14-01-2004, 14:49
Non-Governmental Military Organizations Act (NGMOA)
A bill that would permit the existence of self-described 'international freedom fighter' groups is scheduled for a vote in front of the Senate today.
The bill has been a strong source of controversy for President Mitchell, who met with retired General Alan Keyes yesterday to have talks on the matter. The President has been an outspoken proponent of the bill.
General Keyes, who led the Microstates militias to victory against the Red Fist during the War of Realization and was one of the signers of the Federal Constitution, has argued that the Act, which would allow for international military intervention by private Microstates citizens, could in the long run serve to keep the government's focus off of international affairs and on the national defense. The bill would permit groups to fight in international wars after they've registered with the federal government, but would waive the government the responsibility of defending those citizens involved.
The bill has come under fire from Liberal Democrats as well as a vocal minority of Republicans lead by Senator Bat Puchanan of Microlina.
It's absurd to think that the Act would "keep us out of foreign entanglements," said Puchanan. "Look, as soon as we let a bunch of A-Team wannabes go overseas somewhere and fight, those people are going to look at us and accuse us for allowing them to enter the fight. This is a dangerous thing we're getting into here."
Liberal Democrat Senate Minority Leader Joseph Stalin has lead his party in objecting to the bill, albeit on different grounds. "This is an attempt by the hard right-wing to ignore this nation's duty to the world community," Stalin contended this morning. "Instead of a bill allowing these people to run around the world aiding repressive governments against the foreign working people, it should be the duty of this nation's military to go overseas to fight for those working people."
"That's not at all what the bill calls for," responded General Keyes. "What this would do is acknowledge the private citizen's right to freedom of association. No one here is going to be going around the world oppressing anyone. This bill prevents that by requiring freedom fighters such as my Keyesters to register beforehand and to declare their intentions."
The Keyesters are a group of former members of the military-turned-'freedom fighters' under the leadership of General Keyes. Keyes and his group were instrumental in getting the bill introduced.
The Act would abstain the federal government of all responsibility in defending the 'freedom fighters' while requiring that the fighters observe certain standards of conduct, including not targeting civilians and treating prisoners humanely. In addition, the fighters would not be able to use the United Microstates as a base of operations and would have to carry out all fighting overseas.
If the bill passes the Senate it will move to the House of Representatives tomorrow.
A bill that would permit the existence of self-described 'international freedom fighter' groups is scheduled for a vote in front of the Senate today.
The bill has been a strong source of controversy for President Mitchell, who met with retired General Alan Keyes yesterday to have talks on the matter. The President has been an outspoken proponent of the bill.
General Keyes, who led the Microstates militias to victory against the Red Fist during the War of Realization and was one of the signers of the Federal Constitution, has argued that the Act, which would allow for international military intervention by private Microstates citizens, could in the long run serve to keep the government's focus off of international affairs and on the national defense. The bill would permit groups to fight in international wars after they've registered with the federal government, but would waive the government the responsibility of defending those citizens involved.
The bill has come under fire from Liberal Democrats as well as a vocal minority of Republicans lead by Senator Bat Puchanan of Microlina.
It's absurd to think that the Act would "keep us out of foreign entanglements," said Puchanan. "Look, as soon as we let a bunch of A-Team wannabes go overseas somewhere and fight, those people are going to look at us and accuse us for allowing them to enter the fight. This is a dangerous thing we're getting into here."
Liberal Democrat Senate Minority Leader Joseph Stalin has lead his party in objecting to the bill, albeit on different grounds. "This is an attempt by the hard right-wing to ignore this nation's duty to the world community," Stalin contended this morning. "Instead of a bill allowing these people to run around the world aiding repressive governments against the foreign working people, it should be the duty of this nation's military to go overseas to fight for those working people."
"That's not at all what the bill calls for," responded General Keyes. "What this would do is acknowledge the private citizen's right to freedom of association. No one here is going to be going around the world oppressing anyone. This bill prevents that by requiring freedom fighters such as my Keyesters to register beforehand and to declare their intentions."
The Keyesters are a group of former members of the military-turned-'freedom fighters' under the leadership of General Keyes. Keyes and his group were instrumental in getting the bill introduced.
The Act would abstain the federal government of all responsibility in defending the 'freedom fighters' while requiring that the fighters observe certain standards of conduct, including not targeting civilians and treating prisoners humanely. In addition, the fighters would not be able to use the United Microstates as a base of operations and would have to carry out all fighting overseas.
If the bill passes the Senate it will move to the House of Representatives tomorrow.