Military Recruiters must await "Opt-In"

[BBond]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: BBond

You have kids, cK? After you raise them for seventeen or eighteen years, right after they make it all the way through HIGH SCHOOL are you going to drive them down to the recruiter and sign them up to go fight in some lie induced nightmare of a war started by a draft dodger whose own kids will NEVER serve?

Let me know how that goes. If it goes. Somehow I think it won't happen but you seem to be all about allowing professional military recruiters access to KIDS who don't know their a$$ from their elbow and by the time they find out they'll likely have one or the other -- or both -- blown off. Thanks to some recruiter who tells them they can be an Army of one and have access to some really awesome equipment that'll make all their video games pale in comparison.

I do have kids, thank you. And if they want to join the military and they are 18+ or I my wife and I deem that they are mature enough at 17 or whatever to make that decision, then that's their choice. I'm certainly not going to force them to do so and have never indicated that I would, so I'm not sure what you are arguing about.

But if they, at 17-18 years old, want to sign up because they honestly think it's like one big video game and there is little to no risk, then I will have failed as a parent.

My kids aren't being raised to be unthinking morons. I'm sorry you have such low expectations of everyone else's children.

I have low expectations for recruiters in schools convincing kids who are still wet behind the ears their future is in the military fighting a war with no planning and no exit strategy instigated by a group of madmen who never served yet expect our kids to do their fighting for them -- while they make a nice handsome profit on the entire adventure -- and cut veterans benefits to boot.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: BBond

I have low expectations for recruiters in schools convincing kids who are still wet behind the ears their future is in the military fighting a war with no planning and no exit strategy instigated by a group of madmen who never served yet expect our kids to do their fighting for them -- while they make a nice handsome profit on the entire adventure -- and cut veterans benefits to boot.

But at the same time, do you think that 18 year olds are mature enough to graduate school, vote, buy tobacco, drive a car, get a job, get married, have kids, etc? Are you pushing for a higher legal age of consent/maturity? Maybe 25? 30?

Can you leave your personal feeling about *this* particular war out of the argument for 2 seconds and focus on this issue? If not - then there is no point in trying to continue rational debate on the topic, as you can't separate facts from feelings.

If "Your Ideal Candidate" was President and we were fighting WWII all over again, would it be ok then? If so - then you are a hypocrite and this discussion is useless. If not, then you *can* separate your feelings from the facts and should attempt to do so - you'll be much more coherent, I'd wager.

 

[imported_tss4]

well said, ck.

 

[Deptacon]

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: Beowulf
I have to seriously wonder though if the US is having a hard time recruiting my brother just got to SOI(School of Infantry) and now has to wait 5 weeks in forming.Basically forming is just waiting till some company has space to take a recruit in and start their training at SOI and supposedly there a backlog of 500+ Marines.

Marines are below their recruitment goal for the first time in many years but they're still expected to make the yearly goal.

Ditto the Army.

Air Force and Navy are hitting their recruitment numbers.

Reserves and Guard are still in a world of trouble.

active army enlistments are fine, but guard and reserves are in trouble because it inturpts civilian jobs...but the newest rounds of new bonuses will solve that problem. its not even so much new enlistments, its keep the experianced soliders in after thier time goes up.

the amzing thing is combat arms jobs, the real fighters, those enlistments ARE WAY UP. they don't know where to put everyone, so mnay people are signing up for actaul combat jobs instead of in the rear with the gear.


enlistment won't really be a problem, they will meet thier numbers, one way or another

 

[Deptacon]

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Is a legal minor allowed to have sex -- with parental consent?
Is a legal minor allowed to vote -- without parental consent?
Is a legal minor allowed to drink alcohol -- with parental consent?

Whether or not the parent gives consent is beside the point. What is at stake is whether a CHILD -- someone under the age of 18 -- is able to make an informed, voluntary decision to join and commit themselves to the military. I don't believe that is the case. I don't accept that a legal minor can give an informed consent to join the military. I'd say a parent who gives consent for their child to join the military is engaging in a despicable form of child abuse.

