There is a war within the army itself to combat low enrollment. According to CNN.com, the Army and the Marines have started issuing felony waivers. The crimes range in degree of severity, from burglary to drug possession. In fact, the article said that two men who have made terrorist threats against the US are now serving in the US Army.
Allowing suspected terrorists into the army to fight terrorism makes as much sense as putting a gun in the hands of a criminal. Convicts have already proven that they cannot deal with societal rules. Trading the structure of prison for the chaos of war stunts the possibility of rehabilitation. Prisoners cleaning up trash on the side of the road seem to have closer supervision than soldiers do.
The percentage of convicts in the marines isn't huge, but the numbers have increased in recent years. According to ABC News, the number of convicted felons in the army in 2007 was 511, nearly doubling from the 249 in 2006. This is a small portion of the 180,000 marines currently on active duty.
Using felons to increase army enrollment means conditions overseas will not improve. Average Joes who join the military do not return from a tour of duty unaffected by their experience - why would we expect ex-convicts to have a more positive experience?
On the other hand, convicted felons have to be in a certain mindset to disobey society's laws. The bad behavior we have witnessed now has the potential to deteriorate further. Soldiers don't disrespect civilians or pillage or throw puppies off a cliff... oh wait. These crimes could be the beginning of more videotaped depravity to come.
Being released from jail grants felons a second chance. But does returning from a tour of duty offer the same experience? Just as community service shouldn't serve as punishment, neither should serving in Iraq.
The US should get out of Iraq before the actions of those supposed to be fighting terrorism are construed as terrorism itself.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
