War Crimes

Apparently a larger than normal proportion of criminals are making up the recruits for the military. Citation! Why is the Army (and why are the Marines) giving more waivers to criminals than normal? Could it have something to do with a lack of new recruits?

We're at war. Of course we aren't having more people sign up. But to continue the war we need to have more and more soldiers. Which is why we aren't allowing people to leave the military at the end of their contracts, and why we're taking people out of jail to shoot people overseas.

Apart from the obvious dumbfuckery of training convicts of "assault, burglary, drug possession and making terrorist threats" in weaponry, hand to hand combat, and crowd control, how can we justify this after the problems we've already had? Look at Abu Ghraib. Look at Blackwater. These are problems caused by juvenile sadists empowered by a negligent government. I don't think freeing convicts is the best way to show disapproval for the bad behavior problems we've already been having.

If the government has to fight this war for whatever reason, don't the innocent civilians of Iraq deserve some sober arbitration? Sending a bunch of people who we jailed for violent or addictive crimes can hardly been said to be a step towards peace, can it?

If these soldiers absolutely must help for us to succeed, how are we to maintain respect for our laws? Given the widespread criticism that mandatory sentencing for drug possession distracts from enforcement on distribution and violent crime, how can we really have any faith in our government to be providing reasonable protection even within our borders? The idea here is apparently that we will punish people found to be possessing drugs unfairly until they decide to sell themselves into modern military slavery.

The Army refuses to waive convictions related to alcoholism, sexual violence, or drug trafficking. But the War on Terrorism is willing to accept drug users and terrorists?!

I can't believe this ridiculous policy.

To be absolutely honest, I am drunk and I can still reason circles around this administration. It's like they said to themselves one night, "We really need to keep this war going... Hey, who do you think we could kill without anyone minding?"

Convicts are one of the least defended groups of people in the nation. Apart from having everyone assume the worst, they don't even have any legislative representation because felony convicts don't get to vote! A Congressperson has absolutely no incentive to defend these people because they can't vote and the vast majority can't generate a campaign contribution. Democracy in action? We need a check or a balance for this crap.

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Recap:

1) It's a shame that we're sending our criminals to police Iraq.
2) It's a shame that we're disrespecting our own laws to accomplish warmongering goals.
3) It's a shame that we're trapping civilians into a situation where they have to decide between jails full of abuse and rape or participating in a war.
4) It's a shame that we're training our criminals to be an occupying force.

I am a civilian. I am deeply ashamed of our leadership.