June 19, 2013
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Description
A militia, generally refers to an army or other fighting force that is composed of non-professional fighters; citizens of a nation or subjects of a state or government that can be called upon to enter a combat situation, as opposed to a professional force of regular soldiers or, historically, members of the fighting nobility. Some of the ways the term is used include:
⁕Defense activity or service, to protect a community, its territory, property, and laws.
⁕The entire able-bodied population of a community, town, county, or state, available to be called to arms.
⁕A subset of these who may be legally penalized for failing to respond to a call-up.
⁕A subset of these who actually respond to a call-up, regardless of legal obligation.
⁕A private, non-government force, not necessarily directly supported or sanctioned by its government.
⁕An official reserve army, composed of citizen soldiers. Called by various names in different countries such as; the Army Reserve, National Guard, or state defense forces.
⁕The national police forces in several former communist states such as the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact countries, but also in the non-aligned SFR Yugoslavia. The term was inherited in Russia, and other former CIS countries. See: Militia.
(via Freebase)
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![Libyan militias torch security building during clashes in Tripoli [BBC Arabic, UK]](/images/image_cache/base-13557000/13557267/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=0535f2cb26cf4e3019b89ed5c8163f40)
![Libya: Chaos and lawlessness after NATO brought democracy [Syria TV, Syria]](/images/image_cache/base-11380000/11380525/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=e3c586e93580e20d67e9a95a3547d77f)
![Militas accused of wreaking havoc in Libya on revolt anniversary [BBC Arabic, UK]](/images/image_cache/base-825000/825456/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=7bcb4b9780fb038291221397a5733a1c "An armed fighter mans a checkpoint in downtown Tripoli February 13, 2012: REUTERS/Anis Mili")