Cincinnatus
Gang symbols showing up ... in Iraq
The list of tensions in Iraq goes on and on: between Sunnis and Shiites, between government forces and rebels, between Kurds and Arabs, and more. But according to a story in today's Chicago Sun-Times, Iraq is now starting to feel the reach of American gangs.
Graffiti for the Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings, Vice Lords, and others is showing up in "armored vehicles, concrete barricades and bathroom walls" in Iraq, the paper says. One soldier is photographing the graffiti, and the paper posts a photo gallery.
According to a Defense Department detective, the number of known gang members serving in Iraq could be just "the tip of the iceberg," with military experiences causing problems for civilian lives at home. But others disagree, including the spokesman for an Army investigation group.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/20 ... ls_sh.html
Moral Waivers
More entering Army with criminal records
By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | July 13, 2007
WASHINGTON -- Nearly 12 percent of Army recruits who entered basic training this year needed a special waiver for those with criminal records, a dramatic increase over last year and 2 1/2 times the percentage four years ago, according to new Army statistics obtained by the Globe.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washi ... ds/?page=1
Accused G.I. Was Troubled Long Before Iraq
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/14/us/14 ... yt&emc=rss
In March, 2007, when I wrote about the anniversary of the murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and her family at the hands of US soldiers, one of the most troubling aspects of the story was the fact that the ringleader of the killers was a man with a troubled past who had allowed into the Army on a moral waiver.
Now comes the news that the about one in eight recent US military recruits are entering the Armed Forces on waivers for everything from minor traffic violations to felony convictions. That's an increase of 2 1/2 times the percentage of such recruits in 2003 and 2004.
http://blogher.org/node/22335
US Army wants to enlist illegal aliens quickly as recruitment falls
Submitted by Canada IFP on Mon, 2007-06-11 19:29.
Sponsor: X-Treme Geek: USB Missile Launcher
http://pressesc.com/01181590069_army_illegal_aliens
Everything so black and white when you are young I remember how it was for me, people were either good or evil, and I was sure I was a good guy because I was an american. I knew where all the evil was, in Germany and Japan. Later it was China and Russia, these days I can't hardly keep up with our new enemy of the day. I am not the patriot I used to be.