Amnesty And War

I don't have faith in anything creative coming out of government, still it would be fascinating to observe the dynamics play out if Bush put forward an out of the box plan to partially address immigration issues, while also bolstering the forces required for a long term war against terrorism.

Military grants more waivers to recruits

WASHINGTON - The Army and Marine Corps are letting in more recruits with criminal records, including some with felony convictions, reflecting the increased pressure of five years of war and its mounting casualties.

A direct path to citizenship in two years for screened and qualified illegal-immigrants and their dependents, provided they agreed to serve in the armed forces for two years.

Would the Democrats, who lack the nerve to take a clear stand on the war, preferring to leave men and women in harm's way without reinforcements, do anything to get in the way of some number of immigrant's gaining a shortcut to citizenship?

Top House Democrats, working in concert with anti-war groups, have decided against using congressional power to force a quick end to U.S. involvement in Iraq, and instead will pursue a slow-bleed strategy ...

Whether it's feasible or not is another matter, but it would be interesting to watch the discussion play out.

Comments

[TheSpartan]

Democrats have a variety of plans instead of one failed one, I suppose to you that's a lack of clarity.

As for the rest of the post, I don't have a problem with immigrants using the military as a means to obtaining citizenship (wasn't the first Marine killed in the war on terror an illegal?) but I do have a problem with felons being allowed in. Haven't we had enough problems already without adding genuinely bad apples into the mix.

[BobInStamford]

I think the real question is why not enough brave young conservatives are willing to sign up for Bush's Folly. I guess that 28% pool isnt that much to draw from.

[ZZMike]

The problem, and one we've seen already, is that Bad Guys get in, leave gang grafitti in Baghdad, learn military tactics, come home, rejoin civilian life, and start shooting. It's probably a bit like Mexican ex-Federales who now enjoy their work for the cartels.

Someone noted that we have a smaller military, as a percentage of the whole population, than we've had in a long time.

Maybe we can do as the British did, during the Revolutionary War, and fill our ranks with Hessians.

[Purple Avenger]

If they're felons who have served their sentences, why not let them in? Most states let ex-felons vote. If they're bad enough to still be "bad boys", then we FIRST need to question why they're still not in prison if that's the case.

Good enough to be released to the streets of the US, but not good enough to be defending the nation? Wazzupwitdatshit?

[silkworth]

the theory is fantastic. the problem is that AlQ and other groups are currently recruiting in our jails and prisons, so it is going to take a rigourous screening process. however it is interesting to note that in the most hated country aside from us (israel) everyone serves in the military thereby they know that they are guaranteed a job and benefits right out of high school, giving them some purpose. and for those who want to jump down my throat for saying something positive about israel, MANY Druise, Bedoiuns, and Israeli Arabs, who are immune from serving in the israeli military do so voluntarily because they actually like living there (they are not palestinians). thanks again dan for a meaningful post

[Miss Fanny]

Keep the number of 'felons' at 15% or less of any battalion and they will rise to the level of the best. That sounds like the best kind of rehab ever. It sure beats throwing them back onto the streets where they're not likely to gain a sense of honor or dignity.

[TheSpartan]

15%, yikes. That's an awful lot of felons per battalion.

[Miss Fanny]

Doesn't matter, Spartan. In any group, no matter the size, 15% is the approximate inclusion of low-lifes that will rise to the level of the best. At 45% or more, the best will begin to lower themselves to a common denominator of mid to low-class behavior.