US army increases use of moral waivers to meet demand for troops

[maddezmom]

Source: The Guardian

US army increases use of moral waivers to meet demand for troopsElana Schor in Washington guardian.co.uk, Monday April 21 2008 Article historyAbout this articleClose This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Monday April 21 2008. It was last updated at 18:08 on April 21 2008.The US army doubled its use of "moral waivers" for enlisted soldiers last year to cope with the stress of the Iraq war, allowing convicted sex offenders, people convicted of making terrorist threats and child abusers into the military, according to new records released today.

The army gave out 511 moral waivers to soldiers with felony convictions last year, relaxing its recruiting standards in order to admit them. Criminals got 249 army waivers in 2006, a sign that the high demand for US forces in Iraq has forced a sharp increase in the number of criminals allowed on the battlefield.

The felons accepted into the army and marines included 87 soldiers convicted of assault or maiming, 130 convicted of non-marijuana drug offences, seven convicted of making terrorist threats, and two convicted of indecent behaviour with a child. Waivers were also granted to 500 burglars and thieves, 19 arsonists and 9 sex offenders.

The new data was released by the oversight committee of the House of Representatives, which also noted that "poor record-keeping and maintenance" prevented the military from tracking how many convicted criminals had received moral waivers before 2006.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/21/usa1?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews

[tularetom]

1. We might be creating some domestic blowback

I don;t like to think about the consequences of allowing child molesters, thieves, and rapists in our armed forces and what could happen when they all return.

[khaos]

2. they will be cops when they return..

[maddezmom]

3. and I don't want to think about what they will do when they are deployed

:mad:

[uppityperson]

4. Steven D. Green was one of them.

http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/military/military-affairs/18610/iraq-i-abeer-qassim-hamza-is-still-dead/

Although I thought Abeer was 14.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/14/us/14private.html

On the last day of January 2005, Steven D. Green, the former Army private accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and murdering her family, sat in a Texas jail on alcohol-possession charges, an unemployed 19-year-old high school dropout who had just racked up his third misdemeanor conviction.

Two of Mr. Green’s sergeants, Travis Nelson and Ken Casica, were killed at a checkpoint in Iraq.

Days later, Mr. Green enlisted in a soldier-strapped Army, and was later assigned to a star-crossed unit to serve on an especially murderous patch of earth.

He arrived at the very moment that the Army was increasing by nearly half the rate at which it granted what it calls “moral waivers” to potential recruits. The change opened the ranks to more people like Mr. Green, those with minor criminal records and weak educational backgrounds. In Mr. Green’s case, his problems were emerging by junior high school, say people who knew him then....(more)

[Thothmes]

8. This has been done before

You could enlist in LBJ's army with any record short of murder or Homosexuality.

[BeHereNow]

17. Precisely... I really think it's time to consider getting out of the U.S..

This is a recipe for DISASTER.

BHN

[Tyler Durden]

5. THIS is the type of post that should be on the front page with 100 recs.

The umpty-ump thousandth "HILLBAMA" boost is old news.

THIS is what we should be paying at least SOME attention to.

[uppityperson]

6. In case you missed my reply to another poster, Steven D Green was one of them.

[BeHereNow]

18. I didn't know that about Green...

What's the definition of insanity again?
Something about doing the same thing over and over
and expecting different results?

BHN

[Barrett808]

7. ottgp n/t

[woundedkarma]

9. "Bush's Army" n/t

[Wizard777]

10. They would be better off sending the KISS Army.

[Wizard777]

11. So i guess we'll be seeing an increase in war crimes to be covered up.

[OhioChick]

12. Army, Marines Enlist More Felons

Source: AP

Military Branches Under Pressure To Raise Their Numbers

POSTED: 12:32 pm EDT April 21, 2008
UPDATED: 12:48 pm EDT April 21, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Under pressure to increase their numbers, the Army and Marine Corps have sharply raised the number of recruits with felony convictions they are admitting to the services.

Data released by a congressional committee show that the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony records jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. And the number of Marines with felonies rose from 208 to 350.

The bulk of the crimes involved were burglaries, other thefts, and drug offenses, but nine involved sex crimes and six involved manslaughter or vehicular homicide convictions.

Several dozen Army and Marine recruits had aggravated assault or robbery convictions, including incidents involving weapons.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, who released the data, noted that there may be valid reasons for granting the waivers and giving individuals a second chance.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/news/15946250/detail.html

[no_hypocrisy]

13. The military's becoming one big ole Group W bench . . . .

[saigon68]

20. They don't NEED to teach them to Kill

They already have the Skill and Experience to KILL an islamic for mommy

[NoGOPZone]

14. Makes sense considering the Commander in Chief is a felon himself nt

[douglas9]

25. The Few, The Proud, The Convicted

Semper Fi

[Az_lefty]

15. We can expect to see more War Crimes...

this is just sad, we're spiralling down the wormhole.

[babydollhead]

16. sounds more like morale waivers

[BeHereNow]

19. K&R...

People really need to contemplate the ramifications
of this madness.
These people will be returning to our streets after
serving time in Iraq.
I mean really- think about it.
BHN

[kskiska]

21. Double number of ex-cons join the US army

Source: Guardian

The US army doubled its use of "moral waivers" for enlisted soldiers last year to cope with the demands of the Iraq war, allowing sex offenders, people convicted of making terrorist threats, and child abusers into the military, new records released yesterday showed.

The army gave out 511 moral waivers to soldiers with felony convictions last year. Criminals got 249 army waivers in 2006, a sign that the demand for US forces in Iraq has forced a sharp increase in the number of criminals allowed on the battlefield.

The felons accepted into the army and marines included 87 soldiers convicted of assault or maiming, 130 convicted of non-cannabis-related drug offences, seven convicted of making terrorist threats, and two convicted of indecent behaviour with a child. Waivers were also granted to 500 burglars and thieves, 19 arsonists and nine sex offenders.

The new data were released by the oversight committee of the House of Representatives. Henry Waxman, the Democratic chairman of the oversight panel, said that while "providing opportunities to individuals who have served their sentences and rehabilitated themselves" is important, the waivers are a sign that the US military is stretched too thin.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/22/usa.iraq

[WorseBeforeBetter]

22. Just so they're not gay. Phew. (n/t)

[uppityperson]

23. More Steven D. Greens! Woohoo. Abeer and her family would be so happy, if they were alive.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

24. Yeah, I'm SO fucking proud to be an American. n/t

[Anarcho-Socialist]

26. US military recruits more ex-cons

Source: BBC News

The US Army and Marine Corps recruited significantly more people with criminal records last year than in 2006, amid pressure to meet combat needs.

Statistics released by a congressional committee show 861 people were granted waivers to enlist, up from 457 in 2007. The crimes included assault, sex crimes, manslaughter and burglary.

(snip)

"The significant increase in the recruitment of persons with criminal records is a result of the strain put on the military by the Iraq war," said Democratic Representative Henry Waxman.

(snip)

Among the convictions, many were for stealing, including burglary and car thefts, and drug offences. Waivers were also granted to three people convicted of manslaughter, nine guilty of sex crimes, and nine convicted of making terror threats, including bomb threats.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7360157.stm

---

Yikes!

[lebkuchen]

27. The standard must be 3 felonies and 4 misdemeanors by now

up one in each category since last summer....

[Lorentz]

28. Drafting prisoners can't be too far behind

At this rate, jailed felons will soon be set to the front lines. Easy supply of cannon fodder, and it will help free up the overcrowded prison system. Control them with addictive drugs to make them want to fight.

[classysassy]

29. Morals

why should the hired guns have morals,when the president and congress are morally deficient?