1) yes
2) no
3) yes

(Good) parents know their children better than you or I or the government knows them. Not all 'children' mature at the same rate - and some, never at all. Please remember, we are talking about 16-17+ year olds, not toddlers and babies. I'd wager than some of these 'kids' are 10x more mature than a good portion of the know-it-all posters in here. If they and their parents have decided and agreed that a military career is best for them, or for their country, then good for them! If they decide that enlistment isn't for them, then good for them as well!

Just because you have reservations about it, doesn't mean it's not a good idea. You raise your kids how you see fit and let others raise theirs, mmkay? No one is shipping 14-year-olds off to Iraq. Why not stow the outrage for something a bit more appropriate?

They are shipping 17 and 18 year olds off to Iraq though. And I don't care what you say. Kids that age aren't mature. That's just ridiculous. They're full of hormones and pumped up on military inspired video games. They think they're invincible. Only, as many families know all too well due to Bush's unnecessary invasion, they aren't.

If the military wants to recruit these kids the kids should be aware of what they're in for. Not some fantasy described by a recruiter. And definitely not in public schools. If an 18 year old is interested in joining the military and as you believe they are mature then they are quite capable of driving themselves down to the recruiting office if they so choose. To have trained high pressure military recruiters hound kids day after day isn't fair or right.

I've also read that recruiters are now offering large "bonuses" (worth tens of thousands of dollars) as a way of recruiting more cannon fodder for Iraq.

you done calling us cannon fodder? you ignorant prick

 

[Deptacon]

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer

Originally posted by: Deptacon

Originally posted by: tss4

Originally posted by: Deptacon

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Originally posted by: Riprorin
Liberals support 13 year olds having abortions without parental notification, yet they want to pass legislation that would prevent military recruiters from contacting students unless their parents "opt-in".

Typical nonsense and hypocrisy from the left.

Link

The USA is one of the few first world countries that actively solicits children for military service. Making children (people under the age of 18, or possibly 21) into soldiers ("child soldiers") is actually a violation of international law.

no its not, its completly voulntary, and you can only join under 18 if you will be 18 when your intal entry training is over...i wished i joined so youg, i would be pulling retirement at age 38, and still be working in the civilian world....double paychecks....

really?? this is off topic, but that's insanely young to get retirement. What % of your pay do you get at the age for retirement?

75% for the REST OF YOUR LIFE

20 years of active duty service.... age old us military tradition....

Ummmm... NO, try 50% for 20 years service and an extra 2.5% for every year served above 20 (assuming you don't hit high year tenure before then) you need 30 years to garner a 75% retirement.

my contract states 75% after 20 yrs.... but my contract is diff cause im guard, i can't draw until im 60. active draws right away. maybe it use to be 50, im not sure. im no where near retirement so its not on the top of radar right now.

 

[Deptacon]

Originally posted by: ahurtt

Originally posted by: Deptacon

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: Deptacon


well, im getting paid "really, really, good money" to go over there, and i can underatnd why they pay so much becuase of the condtion over there, but i understand fully what to company is doing over there from my interviews and talking with comany officals, pretty much supply logistal and security jobs for the military so they dont have to use personael of thier won to do those jobs.....

of course they are profiting, since when does a compnay exist not to make a profit....unless its in a communist country, but thats what you reallt want right?

BS

"If you think this war will bring any financial(oil) gain to the USA, you have a few screws loose."

Is there financial gain in Iraq?

Yep.

I hope you actually have to do the work Halliburton bills us for.

im gonna.... 14-16 hrs a day, 7 days a week, for 1 yr.... Logistical Section Manager 175,000 bucks for one yr.... not taxed

Well, good luck buddy. Hope you're around to collect it. Wether you realize it or not, people who are against the war are not necessarily against YOU or YOUR ARMY. Quite contrary, they care a lot about you and don't want you to throw away your life for a "war" they see as purely capitalistic / imperialist / [insert gripe here]. You shouldn't act like such a dick to people who are so concerned for your personal safety. If there were somebody I really hated and wanted dead, I'd send them to Iraq. People attack what's going on over there not because of anything against the troops. It's precisely the opposite. People want their husbands, wives, sons, and daughters safe at home with them. Not over there risking throwing everything away for what? That retirement pay at age 38 sounds really sweet, yes. Just remember you gotta be around to collect it. I feel you'd be much more useful here at home helping root out the terrorists we know are already inside our borders. And believe it or not, we want you around.

