P.C. Insanity at the Pentagon

TownHall.com ^ | Wednesday, October 8, 2003 | by Michelle Malkin

[JohnHuang2]

If Osama bin Laden snuck into our country illegally, bought fake immigration papers and changed his name to Osmundo Ben Ladeno, could he join the U.S. military?

You betcha!

Last week, the Army announced that Pvt. Juan Escalante, a 19-year-old illegal alien from Mexico who had used a $50 bogus green card to enlist, would be allowed to remain in the armed forces. Wait, there's even more good news for ID fakers looking to infiltrate the military: Thanks to President Bush's executive order allowing non-citizen soldiers to obtain expedited naturalization benefits, Escalante -- an admitted, two-time lawbreaker -- will be rewarded with American citizenship. Army officials at Fort Stewart, Ga., have promised to actively assist Escalante in securing legal status.

An estimated 10,000 non-citizens in uniform have now applied for fast-track citizenship. The pander bears at the Pentagon have no idea how many are illegal aliens who used fake papers to enlist. Be all that you can be, be whoever you say you want to be, and an Army paycheck is yours.

Isn't there a federal law against knowingly hiring illegal aliens? Why, yes, there is. United States Code, Title 8, Chapter 12, Subchapter II, Part VIII, Section 1324(a) states unambiguously: "It is unlawful for a person or other entity to hire, or to recruit . . . for employment in the United States an alien knowing the alien is an unauthorized alien." The same section of the law also makes clear that any person "knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law" who "harbors . . . such alien in any place" shall be "fined" or "imprisoned."

And, hey, isn't there something in the U.S. Military Oath of Office mandating that all personnel inducted in the armed forces respect our laws? Why, yes, there is. U.S. Code, Title 10, Subtitle A, Part II, Chapter 31, Section 502 requires inductees to swear an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States." The military oath also requires enlistees to abide by the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which, under Subchapter X, Article 83, makes fraudulent enlistment by any person who "procures his own enlistment or appointment in the armed forces by knowingly false representation" punishable by court-martial.

And, wait, isn't the Department of Homeland Security trying to root out and deport illegal aliens using fake IDs to work on military bases? Why, yes, it is. This February, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE) arrested 37 illegal aliens at Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo. -- many of whom had used fake papers to gain employment and access to the headquarters of the nation's largest arsenal of intercontinental nuclear missiles.

In July, another group of illegal aliens with fake Social Security numbers was arrested at Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Last month, BICE arrested 14 more illegal aliens employed by a San Diego Navy contractor. They used fake green cards and Social Security numbers to get jobs repairing military ships. Four more illegal aliens were arrested last month at Grand Forks (N.D.) Air Force Base. Two were charged with possessing counterfeit immigration documents. The other two are being deported.

None of those arrested in the illegal-alien sweeps at our military facilities has been tied to Islamic terrorism. But the point being driven home by BICE is that if "well-meaning" immigration outlaws can penetrate our bases, so can far more nefarious con artists from abroad.

If homeland defense experts understand that employing illegal aliens who used false IDs to get contracting jobs at military installations is an obvious national security concern, then why can't the Pentagon see that allowing them to join the ranks is even more threatening to our laws, order and sovereignty? (And what does it say about the competence of Army recruiters when they can't identify a cheap fake green card from a real one? It's not like Pvt. Escalante was applying for a job at T.J. Maxx.)

One of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's famous rules is: "If you foul up, tell the president and correct it fast." Well, hurry up, Mr. Rumsfeld. This P.C. insanity at the Pentagon is killing us softly from within.

[JohnHuang2]

Wednesday, October 8, 2003

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[FixitGuy]

Michelle has done an excellent job outing some of the nuttiest stunts perpetrated by the 535 crazies we have "chosen" to be our "elected officials"!

At least she is a citizen and seems to be quite proud of it!

Washington is so busy giving away our Freedom to undeserving prople, it's enough to make one puke!

