21515: Walton: RE: 21508: Kathleen: Re: 21501: Arthur: The MPP and the armed irregular force (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "Walton, Robert" <robert.walton3@us.army.mil>

Irregulars furnish protection to the persons and institutions "on their
side" and oppose the persons and institutions "on the other side."  Both the
"chimeres" and "rebels" are  "irregulars" within the context of the DoD
definition (a neutral term).  However, governments (and individuals) tend to
view the irregulars that support them as "heroes" and the the ones that
oppose them as criminals."

Irregulars cease to fall under that definiition when they are recognized as
a legitimate body by a recognized government (that's how pirates became
privateers).


Bob