you got me mixed up...in in the national guard, but im going over as a civilian contractor, not on military time. sorry..but yeah your right anyways....and i agree..im refering from the people who get away from that mentality, and start directly attacking the mission or objectives. why thiey think they arent attacking the troops they are, thats how it comes off, thats how it is seen.

i belive in the best defense is an offsense, and we have already ripped many terror orgainizations to shreads, and not here on american soil. you cant fight this problem here. cause the cells will just keep coming. plus the army doesnt deal with domestic problems, thats what the feds are for.

 

[Deptacon]

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: BBond

They are shipping 17 and 18 year olds off to Iraq though. And I don't care what you say. Kids that age aren't mature. That's just ridiculous.

The laws and courts say they are mature enough. The military says they are mature enough. The individuals say they are mature enough. The parents say they are mature enough. History has shown that they are mature enough. But you don't care - you don't think they are mature enough! :roll:

Got ego?

You have kids, cK? After you raise them for seventeen or eighteen years, right after they make it all the way through HIGH SCHOOL are you going to drive them down to the recruiter and sign them up to go fight in some lie induced nightmare of a war started by a draft dodger whose own kids will NEVER serve?

Let me know how that goes. If it goes. Somehow I think it won't happen but you seem to be all about allowing professional military recruiters access to KIDS who don't know their a$$ from their elbow and by the time they find out they'll likely have one or the other -- or both -- blown off. Thanks to some recruiter who tells them they can be an Army of one and have access to some really awesome equipment that'll make all their video games pale in comparison.

bush didint draft dodge, he served...did he play it safe, yes, but he diint draft dodge. nor did he burn his uniform and throw away his medals. nor did he leave vietnam after only 3 months, leaving his mean that he was leading behind to keep fighting. we go on about this all day...

see this is what im tlaking about, your attakcing the military, not poilicy, by your wise a$$ smart a$$ comments....this is the crap im talking about....

BBOND YOU obviously never served, so where is your knowledge base to comment on all of this, eh? NONE, ZERO.

most people hwoserve don't sign up to serve, the current president. we see it as a higher calling ,serving a nation, not a president. so he gives the orders. thats fine. but its a bigger picture. stop being so closed minded.

 

[Deptacon]

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: BBond

You have kids, cK? After you raise them for seventeen or eighteen years, right after they make it all the way through HIGH SCHOOL are you going to drive them down to the recruiter and sign them up to go fight in some lie induced nightmare of a war started by a draft dodger whose own kids will NEVER serve?

Let me know how that goes. If it goes. Somehow I think it won't happen but you seem to be all about allowing professional military recruiters access to KIDS who don't know their a$$ from their elbow and by the time they find out they'll likely have one or the other -- or both -- blown off. Thanks to some recruiter who tells them they can be an Army of one and have access to some really awesome equipment that'll make all their video games pale in comparison.

I do have kids, thank you. And if they want to join the military and they are 18+ or I my wife and I deem that they are mature enough at 17 or whatever to make that decision, then that's their choice. I'm certainly not going to force them to do so and have never indicated that I would, so I'm not sure what you are arguing about.

But if they, at 17-18 years old, want to sign up because they honestly think it's like one big video game and there is little to no risk, then I will have failed as a parent.

My kids aren't being raised to be unthinking morons. I'm sorry you have such low expectations of everyone else's children.

I have low expectations for recruiters in schools convincing kids who are still wet behind the ears their future is in the military fighting a war with no planning and no exit strategy instigated by a group of madmen who never served yet expect our kids to do their fighting for them -- while they make a nice handsome profit on the entire adventure -- and cut veterans benefits to boot.

wh y cause all we are looking for is fresh bodies to fill body bags? no. we need motivated, driving, team players. people who aren't close minded, people who believe in a higer cause. if you raise your kids to think like you do, don't bring em to the recruiter, cause we don't need pessamistic, negtive thinking, hatred filled people in the army. we have enough as it is.

