Why shouldn’t they have the opportunity? Many of these folks want to fight for freedom but don’t see that as likely if they join their home armies. Others want to earn citizenship, and I can’t think of a better way of doing it.
Should Von Steuben and Pulaski have stayed home?
This nations defense is about this nation and her citizens. While it may help foreigners to join our army/navy, I don’t care about them. I am sick of hearing of what this nation should do based on what a foreigner wants. There are other ways to becoming a US citizen and selling citizenship using our army has got trouble written all over it.
One problem we have is that we can conduct foreign wars the people don’t want because who cares if a bunch of foreigners we don’t even know want to enlist. It doesn’t affect us as much if we and our familes don’t have to go.
If there is a war we the people believe in then we will enlist in a heartbeat. There is no need for foriegners to enlist.
Again, I have no doubt many foreigners have served with honor, including two of my roommates while I was military, but, once again, if there is a war this nation needs to fight then this nation’s citizens need to step up and do so. It is one way of controlling our elected officials from conducting wars we don’t want: They can try to send troops but if no one enlists then they ain’t got an army to send.
Also, should our out of control government seek to use the military against the people, we will be facing foreigners who have little ties to us, and they could easily recruit more if need be. A citizen army is far less likely to take orders to do this country any harm.
A major downfall of the Roman empire was that the citizens no longer displayed patriotism. They didn’t have to: Only the rich could be elected officials and the army were foreigners. They lived trying to duck taxes, regulation and tyranny, just like we are today.