Soldiers w/out conscience: Did US crimes foretell violence in Iraq?

[PepperFritz]

Soldiers without conscience: Did crimes in U.S. foretell violence in Iraq?

The situation outlined in the above article is only going to get worse. The American military has to meet their recruitment quotas SOMEHOW, and this is one of the ways they're doing it. An Apr.21/08 article in the New York Times provided the following information:

The U.S. Army and Marine Corps let 861 convicted felons join their ranks in 2007, an 88 percent jump over the previous year that helped meet recruiting goals in wartime, according to data released on Monday. The Army, the largest branch of the U.S. military, gave felony waivers to 511 recruits last year, up from 249 in 2006, according to the figures released by a congressional panel. The Marine Corps granted 350 waivers, up from 208 the year before.

 

[Meg]

Soldiers without conscience: Did crimes in U.S. foretell violence in Iraq?

The situation outlined in the above article is only going to get worse. The American military has to meet their recruitment quotas SOMEHOW, and this is one of the ways they're doing it. An Apr.21/08 article in the New York Times provided the following information:

The U.S. Army and Marine Corps let 861 convicted felons join their ranks in 2007, an 88 percent jump over the previous year that helped meet recruiting goals in wartime, according to data released on Monday. The Army, the largest branch of the U.S. military, gave felony waivers to 511 recruits last year, up from 249 in 2006, according to the figures released by a congressional panel. The Marine Corps granted 350 waivers, up from 208 the year before.

I’ve seen that happen in my city.

There is this as well:

The first program proposal, the 'Army Home Ownership Fund' also known as AHO, would give payments up to $45,000 to active-duty Soldiers who have a pre-existing mortgage, or are planning to buy a home, Sterling said. He said to be eligible for this amount will require enlisting or re-enlisting for a minimum of six years on active duty. For contracts of fewer years, he said the amount will be pro-rated less, down to a minimum of $15,000 for a three-year active-duty contract obligation.

_http://www.militaryinfo.com/news_story.cfm?textnewsid=1718

With the subprime mortgage ‘crisis’, that program could easily evolve to include foreclosures and increase enlistment.