California militias prepare for disaster - Why aren't they in the Gulf cleaning up oil?

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/kalw/detail?entry_id=63266


California militias prepare for disaster
KALWNews.org

By Judy Silber

CASEY MINER: I'm going to break a radio rule here. I'm going to play you something, but I'm not going to tell you what it is. Instead, see if you can guess.

VOICE: I got an enemy. Phil. Hold, hold, hold, hold, hold. Cover, cover, cover.

Here's a hint. We're in a hot, dusty valley, surrounded by hills. There are about thirty guys gathered in small groups, wearing army fatigues and heavy boots and carrying rifles. They're poring over maps, and glancing up at the ridge above them.

VOICE: They are up here. Keep your eyes open.

If you're starting to think we're in a battle zone, you're right. Sort of. These guys are dressed for war, but they're not in the military. And the ridge is enemy territory, but the enemy is a group of cardboard cutouts, painted black, and shaped kind of like the "men's" symbol on bathroom doors.

VOICE: Bay Area squad, I hear you loud and clear, we're moving.

Welcome to training day with the Northern California State Militia. It's a volunteer group of about 125 people, divided into nine squads and spread all over this part of the state, including the Bay Area. Once a month, they get together in the hills about an hour northwest of Sacramento, and they train, military-style. Founder Roy McCarty says they're preparing for disaster situations like floods, fires and earthquakes.