Free Republic

Let me clarify...the Air Force and Navy are not having the recruiting problems that the Army and Marines are having because, after seeing the casualty rates in Iraq, there is the perception among young men and women that it's safer to be an airman or sailor.

I agree it's a damn shame, but the fact is the Army has failed to meet its recruiting goals for four months now and the Marines are facing the same problem. Parents are discouraging their kids from enlisting in these two branches of the military because of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

From what I understand each Army recruiter is required to sign up at least two recruits per month; the top brass have even lowered the quota to help the recruiters out and have upped the ante for college money. The Navy and Air Force are doing fine because your chance of getting killed in Iraq as a sailor or airman is zero to none.

For the record, one of the first casualties in the Iraq war was a young man from Nicaragua who was orphaned at a young age and came to the US (illegally.) He graduated high school and enlisted in the Marines. When he was killed I saw on Fox that he was given US citizenship posthumously.

I have two sons, both of whom are in the Marines. My eldest joined in January of 2003 and my other son in January of this year. I expressed concern to my younger son that he might have to go to Iraq or Afghanistan and he said he knew that when he joined and was prepared for it, so I think my family is doing their part.

The Army and Marines need bodies. You have illegals coming to this country who want to stay. It's like I said before - if you think life in America is great and want to remain here then go fight for your newly-adopted country. Maybe that will get some of them off the welfare, medicaid and food stamps that my tax dollars are paying for.

"So if an LDS member saw me charging at you waving an ax, he'd make no attempt to protect you? "

No, because I'd knock you on your butt first.

"Have they tried the Home Depot parking lots?"

This is my feeling exactly...you have millions of illegals coming to the US who want citizenship. Well, if you want it then put on a uniform and go earn it.

I say any illegal willing to fight for the United States deserves to become a citizen.

You guys don't get it...one of the most fundamental beliefs of the LDS Church is an individual's agency. Church members are taught doctrine until blue in the face, but ultimately it is an individual's righ to choose what to do and on Judgment Day there will be accountability for those choices.

Secondly, the LDS Church is very big on supporting the law of the land. For example, the Church is against war except when needed to defend home and family, but it never told members to dodge the draft in Viet Nam. Young men were told to obey the law and serve honorably.

Romney's position on abortion is no different. He is personally opposed to abortion, but, once again, it is the law of the land and individuals have the freedom to choose what to do. Furthermore, as governor he is hardly in any position to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Heck, if the people of MA, one of the most liberal states in the country, elected him as governor they must have liked him regardless of his religion.

You guys don't get it...one of the most fundamental beliefs of the LDS Church is an individual's agency. Church members are taught doctrine until blue in the face, but ultimately it is an individual's righ to choose what to do and on Judgment Day there will be accountability for those choices.

Secondly, the LDS Church is very big on supporting the law of the land. For example, the Church is against war except when needed to defend home and family, but it never told members to dodge the draft in Viet Nam. Young men were told to obey the law and serve honorably.

Romney's position on abortion is no different. He is personally opposed to abortion, but, once again, it is the law of the land and individuals have the freedom to choose what to do. Furthermore, as governor he is hardly in any position to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Heck, if the people of MA, one of the most liberal states in the country, elected him as governor they must have liked him regardless of his religion.

You guys don't get it...one of the most fundamental beliefs of the LDS Church is an individual's agency. Church members are taught doctrine until blue in the face, but ultimately it is an individual's righ to choose what to do and on Judgment Day there will be accountability for those choices.

Secondly, the LDS Church is very big on supporting the law of the land. For example, the Church is against war except when needed to defend home and family, but it never told members to dodge the draft in Viet Nam. Young men were told to obey the law and serve honorably.

Romney's position on abortion is no different. He is personally opposed to abortion, but, once again, it is the law of the land and individuals have the freedom to choose what to do. Furthermore, as governor he is hardly in any position to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Heck, if the people of MA, one of the most liberal states in the country, elected him as governor they must have liked him regardless of his religion.

"I would not vote for Romney simply because he is a morman. "

If you're going to crap on a religion at least spell it correctly, and yes, you are bigoted.

In case you hadn't noticed, it is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, not the Church of Joseph Smith.

Furthermore, should Romney be the GOP candidate in 2008, there are plenty of the religious right who would vote for him if Hillary was his opposition. Regardless of his religion, he is conservative, pro-life, pro-family and you won't be seeing any DUI charges or claims of draft-dodging at the last minute.

Vote for the candidate, not his religion.

I don't believe the Marine Corps is PC or will ever become PC - if it had Pantano would be facing a court martial instead of having the charges dropped.

Pantano didn't kill terrorists, he killed two POWs.

"It will be interesting to see what happens to him now. Will he stay in (be allowed to stay in)? Or will he tell the Corps to shove it?"

He will move to Florida and play golf with OJ Simpson.

"What needs to happen now is reduction in rank to about corporal for Keane, a dishonorable discharge and 1 to 5 years in the brig."

If you substitute "Pantano" for "Keane" you will have it right.

Just because there wasn't "credible evidence" doesn't mean Pantano didn't do it. But then again, OJ Simpson basically got off for the same reason.

I nearly lost it when I saw the pic of Saddam with Miss Nicaragua and Miss Spain - hysterical!

This is defintely "feel-good" news and makes me believe that our servicement have not died in vain.

Now all they need is C-SPAN to televise the proceedings to every TV in Iraq so people can see democracy in action.

It went no where a long time ago when you posted that picture in an attempt to induce guilt.

I am still waiting to hear why I'm supposed to be humble...

"I would say that Pantano will be a very lucky young man."

I concur.

I, too, wondered why the failure to obey orders didn't figure in this.

LOL...this past February when my youngest was at OCS, my other Marine son sent his little brother a package addressed to his platoon sergeant. In it was a box of care bear valentines and a note asking the sergeant to please have this candidate to distribute them to his squad.

It just happened that day the mail was distributed by the platoon commander. Big brother got lots of laughs when he found out what happened!

Humility for what? Because I disagree with something? The last time I checked the First Amendment still allows freedom of speech.

As far as posting the photo "to show just a small picture of what happened back then" I am not obtuse - we've all seen pictures from the concentration camps.

Oops...this isn't the article I posted...mine was okay!