New American Civil Defense Force: What, No Takers Here?

Oct. 8 Speech of President George W. Bush ^ | 11/9/01 | EarlyBird

[EarlyBird]

To me, Bush's speech last night was not as enthralling as his speech before the joint session of Congress. It seemed to me that it was an eloquent summary of everything he had been saying since that wonderful speech on Capital Hill, but not much else.

Except for one thing, and it really made me sit up and take notice. Here's the quote:

We will ask state and local officials to create a new modern civil defense service, similar to local volunteer fire departments, to respond to local emergencies when the manpower of governments is stretched thin.

I sat up straight and yelled, "Yeah!" when I heard this. This is what I had been waiting for.

Strangely, I found only two posts on FR that referenced this aspect of the speech. The text of President Bush's speech itself (thank you Dog Gone):

Text of Bush's "Let's Roll" Speech Tonight

And a post of a New York Times article:

Bush Seeks New Volunteer Force for Civil Defense

Regarding the NYT article: it was posted by JohnHuang2. You know that that means. It's damn important. But how many responses did it get? A grand total of eight.

I'm a bit confused about the lack of enthusiasm here regarding this part of Bush's speech. After all, how many FR members have vented their frustration since 9-11 regarding the government's allegedly woeful inability to monitor our esteemed foreign "guests".

Well, isn't this our chance to get intimately involved in this?

Remember, Bush said the Civil Defense Force would be under the aucpices of state and local officials, and therefore not under the Feds.

I would think that we at FR would be jumping at this, and filling up thread after thread with our willingness to volunteer for this new force. Instead, a curious silence.

[EarlyBird]

For those of you who might want to volunteer for the new American Civil Defense Force, I nominate this graphic as our shoulder patch (with RonDog's permission, of course -- if it's not yours, RonDog, fess up now):

[Southack]

I like it!

[EarlyBird]

Oops, link to Bush Speech is bad. Here's the fixed one:

Text of Bush's "Let's Roll" Speech Tonight

[First_Salute]

I did not catch his speech, and therefore am very glad you did.

Thank you.

[TomGuy]

Similar Alert discussion has been ongoing:
check this link

[EarlyBird]

Similar Alert discussion has been ongoing:
check this link

I saw this thread a few days ago. I think a fresh thread is needed.

[EarlyBird]

My pleasure.

[EarlyBird]

I like it!

Most everyone who sees it does. It's now my wallpaper and soon to be an ornament on my van.

[EarlyBird]

Wait, you're talking about a Freeper defense force. Great as far as it goes.

But why is no one excited about Bush's Civil Defense Force. What am I missing here?

[SteamshipTime]

I think it's a healthy skepticism. I think the government's idea of "civil defense" will be more like "volunteering to direct traffic and hand out bottled water," both of which can be done without passing a law and a multi-million dollar budget.

[Grut]

So far as I can see, this Civil Defense force is to replace the National Guard which is off somewhere replacing the Army.

Wouldn't it be a more serious response just to increase the size of the Army?

[EarlyBird]

I don't know anything about it yet, of course. But why be so pessimistic about it so soon?

I look at it as a great opportunity. If you also consider the two references Bush made to being "vigilant", I would think he is asking for our help.

Vigilant --> Vigilante (not a bad word when you think about it)

[SteamshipTime]

I ain't holdin' my breath.

[Fred25]

CD 1

CD 2

[lowbridge]

Because it's just another government program open to wastefulness and corruption.

Bush could save time and money by simply calling out the militia to do these same things. Aint he heard of the militia yet?

[EarlyBird]

CD 1

CD 2

I get your point.

Ok, so were going to be our own vigilantes? Or are we going to act more like the national news media and just sit on our asses and criticize?

[EarlyBird]

Because it's just another government program open to wastefulness and corruption.

Bush could save time and money by simply calling out the militia to do these same things. Aint he heard of the militia yet?

I think he was trying to do just that without sending the media into conniption. After all, who is the militia? You and me, right?

Read between the lines! He wants vigilance (vigilantes) and a civil defense force for when the government is unable! I don't understand what your objection is.

[meenie]

We need to activate the Minutemen again. You hang the lantern in the old North Church and I will ride like hell!

[dasboot]

I could be really enthusiastic about this CD program if it meant that the EPA would get off the backs of the local rifle ranges, supply surplus 308 and 30'06 ammo, release all those old M1 amd M14 rifles, allow anyone who desires to acquire one and train at the local range under the guidance of NRA, police, and retired military firearms instructors, then take it home. YA FREEKIN HOO!

That in addition to training volunteers for communications, etc. Is this a dream?

[Fred25]

My point is that we’ve been through all of this before, several times, and we can go through it again. The last time was in the 1950s. There was a federal Civil Defense office, but most local Civil Defense offices were run and staffed by local volunteers. Bush is calling for LOCAL PEOPLE to organize LOCAL Civil Defense offices, just as they have organized local volunteer fire departments in hundreds of counties and small towns all over the country.

LIKE THIS ONE