wasn't born until 1818 so he even missed out on being alive during the war of 1812. Since he designed it in 1861 and patented it in 1862 maybe it was invented because of the Civil War. You might be thinking of the Puckle Gun which was invented by British inventor James Puckle in 1718 and was one of the first Auto-cannons. It is really neat because it is basically a flintlock revolver. Oh, and it isn't "the first gatling gun [...]" it's just "The Gatling Gun [...]" since it isn't a type of gun it is a specific gun invented by Dr. Richard J. Gatling.

So.... Check your history? And source it too please.

Not my area, but impressed by the range of knowledge....

I checked it and here you go. How does that crow taste?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

I... I posted about the Puckle. So... What Crow?

You said Gatling gun.

In fact, looking over my reply I literally said, and I quote, "You might be thinking of the Puckle Gun which was invented by British Inventor James Puckle in 1718 and was one of the first Auto-Cannons [...]"

But I dont see your point.... Puckle died in 1724, decades before the Revolution... So what connection does his gun have with the Revolution? I mean, he invented the damn gun to fight the Turks.

The Gatling gun is an improvement on the Puckle in that the cartridge did not exist yet. Once the cartridge came on the seen it was relatively easy to modify the Puckle design for the new munitions available. The puckle was used in the Revolutionary but not widely. The Gatling gun was used in in the Civil War but not widely. My point is that we were out numbered but that is the only advantage the British had, and their navy, but ships are only so useful in a land war. All of their numbers and all of their ships were not enough to beat back American forces forever. In the end technological innovations and advancements in weaponry and a shift in tactics along with some help from the French (who only entered the war when the revolutionaries put the British on the run). Advanced technology gave us the edge we needed to defeat the British brute force sent our way.

wikipedia? Really?

On the subject of losing to an inferior force, it happens. Deal with it. Logistics play a really big role. So does using Asymmetrical Warfare and so does being a Proxy for a large nation. An Inferior Army often wins when armed with Accurate intelligence and we had accurate intelligence through most of the American Revolution. A great article on the use of intelligence in warfare can be found at the cia library site (Intelligence in War: It Can Be Decisive by Gregory Elder).

But plenty of Battles have been won by inferior forces. The Battle of Tolvajarvi is one of my favorites, as is the Battle of Longewala. I also like the battle of Okehazama.

I am descended from some of those militiamen, certain of my ancestors having arrived in 1630 and others 'meeting the boat' when the English arrived; and am a veteran myself ... the Pilgrims did not request permission to land in Massachusetts from the tribe of that name ... My family fought in the French and Indian Wars (on both sides), the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War (for the North), the Mexican War, the Cuban adventure, World War I and World War II. We missed Korea, but caught Viet Nam.
Self-formed, unofficial militias pursuing Latino civilians in search of a better life, are nothing more than unwitting tools of propagandists choosing to create pseudo-policy for local, state, and federal governments. They are not in the tradition of freedom fighters. They are living a fiction based upon propaganda from the likes of Fox 'News' and John Birch Society. I am sure brothers Koch love them. Those who do Koch bidding will be surprised when someday we have our own version of Benito Mussolini or Saddam Hussein running the country on behalf of the wealthy few, elected by the few who are deemed 'reliable citizens.'

You attack the Koch brothers, huh, seems like something a CNN lemming would do. And if you don't like what they are doing, why don't you try to stop them? Are these people not Americans doing what they feel is best for the country? Who are you to judge the actions of others?

Yes something 238 years ago is just like today. Where was the army 238 years ago? Was there an army 238 years ago? Maybe the militia was the army back then.

There was no standing Army 238 years ago. We have one + now, I see no need for these militias (bullies)

And the founders of this country hated the idea of a standing army, hence the reason it was disbanded after they won. And let's get something straight, we are not free because our military can kick the shit out of poor 3rd world country. We are free because we choose to be and there isn't anyone on this earth that can take it from us. The Japanese were afraid to launch an attack on the mainland because they knew they wouldn't face uniformed soldiers but rather they would have to directly face the wrath of the American people.

oh, please. Go read a real history book. Your parents need to apologize to you for stealing your education.

I'll g ahead and educate you instead.

http://www.foundingfathers....

http://www.washingtonsblog....

http://www.thenewamerican.c...

and just for fun google "founding fathers against standing army" and see what you get.

Yet we still maintained a small Standing Army after the revolution. We had regulars. We had a Regiment to defend the Western Frontier and a regiment at West Point. We quickly realized that we needed a Standing Army to pacify the Natives on our frontier though and formed the Legion of the United States, which became the US Army.

We also had the US Revenue Cutter Service before the reformation of the US Navy in 1797. Marine Corps followed in 1798.

We re-established the US Navy and the US Marine Corps pretty quick after we beefed up our standing army.

I won't disagree with you that SOME of the founding fathers had a very Republican distrust of standing armies. But not all of them shared that distrust and any who had interests on the Western Frontier certainly liked the idea of a standing army.

And what did we use this military might for? Conquest of less advanced peoples. We imposed our own form of tyranny on these people with military force from a standing army. Exactly why the framers didn't like them. What do we do with it now? We impose our will on other countries with the force of our standing army.

