The new Immigration Army

[ICantSpellDawg]

I've always loved this idea. The ability to apply for citizenship after a term of military service is a wonderful and age-old idea. Much better than the current system, if you think about it.

It worked for Rome until it later disolved the meaning of being Roman. The meaning of being culturally "American" seems to be quickly changing anyway, so why not capitalize by directing potential citizens to kill our enemies and bolster our interests globally.

better test than any paper one given in air conditioned rooms.

eventually, everyone will be American ayway

lets make it happen

[Marshal Murat]

What I'm worried about is that some are going to get good USA military training, desert, and hire out as mercenaries. Highly trained killers?

[Ice]

What I'm worried about is that some are going to get good USA military training, desert, and hire out as mercenaries. Highly trained killers?

Right. That seems really likely.

[Duke of Gloucester]

If anything, this thread shows that those who are often accused of being "immigrant haters" are nothing of the sort. I have no problem with legal immigrants who come to our country via legal means. A legal immigrant who has volunteered to serve our country during wartime has certainly earned the right to be here.

I wasn't refering to every poster on this thread, Xiahou, so please don't take what I said personally. In my experience those who are prejudiced against immigrants don't distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants, sometimes being hostile to second and third generation immigrants, and those who are not anti immigrant don't support illegal immigration either. If you don't have a problem with legal immigration, you are not an "immigrant hater", but you will find some pretty unpleasant things said about immigrants on this thread by others.

[Duke of Gloucester]

I'll just limit myself to this thread

And now? To keep his kiddies and relatives safe (and all his GOP'ers - with the exception of McCain, whom's kids can't seem to help themselves from volunteering. 2 former admirals can do that to you.) his buds have come up with the most brilliant plan I believe I have ever heard of. That being, allowing the military (USA, that is) to set up enlistment booths any where in the world and allowing those that sign on the line immediate access to becoming citizens.

One retired-general (Kevin Ryan) told the Christian Science Monitor (one of the last vestues for truth) that, "Instead of waiting for people to trickle in, we could go out and find the ones we want."

If it sounds a little Imperialistic ... it is. If it sounds like our leaders have lost all semblance to being leaders? Well, it is tough calling Americans to stand up for themselves when it is easier to get others to do it .... even if it allows 10-20,000 future terrorists in.

What I'm worried about is that some are going to get good USA military training, desert, and hire out as mercenaries. Highly trained killers?

See - immigrants = bad (in this case terrorists).

However, there are more examples of enlightened statements on the thread, and yes, they are from Americans. Americans in general have a better attitude to immigration than British people. Being British, my experience is more with our attitudes than with yours.

[Duke of Gloucester]

The arguments are well-founded (although I disagree with them), and speak out against a far more specific issue than Immigration.

If the arguments against allowing immigrants to join the army were:

• Foreign recruits have less loyalty to the USA so may not fight as hard
• There may be language, dietry and culture differences that may lead to problems
• The troops may be deployed in their home country leading to conflicts of loyalties

Then you could argue that these arguments are well-founded (although I would disagree with them too). However the arguments I found against the idea on this thread concerned the chances of these immigrants being terrorists. This is far from "well-founded", and in my view, betrays a prejudice against immigrants. I am not sure that Americans look as favourably on current immigration as you suggest, but American attitudes are far better than British ones.

[rory_20_uk]

France's Foreign Legion seems to work well. and it gets around the issues by not caring one jot about the applicant's language requirements, their diet or loyalties. You learn the first eat what your given and get shot if you infract on the third.

Seems to work.