A Stupid Idea That Resurfaces From Time To Time

[ThomWV]

A caller on C-Span's Washington Journal makes a suggestion for fighting the 'war on terror' that Max Boot, the guest, agrees with and that surfaces from time to time in slightly different guise. The suggestion is this: We should let foreigners fight in our military and repay them for exemplary service with citizenship. It would beef up the military's numbers and give us motivated troops, we are told.

I'll agree with this proposition to buy mercenaries on the day that military service is required of all persons who wish to enjoy the rights of citizenship, and it won't matter that they are born on this soil.

[geek tragedy]

1. Kind of like Osama did in Afghanistan?

No thanks.

[hobbit709]

2. The decline and fall of the Roman empire

and others throughout history. When the citizens of a country would rather pay others than to defend itself, that country is doomed.

[bananas]

3. We already do that. nt

[NewJeffCT]

5. I think you're correct n/t

[ThomWV]

6. We Do Not Guarantee Citizenship For Military Service

We do not do it today and we have never done it. We have noncitizens in our military but they receive no guarantee of citizenship what so ever for having served.

[bananas]

8. Yes, not a guarantee, just a fast-track if active duty

"After the September 11th attacks, President Bush signed an executive order creating a fast-track for citizenship for foreigners who joined the U.S. Armed Forces and served on active duty. Non citizens swell the military ranks these days by more than 33,000 troops and military recruiters actively seek foreigners for the services, trolling especially for Mexicans while giving away t-shirts emblazoned with the legend: "Yo Soy el Army" and showing off customized Hum-Vees. With the army struggling to meet recruitment quotas, citizenship is offered as an enticement - an enticement that can kick in if the soldier sees active duty."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-laufer/the-citizenship-draft_b_25885.html

[NewJeffCT]

4. Sure, those Chinese will assimilate really well

China has a surplus of males.

And, look at all those refugees from the Sudan - there must be some potential soldiers there.

And, I'm sure a few folks in places like Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc would have some interest, too.

We'd just have to give them all a crash course in English.

[kedrys]

7. Service Guarantees Citizenship!

Already adeptly lampooned by Paul Verhoeven almost 10 years ago.

[kenny blankenship]

9. It's kind of a bad idea for any country, especially a democracy

that cares about preserving its democracy, to outsource its military. This happened in the long decline of the Roman Empire. Sooner or later the people running your army will decide that all the power of government is theirs for the taking, and political power will be exercised by and "transferred" among military leaders who have no respect for the rights and traditions of the nation that founded the empire. The values and ambitions of the leadership will be purely individual not institutional or cultural. Succession will be by assassination usually. Democracy of course or any hope of reviving it will be long gone. The idea of outsourcing the military is one any nation should guard against. It's a warning sign that your military is becoming too large a factor in your national life.

[Goblinmonger]

10. wait, wait, I saw this movie, it'll come to me.

Oh, yeah, Starship Troopers. Those bugs were kick ass.