Except your dear Koch brothers. They are getting great headway in taking our freedom from us.

That was our excuse for dropping the Atom bombs on Japan, that trying to invade the country would simply be too costly. They simply didn't have the manpower to pull off even an invasion of the Hawaiian Islands... much less the US mainland.

It was.

In the same way you characterize the militias as bullies, is it not fair to label all military action in Iraq all the way back to 2003 as major state funded bullying? Than there's Syria, Lybia, and so fourth. Let's compare civilian causalities shall we? As controversial as what they are doing is, I have my own agreements and disagreements with this article, one thing these militias can say that the US Military cannot is that they're at least doing this on their own home soil, not 1000s of miles away.

Blake, thanks for your service...I also served ...Army 65-68. I also went to the Bundy Ranch as a citizen supporting a Rancher that I saw being abused by the BLM. When a BLM agent throws a 57 year old woman with cancer on the ground, threatens people with dogs and three agents beat up a 16 year old boy that did nothing to them....it boils my blood. All of it uncalled for and an overreach of the BLM. I remember WACO and 80 innocent people murdered...20 of them children. I will never stand by and do nothing again. Its only by standing up for what is right that we can bring about change. Abuse and bullying can not be tolerated. The BLM pointed sniper rifles at a family and threatened to shoot people that were not a threat to them.....only when they threatened to shoot people ....did men take up positions to defend themselves. I can tell you this....none of the people I was with wanted to see a fight...just the opposite. I believe if we had not gone there....the BLM would have murdered people....and got away with it. They were armed to the teeth and spoiling for a fight.
I also had friends that went to the border...and seeing what was happening...left there. What is happening on the border is tragic...and some nut cases calling themselves militia have been arrested...and rightfully so. Many people are suffering and dying down there...trying to get to a better place...I feel for them.
I am getting a bit long in the tooth to go to Syria...but fighting for Freedom is always a worthy cause. I would only go there if was serving with American forces and knew I could get in and out of there and not be charged by the government when I came home....Syria is a very risky business and I honour the Kurds that are fighting and dying for their freedom, they have a tough road ahead of them. I have seen my share of war and war had always been a lose situation...even the winner loses a lot of good men. I hope one day we can live in peace....but I doubt I will live long enough to ever see that. There are people in militias that seem to want combat.....but they have never experienced it....and most men I know that have...are happy to never have to go there again. Any one that abuses a person that is suffering is a criminal...no matter what organisation you belong to...and yes, there are sick people out there. There are also Patriots that care about others that are suffering and do what ever they can to save their life...there will always be good and evil among us.

That may not be as easy as it sounds....up until now...Turkey has not been allowing fighters across their border to help...then there is the language barrier.....and from experience, you better know who is in charge, what is the plan, and how your going to accomplish the mission and get supplied not to mention medical care if your wounded...I think that battle is best left to the Kurds, and I believe they will get it done. US troops are not welcome in the ME and because of the long stay in Iraq and Afgnanistan....US fighter are seen as invaders....I would think long and hard before I ever went to Kobane and I would want the blessing of the government if you go.....or you could easily be accused of fighting for ISIS and charged on your return.....too many pit falls for an American to go there. We have a lot to worry about getting our own country back on track right now.

"You will have noticed, haven't you, that none of these militias are offering to go over to the Middle East and help the Kurds fight ISIS? Says a lot, right there."

God forbid, they actually care about the borders of their own country, moreso than those of an administrative protectorate thrown together by elitist bureaucrats and populated by people who would saw all of our heads off. You proglodytes seem to enjoy kissing the asses of people who hate you. Pucker up.

Probably not volunteering for the military because the vast majority of TBV's are retired. Bunch of old guys from Seen Antonio or Dallas who want to pay in the brush.

I wish I could give this post 1 million thumbs ups

the government isn't the country... the People are the country!

We elect our leaders (or at least we once did).Our leaders - fellow American citizens - make up the government, that's what is meant by a "government of the people, by the people, for the people". When we vote we create the government. This doesn't mean that I think the government is perfect or always right, but the way to fix it is to vote for different people not destroy our only means of self government.

The government is "We the People"

"Sedition is not patriotism". Kerri Peek must have been asleep during history class. Kerri you owe your fucking freedom and the ability to have your opinion here because of Sedition. Ever hear of the Declaration of Independence? King George was not amused at that "seditious" document, and the "traitors" (patriots), in his colonies.
Every fuckhead here that I have read oppose the militia because they feel that most of them are just "fat guys in the woods" never serving in the military. Some are....some are not.....regardless, they are fighting for you fat asses in your chairs, because our government won't. Go to the border all you fat assed former military dumbasses, and see what is going on before you believe anything about the article written above....or else just fucking shut it! BTW....I am former Vietnam era Air Force, so don't give me the "not military" crap.

you need to look up the definition of 'sedition'.. however i am happy to see someone acknowledge our country is a constitutional republic.. and yes, i'm proud to pledge allegiance to the flag of the USA.. it's not the flag of the government. the constitution is our contract with the government, giving it parameter. our country was built on We the People outlining what all branches of the government and the judiciary can and cannot do