Negotiating a Better Deal
In this era of needed troops and falling recruitment rates, the American has had to resort to other means to fill necessary gaps. Enlistments bonuses have gone up, recruiters are scammier than ever and recruitments standards have been lowered. This has been going on for years and is really part of standard practice, and all of it makes sense. We're at war, so you gotta pay more for soldiers. This has been true since the Roman times, at least. But now, the American military is doing something that has been against American policy for years: negotiating with terrorists. Scary but true, the military if offering more "waviers" for entry into the armed services. Previously, they had been available as a tool for recruiters and military command to give chances to people who had been convicted of smaller felonies and were trying to turn their lives around. Now, they are letting in people who have assault, burglary, drug possession and even, wait for it, people who have been convicted of making terrorist threats. In Virginia, this can usually mean either ten or twenty years depending on level of involvement. Assault, burglary and drug possession aren't, generally speaking, as heavy felonies that mandate 20 year sentences. But, we should all feel safe since the Army spokessuit made it clear they still don't issue waivers for alcoholism.
For years upon years, it has long been the policy of this government, and many other governments, that "we do not negotiate with terrorists". First of all, this is bullshit. Name a government, and I'll show you a government that has negotiated with terrorists. At the height of Irish war of independence, the British attempted to negotiate with Eamon de Valera, all the while calling he and his people terrorists and murderers. Better examples include Francis Marion. This was a guy who reputedly raped slaves, killed Indians seemingly at will and generally engaged in guerrilla tactics that were effective and bloody. Of course, he was fighting for the Americans, the Americans won, so he was named a General. Congress is still enabled to issue letters of Marque and Reprise, which is basically the power to make pirates into privateers (that is, give them government funding). Of course, these are non-military personnel, using some pretty non-military methods to achieve military goals. However, when the military issues effective waivers for felony convictions that would invalidate these guys for most other jobs to get them into the military, that's a dangerous sign.
Americans have long held a view that the military is not just a bunch of armed thugs, since we spend a lot of money to train them and we expect them to be professionals. Actions that are jailable offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice or UCMJ, would hardly be noticed in 90% of the militaries in the world. Bribing colonels or higher to get expected services is common in many places, but in the American military, you get in the deep serious for attempting it, and the officer can get in even more trouble for it. We, as Americans, expect more from our professional fighting forces than to be little more than felons looking for other work. Burglary and assault, at the felony level, are not small charges. Drug possession, at the felony level, is not a small charge either in many states. In Virginia, to qualify as a felony drug possession (straight possession, no intent to distribute), the drug in question has to be Schedule I or II as defined by the Drug Control Act. Look at that list, Heroin, cocaine, LSD. You can be charged with felony possession of marijuana in Virginia, starting at at 1/2 oz. For fans of The Wire, this means half the hoppers from season 1 could still get jobs as US Marines.
So, now that we've accepted terrorists, or at least those making terrorist threats, into the armed forces, what are we going to do with other kinds of terrorists? Well, nothing, really. Former president Jimmy Carter, him what negotiated the Camp David Accords, decided to take it upon himself to meet with Hamas leaders in the Palestinian Territories. Israel and the US denounced move since, after all, they don't negotiate with terrorists. Even though the Israeli Prime Minister shook hands with Yassir Arafat, who died a terrorist by many definitions of the word. But, Carter goes over to broker a little peace, and he gets blasted. And now, fresh allegations of a Syrian nuclear production facility that Israel bombed last September. Syria, of course, denies it and Israel is claiming post hoc justification for bombing their neighbors. But, America is still fighting terrorists and doing it on every level possible. And to do that, we need terrorists of our own.
Yes, the charges about making a terrorist threat keep coming up, but that's because it's so bloody ironic. We have a long history of overlooking some smaller crimes to let a person into the armed forces, after all, people have a right to turn their lives around. So, that now applies to the kid who called in a bomb threat to his high school, but not alcoholics. Apparently, alcoholics cannot turn their lives around and become better members of this republic, but pull a B&E, get caught only for one and you can be one of the few, the proud. We fired the Iraqi army for fear they might possibly be terrorists, but Americans who may rightfully be classified as terrorists get a free pass to weapons, training and all the targets they can shoot at. Remember, Timothy McVeigh started his life in the US military and was sent to the first Iraq War. Now, with the loosened restrictions, the more people over there and the greater disgruntlement with America, mark these words: RIGHT NOW, we are training terrorists who will hit the United States in the 15 year time frame. We will have young men and women who will come back from war to a VA that can't handle PTSD cases, to an economy that sucks and they will either go private contractor or worse. They will a tiny, microscopic minority of the hundreds of thousands of troops we have over there.
