It is believed they intend to guard key facilities such as oil and gas installations and financial institutions.

The military has police powers limited to military personal, mainly for internal investigation and guarding military facilities.

Nearly all the California men who volunteered as soldiers for the Union Army stayed in the West to guard facilities.

Such legislation often seeks to guard facilities which provide induced abortion against obstruction, vandalism, picketing, and other actions, or to protect patients and employees of such facilities from threats and harassment.

The federal government can and does use the military in aid of its own responsibilities, such as guarding federal buildings and facilities.

Asked about whether the police who guard public facilities will be armed soon, Colonel Krivo said: "We're doing the best we can.

A local staff of about 200 doctors, nurses and technicians is guarding facilities against looters, but research is at a standstill, said Dr. William L. Heyward, the project's director.

Nearly all the men who volunteered as soldiers stayed in the West to guard facilities, suppress secessionists or fight the Indians.

Quite often the contractors hired are local companies and mostly are unarmed personnel guarding facilities, only very rarely are international contractors or mobile armed security personnel used.

The military has very limited police powers, mainly for internal investigation of military crimes and guarding military facilities.