1. Is there any talk, plans, or possibilities of reviving the old Civil Defense network or something similar, yet updated?
The old CD netowrk simply morphed and was assimilated into other places, less glamourous and visible. Communications has improved so much since the origins of the CD Corps, that many of its functions are already absorbed - think about early weather warnings, alerts, disaster notification, just to name a few. Cel phones, the Internet, and sat dishes provide people with redundant information on practically everything.
Hell, if I can get breaking intel off of FR faster than channels, who am I to argue???
2. With a declared low intensity guerilla war on our doorstep, why dont we examine some type of program to share skills that may be relevant to this war, but lost over the years to bring to bear on this issue? The similarities with the Cold War are very intriguing.
Understand this: NO ONE EVER REALLY RETIRES.
3. If we dont have enough Federal troops, why dont we revive State Defense Forces to stand border guard and take some of the strain and deployment stress off the NG, Reserves, and AD troops?
Because no one's standing border guard yet.
The only missions we (ARNG) have pulled are MSCA missions as part of Noble Eagle. And again, most folks are at the mercy of a red-lensed media; the border successes aren't talked about, just like the war successes aren't getting through.