From: "Gary Britt" 

Costa Rica still has some method of border/immigration enforcement.  If
that's all the common defense they need that's all they need.  Its still
common defense.  I'm sure they have some plan to do something if invaded by
a military force or armed gang.

Gary

"Dave Ings"  wrote in message
news:43bc3acd{at}w3.nls.net...
> Not universally true. See Costa Rica - where the standing army was
abolished
> in the late 40s. I guess they decided the internal threat from the army
was
> worse than the external threats. No army, no military coups. ;-)
>
> By the way I've been there twice, mostly on the west coast. Fantastic
place,
> highly recommended.
> --
> Regards,
> Dave Ings,
> Toronto, Canada
>
> "Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message
> news:43bc3726{at}w3.nls.net...
>
> >
> > It's what an electorate wishes to choose as required services that will
> > vary the degree of socialism. Everyone wished that the government
protect
> > them for foreign threats. Hence we accept a standing army.
> >
>
>

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