[Rhodes22-list] Enemy of the State?

[Slim]

I've had too much to drink tonight but here goes:

We all know the American flag has its 13 stripes and its 50 stars on a field
of blue, but did you know that the design and specifications of the flag are
an act of congress?  Yes--it's legislated that the flag be exactly such and
such and that all its qualities and proportions are exactly specified.  Any
deviation from that and it ceases to be the official flag of the United
States of America.  Presumably, all countries do this.

The United States military, however, operates under a different flag.  They
put a gold fringe around their flag.  So do many police forces.  This is not
insignificant!  They are not displaying the flag of the United States of
America!  By an act of congress, you can't alter the specs of the flag in
any way and still call it the official flag of the USA.  There ain't no gold
fringe on Old Glory!

So what gives?  It would seem the military operates under a separate
sovereignty and a flag of their own.  First I'd like to know why, and second
I would like to know if this "nation" is friend or foe.

Slim