SysAdmin in the SOTU

A reader sent in this quote from the SOTU noting that it sounds like the SysAdmin:

A second task we can take on together is to design and establish a volunteer Civilian Reserve Corps. Such a corps would function much like our military reserve. It would ease the burden on the Armed Forces by allowing us to hire civilians with critical skills to serve on missions abroad when America needs them. It would give people across America who do not wear the uniform a chance to serve in the defining struggle of our time.

Yes, I am pleased.

[Editor's note: DefenseTech noted the similarity, too, at the bottom of this post.

Comments

[Tom Barnett]

Credit claiming is a useless exercise (unless you're partisan). If your vision hasn't moved on by the time the thing goes real (this bit one in a universe of things unfolding), then you need to find another career path than grand strategy.

In other words: "Show's over folks, move along please."

[taka2k7]

Interstingly, Jeremy Scahill in a LA Times opinion piece today had a different take on what the Civil Reserve Corps might be. Namely, a mercenary army (i.e. Blackwater)

I can see short term, limited missions for private security firms, but not a standing mercenary army. Not enough oversight and accountability.

[Keir]

This apparently is not exactly new. from http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss/2006/sectionIX.html

"Developing a civilian reserve corps, analogous to the military reserves. The civilian reserve corps would utilize, in a flexible and timely manner, the human resources of the American people for skills and capacities needed for international disaster relief and post-conflict reconstruction."

From this passage it seems more in the sysadmin role. It will be part of the state department.