Defense Department data indicates that the Army and Marine Corps are granting more waivers to allow recruits with criminal backgrounds to enter the service

Well, at least the Crips and Bloods already have weapons experience, thus saving money on training.

I kid. Pips has told me that the recruiters were bombarading her kids (up in the South Bronx) with calls, heavy on the 'money for college' and light on the 'you may get your ass shot off.' She instructed them in no uncertain terms to say 'leave me alone.' It helped that they had just done a unit on war, including reading All Quiet On The Western Front and a veiwing of Platoon.

I'm no anti-military zealot. My father and grandfather both served, and I belive soldiering can be a very noble calling. But this stuff (both the recruiting and what the linked article talks about) is unethical and it's not a way to build a good military.

I know. It's complete government coercion -- we'll take away your rights, and give them back only if you agree to be shot at. It's sickening.

Also, I seem to have left off a question mark. So here it is: ?

look at the upside, if they get sent off to Afghanistn they'll be able to find some awesomely cheap smack there

grind grind grind grind

;)

"...But now the military is scavenging on who have been ensnared in the War on Drugs by allowing them to enlist for the War on Terror. ..."


Scavenging? Ensnared?

That's a piece Amanda Marcotte herself might have been proud to have posted to Pandagon.

Saw Journey's End last night on Broadway. Really moving play. Amazing that a play written about a war 80 years ago can still be relevant and moving today. Sad, too, of course.

No one really gives a shit about these ex-cons so what's all the hubbub? Some against the war are only using this issue as another part of their argument. I didn't see any of them screaming about the inability of ex-cons to vote until they needed their votes. Some in support of the war are ok with using these people because they'd like to see them off the streets anyway and using them as cannon fodder is a plus. Both sides don't really care anything about them. They're just extras in this whole sick fucking play.