Sunday, July 4, 2021

These countries do not have an army.

 


17 comments:

  1. I'm not a Roman Catholic, but isn't the Swiss Guard the Vatican City's army?

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    1. Close, but no cigar.

      The Holy See is the "sovereignty" (with no territory but recognized by the UN and able to make treaties) founded when St Peter got to Rome. Vatican City is the "nation" founded in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty. The Pontifical Swiss Guard is the Holy See's army; Vatican City has none.

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    2. TGreen, thanks, I was thinking the same thing as Mr. Mallernee when I saw that. My historical knowledge of that is a bit lacking but not being Catholic it's just historical curiosity to me.

      Technically, for military purposes, the Marshall Islands, Federated States (of Micronesia) and Palau count as US territory so they kind of do have an army.

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    3. Yes, the Swiss Guard, and a fairly high presence of Italian Gendarmes serve the Papal State, not so much Vatican City but more the Pope and the Church. If you separate the Church from the City. Which isn't really a real thing. The Church is the City, the City serves the Church, yada yada yada.

      As to the Marshall Islands, both sides (Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands,) yes, the US still has a few bases there...

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  2. While Iceland doesn't have a army made up of Icelanders they have a large US military presence located there since WWII, plus they are a member of NATO so they really don't feel they need one.

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  3. So if anyone wants to go a-filibustering, here's the list of soft targets (not including those under the protection of the US military...though given that it's going "woke", that protection might not mean much for much longer).

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  4. I note that a large percentage of them appear to be small island-nations. So historically, most don't have to worry about their "neighbors" so much.

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    1. Agreed. Especially with China creating their own islands, until they want YOURS of course.

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  5. Ireland and Israel have "Defense Forces" and they're quick to point out they're not armies since the term "Army" connotes aggressive rather than defensive action.

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    1. MartinFromGermanyJuly 5, 2021 at 1:14 PM

      Germany as well: the Bundeswehr is not an army, per constitutional definition.

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    2. Let's say offensive rather than aggressive. Israel can be pretty aggressive.

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  6. Been to Costa Rica, cops with fancy uniforms, lots of medals and submachine guns. Might as well be called the "army".

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  7. Someone left Parador and Elbonia off the list.

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  8. Without the United States in there, the group looks about as capable as NATO, minus the Turks.

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  9. FTR, the list of those above invaded by countries who do, would be just about 100%.

    Lesson noted.

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