[Ajnin]

I have no sympathy for this individual. Although he came here as a child he has made no effort to recitfy his status. He needs to be deported. It really chaps my hide to see illegal aliens like this get a free ride while my parents both veterans are stuck in government beauracracy attempting to legally immigrate their adopted daughter.

[FixitGuy]

I get your point but I fear Spanish will soon be the national language!

Way too many illegals here and our gov seems to think it's great!

Ya know...."all those McDonald's jobs that Americans don't want."

[Ajnin]

Is serving your country in a war a 'free ride'?

Serving in our military is a priveledge that should be reserved for people that abide by our laws instead of those that live in perpetual violation of them. He got a "free ride" because his family decided that they didn't have to go through the time and expense of coming here legally like so many others. Now that he is an adult, he apparently thinks that it is alright to commit document fraud as well as entry without inspection.

[Prodigal Son]

Although he came here as a child he has made no effort to recitfy his status.

Actually, he did. His parents brought him here illegally. As far as he knows, the US is his home. When he reached a legal age, he used some slight of hand to join the military- probably figuring that he could get his problem sorted out one way or the other while serving. That probably looked a lot more attractive to him than turning up at the Immigration office and telling them "I'm an illegal but I need a green card please". If he was afraid of getting deported I can certainly understand that and can understand why he chose this route. This was his attempt to rectify his status as far as I can tell. I am grateful for his service to his country- the USA.

What would you do in his situation? He chose an honorable way to become a citizen.

[Prodigal Son]

Serving in our military is a priveledge

No, it's not. It's a duty. This Escalante, you know why he was able to join? Because that job wasn't being done by a red blooded American citizen. We are at war. There should be so many people at the recruiter's office that we would never have to take a non-citizen. Instead, too many Americans would rather sit at home and watch those who volunteered on television like war is some kind of video game or action series.

Turn on the baseball playoffs one of these nights. When the camera pans the crowd, look at all those healthy young men in civvies. This is why Escalante is in the military.

[Ajnin]

I dont' care why Escalante is in the military. He's an illegal alien and he needs to be deported.

[Prodigal Son]

Says you. I say you're wrong.

I tell you what- Sherman Austin is a waste of human flesh and he is an American citizen. Recently sentenced to the federal pen, he runs an anarchist website called Raise the Fist. He openly calls for the overthrow of the American gov't, killing police officers (whom he refers to as Pigs, of course), rising up, taking it to the streets killing the capitalist oppressors etc etc etc. He posts instructions on bomb making, battling police in riots, how to cause mayhem etc on his website. He's a piece of dung.

On the other hand we have this soldier, Escalante. Sworn to defend the Constitution. Fought for his country. Fought for you and your freedom. He bent the rules a bit to get in the military because people like Sherman Austin- who is of military age and who did not join because he's too busy trying to destroy your nation.

Austin will be receiving meals, room and board, reading material etc all at tax payer expense. Escalante is earning the money the taxpayers are paying him by risking his neck for their freedom. One has dreadlocks, the other has a high and tight. One is a piece of sewer scum, the other wears the uniform of our nation's military.

I'll take a fellow like Escalante any day of the week over someone like Austin.

Also, Escalante is no longer an illegal. They're sorting him out. I know that must gripe your a$$- but you know what? That's tough sh!t. Deal with it.

[Dante3]

I agree. This guy already proved to be capable of fraud. He is a criminal. And this kind of pass given those with fake IDs poses a great security risk.

[Ajnin]

Well I guess as ling as he's just bending the rules it's ok? Maybe the next time I catch a US Marine smuggling illegal aliens or drugs into the country, I'll cut him some slack for serving his country.

[Ajnin]

ling=long

[Prodigal Son]

Well I guess as ling as he's just bending the rules it's ok?

Well, it's ok now. He took a risk, it paid off. When somebody dies and leaves you in charge of the policies, you can do something about people like Escalante. Until then...

[Ajnin]

I know that must gripe your a$$- but you know what?

Chaps my hide not, grip my ass, geeze.

[Ajnin]

..gripe my *ss sry. LOL