Of course, it can only take two guys to take down a building.
So it is written, so do I see it.
For years upon years, it has long been the policy of this government, and many other governments, that "we do not negotiate with terrorists". First of all, this is bullshit. Name a government, and I'll show you a government that has negotiated with terrorists. At the height of Irish war of independence, the British attempted to negotiate with Eamon de Valera, all the while calling he and his people terrorists and murderers. Better examples include Francis Marion. This was a guy who reputedly raped slaves, killed Indians seemingly at will and generally engaged in guerrilla tactics that were effective and bloody. Of course, he was fighting for the Americans, the Americans won, so he was named a General. Congress is still enabled to issue letters of Marque and Reprise, which is basically the power to make pirates into privateers (that is, give them government funding). Of course, these are non-military personnel, using some pretty non-military methods to achieve military goals. However, when the military issues effective waivers for felony convictions that would invalidate these guys for most other jobs to get them into the military, that's a dangerous sign.
Americans have long held a view that the military is not just a bunch of armed thugs, since we spend a lot of money to train them and we expect them to be professionals. Actions that are jailable offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice or UCMJ, would hardly be noticed in 90% of the militaries in the world. Bribing colonels or higher to get expected services is common in many places, but in the American military, you get in the deep serious for attempting it, and the officer can get in even more trouble for it. We, as Americans, expect more from our professional fighting forces than to be little more than felons looking for other work. Burglary and assault, at the felony level, are not small charges. Drug possession, at the felony level, is not a small charge either in many states. In Virginia, to qualify as a felony drug possession (straight possession, no intent to distribute), the drug in question has to be Schedule I or II as defined by the Drug Control Act. Look at that list, Heroin, cocaine, LSD. You can be charged with felony possession of marijuana in Virginia, starting at at 1/2 oz. For fans of The Wire, this means half the hoppers from season 1 could still get jobs as US Marines.
So, now that we've accepted terrorists, or at least those making terrorist threats, into the armed forces, what are we going to do with other kinds of terrorists? Well, nothing, really. Former president Jimmy Carter, him what negotiated the Camp David Accords, decided to take it upon himself to meet with Hamas leaders in the Palestinian Territories. Israel and the US denounced move since, after all, they don't negotiate with terrorists. Even though the Israeli Prime Minister shook hands with Yassir Arafat, who died a terrorist by many definitions of the word. But, Carter goes over to broker a little peace, and he gets blasted. And now, fresh allegations of a Syrian nuclear production facility that Israel bombed last September. Syria, of course, denies it and Israel is claiming post hoc justification for bombing their neighbors. But, America is still fighting terrorists and doing it on every level possible. And to do that, we need terrorists of our own.
Yes, the charges about making a terrorist threat keep coming up, but that's because it's so bloody ironic. We have a long history of overlooking some smaller crimes to let a person into the armed forces, after all, people have a right to turn their lives around. So, that now applies to the kid who called in a bomb threat to his high school, but not alcoholics. Apparently, alcoholics cannot turn their lives around and become better members of this republic, but pull a B&E, get caught only for one and you can be one of the few, the proud. We fired the Iraqi army for fear they might possibly be terrorists, but Americans who may rightfully be classified as terrorists get a free pass to weapons, training and all the targets they can shoot at. Remember, Timothy McVeigh started his life in the US military and was sent to the first Iraq War. Now, with the loosened restrictions, the more people over there and the greater disgruntlement with America, mark these words: RIGHT NOW, we are training terrorists who will hit the United States in the 15 year time frame. We will have young men and women who will come back from war to a VA that can't handle PTSD cases, to an economy that sucks and they will either go private contractor or worse. They will a tiny, microscopic minority of the hundreds of thousands of troops we have over there.
Of course, it can only take two guys to take down a building.
So it is written, so do I see it.