The Armed American Populous

Discussion in 'Politics' started by truth, Apr 26, 2004.

  1. truth Registered Senior Member

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    Prior to WWII I understand that a Japanese official counseled that attacking America would be difficult, that there is a rifle behind every blade of grass.

    My question is, during the Cold War era and now, did and do America's enemies take in to consideration an armed populous such ours? If the Warsaw Pact had attacked Germany, there would have no armed population to fight back, but in America, we could have.

    What types of war plans? Does anyone know of any information on this? Sources? To what degree does or has our Federal government actually relied on this with regards to national defense? I am speaking of post-WWII. Thanks.
     
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  3. Stokes Pennwalt Nuke them from orbit. Registered Senior Member

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    The National Guard, established in 1917, has never been anything more than a provisional contingency force under state control for state emergencies. Yes, they are military, but the major difference between the ANG and the standing Army is that the guards aren't constrained by posse comitatus - they can act domestically, Constitutionally. The military cannot.

    But to answer your question, it's really not a relevant issue. By the time the Red Army would have ostensibly been landing on our shores, we would've escalated beyond the scope of conventional weapons and strategies long before.
     
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  5. buffys Registered Loser Registered Senior Member

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    ya, unless you're worried about a horde of angry Canadians rushing the border the logistics of getting a useful number of enemy troops on the shores would be a way bigger problem than an armed populous.
     
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  7. Paula Registered Senior Member

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    I'm thinking a .38 isn't going to do much good against a ballistic missile. Just my opinion.
     
  8. truth Registered Senior Member

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    I was just curious if anyone knew if that consideration went into the strategic planning. In the Cold War era each side had a bunch of contigency plans for different situations, just curious if this factored in at all. Someone on another board had responded to this same question that on some channel showing the movie "Red Dawn" that there was in conjunction an interview with a former KGB officer that was asked whether the Soviets had planned to invade the US. His reply was they did not because there are too many armed civilians. I was just curious if anyone knew of a place with additional info on this from an historical perspective. I have searched and so far had found nothing. Just trying to see if there is any help or resources. Thanks.
     
  9. Spyke Registered Senior Member

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    While certainly occupying the US, once it had been invaded, would be a bitch because of the large numbers of armed citizens, I doubt seriously that was considered a major factor in deterring any Soviet invasion plans. Much bigger deterrents to an invasion, which by necessity must include a transport fleet, would be the US Air Force & the US Navy. Whether it was ever in any war plans is hard to say. Generally when drawing up plans you work up a list of 'assumptions', things that you assume you will have to account for in a war. An armed populace would be one of those assumptions, but probably not for the combat phase, but rather the occupation phase.
     
  10. Demosthenes X Registered Member

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    If anyone did indeed conquer the USA, they would have no one to rule, as most people in the Confederate states, be civilian or not, would take up arms, and fight for their freedom. Interesting note: The Warsaw ghetto held the Nazis off almost as long as the French held the Nazi's off. Patriotism=win
     
  11. Eluminate Registered Senior Member

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    I think after nuclera weapons were invented there is no need for invasion and landing on shores... but.

    I figure that might have played a role in the Japanese not landing in washington state or california after the fleet was decimated in pearl harbor. But overall armed american citizenry played roles of great importance. Especially if you consider the war of independance. Texas. War vs Mexico & Pancho Villa. Conquest and Westward expansion under Manifest Destiny. But during the cold war era there is no need really 1000s icbms on each side insured destruction.
     
  12. Spyke Registered Senior Member

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    There was never even a serious consideration by the Japanese of invading the West Coast. They didn't really even consider invading Hawaii, which is why no transport fleet carrying troops accompanied the strike fleet at Pearl Harbor. They were having enough trouble as it was occupying China, with their only real successes being in the coastal regions. The whole point of the attack on Pearl Harbor was to knock out the US Pacific Fleet to give the Japanese military sufficient time to secure the oil in the Dutch East Indies and for the Imperial Navy to secure its positions in the western Pacific, and then hopefully the Americans would have no stomach for war and negotiate a peace.
     
  13. Mystech Adult Supervision Required Registered Senior Member

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    A well armed populous sure is doing Iraq a lot of good right now, isn't it! I guess a rag-tag band of hip shooting Rambo wannabes is good for causing an occupation force a lot of grief, at least!
     

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