40,000 US Military Green Card Cannon Fodder

[donsu]

http://english.aljazeera.net/Articles/News/GlobalNews/US+attacked+over+green+card+soldiers.htm

US attacked over green card soldiers

-snip-

The statistics, buried by White House spin doctors, reveal that a significant minority of troops fighting under the US banner are not in fact US citizens but residents hoping to speed up their citizenship.

-snip-

This explains why a disproportionate number of the so-called US casualties in the invasion and occupation of Iraq have borne Latino names.

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The Pentagon says that there are 37,401 non-US citizens on active duty, and that joining up has a special incentive for them - an American passport.

-snip-

Other incentives under the Montgomery GI Bill include the promises of a college fund of up to $50,000, post service employment and training.

But activist Carlos Mendes of the Latinos Against the War in Iraq coalition says that many soldiers have told him that these promises often fail to materialise.
-snip-
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[Desertrose]

1. No wonder bushieboy doesn't care....

they ain't really 'Murikuns....

I really have to say I feel this country is on the slide down ....
not too late yet, but heading there purty darn fast..........

.....with a hopeful heart in spite of it all,
DR

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Brian Sweat]

7. Please elaborate.

I take everything that I hear from Al Jeezera with a grain of salt, but I am pretty sure that there are non-U.S. citizens in the U.S. military. I don't know the numbers.

[DealsGapRider]

9. There may by 40,000 non-citizens...

...in the whole US armed forces, but this article seems to suggest that they're all over in Iraq. Makes it seem like one in three service members in the Middle East are poor immigrants who joined up to get a green card.

[Brian Sweat]

12. Like I said, I don't believe everything that Al Jazeera says.

[DealsGapRider]

3. I think it's insulting to call them "cannon fodder."

Our military is made up of many proud immigrants who have not yet attained their citizenship, yet who nevertheless love their adopted country and are willing to serve in uniform. And this is nothing new. Non-citizen immigrants have been bearing the US flag in battle for years.

There is nothing untoward about this. Indeed, it's perfectly appropriate that people who wish to expedite the process of becoming citizens over their contemporaries should undertake a form of public service such as time in the military.

Also, suggesting that the US government is more comfortable sending our troops into battle because a tiny fraction of them are non-citizens or because people of color are disproportionately represented is ridiculous.

[Superfly]

5. Agreed...

it's better to call them "bullet stoppers/bullet launchers" (I was one myself for 6 years)

[ComerPerro]

11. May as well call them cannon fodder

Because thats how the administration sees all US Soldiers.

[Superfly]

4. Question

Are Guamanians, Virgin Islanders, or Puerto Ricans considered American citizens? If not, then that could explain the high number of non-citizens in uniform.

B

[Brian Sweat]

6. Yes, they are citizens.

Even though they cannot vote.

[Superfly]

10. Aha

Thanx

[DrWeird]

8. Killing two birds with one stone.

What's a republican not to like?