Pentagon targets Latinos and Mexicans to man the front lines in war on ter

[kskiska]

With the casualty rate in Iraq growing by the day and President George Bush's worldwide "war on terrorism" showing no signs of abating, a stretched United States military is turning increasingly to Latinos - including tens of thousands of non-citizen immigrants - to do the fighting and dying on its behalf.

Senior Pentagon officials have identified Latinos as by far the most promising ethnic group for recruitment, because their numbers are growing rapidly in the US and they include a plentiful supply of low-income men of military age with few other job or educational prospects.

Recruitment efforts have also extended to non-citizens, who have been told by the Bush administration that they can apply for citizenship the day they join up, rather than waiting the standard five years after receiving their green card. More than 37,000 non-citizens, almost all Latino, are currently enlisted. Recruiters have even crossed the border into Mexico - to the fury of the Mexican authorities - to look for school-leavers who may have US residency papers.

(snip)

But while officials praise the willingness of Mexican Americans and other Latinos, the strategy has been denounced by anti-war groups as a cynical exploitation of impoverished young men who are lined up to be little more than cannon fodder.

(snip)

An ethnic group has never before been the target of such a recruitment drive.

more…
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=441886

[dani]

1. outsourcing the infantryman?

I find this trend a little bit disturbing because of things like this:
Recent statistics from the Pew Hispanic Centre ... show that Latinos are already doing the most dangerous combat jobs in disproportionate numbers. ... they are over-represented in jobs that involve handling weapons...

And...
An ethnic group has never before been the target of such a recruitment drive.

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. I don't think the voting classes have a problem with that

Ethnic minorities, who are disproportionately represented in the low-income group are for all practical purposes not really a part of the voting process, obviously voting is not practical for logistical reasons for public transportation users, etc, but no candidate of any party is in any position, even if they wished to, to offer anything that would bring about a significant change in their lives.

This is just another step in the crystallization of a marginalization/polarization process that has always been a part of American culture.

As conditions continue to deteriorate, increasing numbers of the affluent voting classes will emigrate to less oppressive regimes, or simply to remain in the middle class, as the US transitions to a 2 class system of a small number of very wealthy people and a very large, very poor, serf class.

[aquart]

9. And Texas redistricting will take care of those who do vote.

That's the plan, isn't it? To destroy Mexican and Latino power in Texas before they realize they have it?

[DemVet]

3. This is only an issue....

....once there is a draft going on. Sorry, but nobody's twisting any arms here to get anyone to sign up.

[kskiska]

4. I've witnessed recruiters at the local mall

swarm around minority kids trying to get them to sign up.

[leesa]

5. Or when you can't get a job.

[protect freedom impeach bush now]

7. poverty & inner city crime drive minorities to military

Just pure economic racism.

The poor want SOME way out of the cycle of poverty.

The military promises an education, but the strings
attached means you are going to fight in front lines,
and be more likely to be wounded or die -

Just because you needed an education.

The poor dont read DU.
The poor dont read the UK Guardian.
The poor just want a way out of their misery,
and the military takes advantage of that.

Thats why military recuits in high schools in minority
inner cities - the poor dumb kids are taken for a ride.

[sandnsea]

11. Going into Mexico?

This is sick and disgusting. Obviously you've never been so desperate as to have no choices available to you. I wonder if you would have been one of those saying nobody twisted any arms to get those women to work in those tinderbox sweatshops back in the 20's. Or nobody twisted any arms to get miners to go down in unsafe mines. Preying on poor and hungry people and sending them into war takes a real despicable mind.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

6. Por mi parte

se pueden empujar su mierda de guerra por el culo.

[Guaranteed]

8. I'd better not hear any Republicans complaining that...

....Mexican immigrants are getting driver's licenses in CA.

[JCMach1]

10. Welcome to the Imperial America

the new Roman Empire...

[maggrwaggr]

12. and if that doesn't work there's almost a billion Indians

to choose from.

"our brown people will kick your brown people's ASS"