Military recruiting 14 year olds...

[booley]

Does anyone else find this .... disturbing?

Be sure to read the whole article. way too long to get all the relevant parts in just 4 paragraphs. Especially interesting the subtext when you listen to what the proponents of this are sayings...

http://www.pointblank-dm.com/archive/2005/mar/033105/cover.shtml

"Hadley's windfall was made possible under the Pentagon's "pre-enlistment program" that was quietly authorized last month in an effort to ensure the number of military troops available for combat remains steady for at least the next few years. The conditions of the program are simple. A young man who is at least 14 years old and has a parent's permission can enlist in the U.S. military, but will not report to duty until he reaches the legal age. The future soldier agrees to remain "physically and mentally fit" and to undergo annual physical examinations at the Military Entrance and Processing Station (MEPS). In exchange, the government provides him a $10,000 sign-on bonus that is paid in yearly installments of $2,500 until the age of 18, at which time any remaining balance is given to the recruit.
...........................
Bloomer took a closer look at the contract and was even more disturbed by what she learned. The small print reveals that the $350 monthly stipend her son receives is actually an advance on his $250 per month combat pay and $100 per month hardship duty pay....According to Pederson, the money paid out in the pre-enlistment program is an advance on pay, which will need to be paid back if the soldier is unable to serve in combat for any reason.
.............................
And once these kids sign up under this program, they are committed to serving in a combat zone and face strict punishment if they refuse duty when they come of age. If any refuse to show up for duty they will be charged with desertion in a time of war and be subject to military court martial, which, theoretically at least, could result in the death penalty.
............................"

[sui generis]

1. this has got to get on 60 Minutes.

this is complete and utter fascism.

[Mistress Quickly]

9. its false, see my later post

[sui generis]

16. lovely

don't these people know I only have time to spout my bluster and outrage at everything? Who has time to research? :shrug:

darn it, I'm turning into a republican. I must have swallowed the wrong pill :blush:

[Lindsay]

2. Somebody mentioned this on a comment thread at Atrios.

A call to the source indicated that it's a joke.

But probably too close to the truth for comfort.

[booley]

6. are you saying the military isn't doing this?

If it is a joke (and I don't get the funny part here) then please confirm.

I don't want to be spreading false info.

[cheezus]

3. how can the kids be responsible when they turn 18?

prior to that their parents have to do the signing and taking responsibility: shouldn't THEY be the ones in debt to uncle sam if junior becomes a pot smoking hippy?

[Mistress Quickly]

10. false, see post#8

[eleonora]

4. how to ensnare kids: give them spending money.

"Man I wanna join!"

Mommy is poor, mommy accepts.

[Mistress Quickly]

12. false see #8

[0007]

5. Hitler did the same thing, why wouldn't junior follow in the Der Führer's

footsteps?

[Mistress Quickly]

13. see post#8

[0007]

19. Der Führer was a very clever man, junior is a front and doing the

same thing......

[LynneSin]

7. This man Pederson is fucked in the head for saying this to parents:

"We're going to appeal to the patriotism of parents," says Pederson. "Parents have to understand that their children are needed in a time of war and that sacrifices need to be made for the good of the nation."

Excuse me Mrs. Doe but your boy Johnny is needed to be combat fodder over in Iraq. You don't mind sacrificing one of your children for the good of war

:grr:

[Mistress Quickly]

14. its false, see post# 8

[Mistress Quickly]

8. FALSE!!!!

First things first:

U.S. Rep. Dennis Caster introduced a bill in the last session


there is no such US Rep.

Here's a link with more debunking, you should check stuff like this out before posting!

http://applecidercheesefudge.blogspot.com/2005/04/hold-on-here.html

what a fake picture:

[booley]

22. thanks for the link

and i's good that the story wasn't true.

However, the link you provided doesn't work for me for some reason.

do you have another one?

[damntexdem]

11. There is nothing too low for the Bushistas to undertake --

they and their minions.

[vpigrad]

15. While they might not be paying 14 y-o's, they are recruiting them!

For decades, the army has operated a propaganda machine called the JROTC that is aimed at brain-washing 14 year-olds. They are doing it and have been doing it.

Where is our party on this issue? Why aren't they fighting it? Kids most of all need to be protected from these people.

[rzemanfl]

17. Buzzflash had a link to this article today. I am disgusted that the

country has degenerated to the point where I believed this story, although had the March 31st date appeared on the version I read I probably would not have. I couldn't check it out much because of the limitations on my ability to access the Net at work. The perpetrators of this hoax may have proven a point after all.

The Buzzflash link did not work when I tried it a minute ago.

[Danmel]

18. No Teenager Left Behind

NCLB requires disclosure of information to the military for recruitment purposes when kids enter high achool. Most parents don't even know about this or know they can opt out. My daughter starts high school in Sept. You can bet that will be the first piece of paper I get from the school.

[paineinthearse]

20. This sounds similar to the "Junior Marines" program

There was a post here last week.

Thanks, I will share this with my network.

Pleae re-post the link, it is dead.

[Javaman]

21. The New Hitler Youth

I wonder when they will be issued their little bayonets inscribed with the repuke elephant.