just as well-funded? NUTS!
When a dictator builds his armed forces, they must be drawn afresh and be subject to very heavy political indoctrination.
I wonder what Colin Powell thinks of this new civilian force.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_shirts
"After Hitler took power in 1933, the SA became increasingly eager for power and saw themselves as the replacement for the German army. This angered the regular army (Reichswehr) who already resented the Nazi party. It also led to tension with other leaders within the party who saw Röhm's increasingly powerful SA as a threat to their own personal ambitions. Originally an adjunct to the SA, the Schutzstaffel (SS) was placed under the direct control of Heinrich Himmler in part to restrict the power of the SA and their leaders.
"Although some of these conflicts were based on personal rivalries, there were also key socioeconomic conflicts between the SS and SA. SS members generally came from the middle class, while the SA had its base among the unemployed and working class. The SA were more radical than the SS, with its leaders arguing the Nazi revolution had not ended when Hitler achieved power, but rather needed to implement socialism in Germany. Despite its sympathy for its own brand of socialism, the SA would often pick street fights with Communists and Social Democrats.
Doesn’t this go against curbing military spending? I mean, if they cut the mil budget by 25%, but organize a civilian force that has the same funding, then they’d be at 150% of the original military budget. Wha...?!
How’s he gonna pay for that?
Not to mention it’s just scary as Hell...