Wounded veterans work to put away child predators

[DonViejo]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — A 17-member class of mostly wounded veterans has taken up a new fight: putting away child predators.

Several in the class have seen some of the fiercest fighting of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Twenty-nine-year-old Oskar Zepeda served nine tours before a hand grenade and nearly two dozen medical operations forced him to find another career.

The veterans were given about 11 weeks of intensive computer and legal training before being assigned to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office. The veterans mostly work in a lab and scour the computers that agents confiscate while conducting a search warrant.

They have two priorities: analyze the evidence to assist prosecutors and help determine if there are children still in harm’s way who need to be rescued.

###

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2014/01/05/wounded_veterans_work_to_put_away_child_predators/

[proverbialwisdom]

1. RECOMMENDED.

http://protect.org
https://www.facebook.com/protectnow

[niyad]

3. thank you for that link

[niyad]

2. k and r

[Ranchemp.]

4. Fanatastic!!! eom.

[philly_bob]

5. I have doubts about confiscation of computers at borders.

I'm disappointed that Salon ran the Associated Press article without delving into that aspect. I'm disappointed that DU is running it uncritically.

[snot]

8. Agreed; thank you.

[Feral Child]

6. Meaningful employment.

When I returned from Viet Nam work was very hard to come by and no one wanted to hire veterans. I was told in one interview,"We're uncomfortable working with someone that's killed people."

That's where the GOP strategists came up with the concept that Nam vets resented not being thanked for their service. In order to revise history, they twisted our dissatisfaction into a condemnation of the Left and it's valiant protest against the war. The truth is we resented not being able to find work and being deceived about the nature of the Vietnamese people.

I'm sure many shared the perception of my too-vocal interviewer, but the excuse they used was that I was 21 years old and had no "experience", + I didn't have the degree that the Republicans boys had acquired whilst dodging the draft.

No Lefty ever abused me for my part in the fighting. Mostly, I was met with sympathy and compassion from leftish folk.

As to the deception, we were rigorously trained to hold the Vietnamese in racial contempt for being treacherous, deceitful, and primitive sub-humans.

Every instructor I had in the military referred to them as "Gooks". We were indoctrinated to hate and distrust them all. That contrasted to the reality we were confronted with when we arrived in-country. The people were friendly, open and honest. Mostly. (I don't want to be accused of blanket white-washing but the main thrust of this post is not politicized racism. I don't want to distract from the hypocrisy of "Support Our Troops".)


Please don't thank me for my service!

The emotional climax of the Nam film by that Great Warrior Sylvester Stallone rankles every-time I hear that bullshit Republican meme. No lefty ever spit on me or called me "Baby-Killer" or other "vile crap".

No, the lack of support I observed is the same disrespect and abandonment that greets today's soldiers when they get home: no jobs or opportunity by Republican "Low-Tax" employers.

I didn't want my "Parade", I wanted a fucking job.

Yellow-ribbon magnets and insincere thanks do note equal support. It's just more cynical revisionism by the lying GOP.

[grilled onions]

7. Vets/Disabled Vets Should Never Be Unemployed

From obvious needs such as military shoes,uniforms, sewing flags(we should never see an American flag with a Made In China tag) all the way to computer skills. Many disabled vets are very capable to do a days work. Others may be limited but that is no reason why we should not let them work to their ability.
Years ago we had Robert Hall,great sturdy clothes,made by prisoners. Why can't we come up with vet made clothes? Many would be more than willing to buy garments made by those who have put their life on the line. Those that may not want to be trained in sewing can work in marketing,packaging etc. Not only would they have a skill, a job to be proud of but we could also contribute to their job by buying the clothes and buying less foreign goods.

[Feral Child]

9. Absolute agreement. n/t.

[demigoddess]

10. jobs are how they put their lives

back together. I am a daughter of vets and have seen vets my whole life. War takes a lot out of you. There should be a place in life for you afterwards.