A much better model of what BO proposes is much closer than Germany. Just look south, towards Venezuela and you’ll find the “Armed Forces of Cooperation”, which performs duties such as:
“Therefore, this one component fulfills the function to offer security and to defend the sovereignty of the Venezuelan national territory, as much internally as throughout its borders, working jointly with the Army, the Navy and Aviation. At the same time, it participates respectively in operative in internal security in collaboration with the state and municipal police bodies under the direction of the Ministry of the Popular Power for the Defense and the Ministry of the Popular Power of the Interior and Justice. Consequently, in case of disturbances or sackings, it acts to dissuade and to control the protests and other disorders public.
At the present time, the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, has arranged for the National Guard to collaborate with the citizens in activities of cooperation, protection, security, defense and also in social programs or missions to benefit the population, according to the Constitution of 1999.”
Social programs at the point of the gun. Hmmmm......