 

[Detayned1447]

I think it is a good idea to help protect the students because some kids I knew thought it looked good, but they do trick you when they can and having parents there to guide you through it would be a good idea, but I do see what you're saying about the whole abortion thing as well

 

[jackschmittusa]

I accompanied all of my kids on their first couple of car purchases. Though I thought all of them were well rounded and intellegent, I thought it wise to help them in their first dealings with trained salesmen motavated to close a deal. They made the final decisions, but I made sure that the negotiations were fair and honest. In all cases, I had to be quite active to accomplish this. Only the youngest joined the military. Only a few of the recruiter's claims made it to paper when I insisted that his promises be put in writing. He did join up, but he had a more honest assessment of what to expect than he would have had, had he gone alone. I could not have lead them through any of these experiences until they were 18 (able to sign contracts). None of my kids became cocky, know-it-alls at 18. None were embarrassed by my presence, and all thanked me for my help. Just because your kids reach the age of majority, does not mean you should stop teaching them.

 

[BBond]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: BBond

I have low expectations for recruiters in schools convincing kids who are still wet behind the ears their future is in the military fighting a war with no planning and no exit strategy instigated by a group of madmen who never served yet expect our kids to do their fighting for them -- while they make a nice handsome profit on the entire adventure -- and cut veterans benefits to boot.

But at the same time, do you think that 18 year olds are mature enough to graduate school, vote, buy tobacco, drive a car, get a job, get married, have kids, etc? Are you pushing for a higher legal age of consent/maturity? Maybe 25? 30?

Can you leave your personal feeling about *this* particular war out of the argument for 2 seconds and focus on this issue? If not - then there is no point in trying to continue rational debate on the topic, as you can't separate facts from feelings.

If "Your Ideal Candidate" was President and we were fighting WWII all over again, would it be ok then? If so - then you are a hypocrite and this discussion is useless. If not, then you *can* separate your feelings from the facts and should attempt to do so - you'll be much more coherent, I'd wager.

18 year olds can graduate high school but all that proves today is they are capable of passing simplified multiple choice tests.

We didn't have multiple choice when I graduated high school. We actually had to know the answers. As far as voting, if you're old enough to be drafted you're old enough to vote, IMO. A job? I began working when I was 12. What does achieving 18 years have to do with work? Married and kids? At 18? If you think you can handle it go right ahead. It worked for me.

21 is a fine age of majority IMO.

I used to frequent the neighborhood pub until they lowered the drinking age to 18 and ruined the atmosphere with a bunch of kids who had a hard time handling their first beer. Now they've raised the drinking age back to 21 so it's safe again to visit the pub and have a Guiness and a wee dram.

If my ideal candidate was president and we were fighting a war that was necessary, like WWII for instance, where some 5 million U.S. troops cycled in and out of theater then of course you have to take every man you can get.

This war is the military equivalent of elective surgery and since WWII the elitists who send our kids off to fight have found a way to keep their kids home. So no, I don't agree with recruiters abusing a captive audience in public schools. Parents send their kids to school for an education. If a kid really wants to enlist they can find the nearest recruiter easy enough. This war is about Bush finding any way he can to avoid drafting those 17 and 18 year olds so he and America don't have to face the reality of the disaster his lies have caused.

That's why recruiters are so hell bent on getting to these kids ASAP. Their recruiting goals are slipping and they're looking for way more than "a few good men." Even if they're only boys.

I don't have any draft age kids so it's no skin off my nose. If you want your kids proscelatized by the military and shipped off to Iraq be my guest. That's your decision. But I would suggest you handle the details on your own instead of forcing every high school kid in the nation to be exposed to the high pressure recruitiing tactics of the "all volunteer" military.

 

[Deptacon]

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: BBond

I have low expectations for recruiters in schools convincing kids who are still wet behind the ears their future is in the military fighting a war with no planning and no exit strategy instigated by a group of madmen who never served yet expect our kids to do their fighting for them -- while they make a nice handsome profit on the entire adventure -- and cut veterans benefits to boot.

But at the same time, do you think that 18 year olds are mature enough to graduate school, vote, buy tobacco, drive a car, get a job, get married, have kids, etc? Are you pushing for a higher legal age of consent/maturity? Maybe 25? 30?

Can you leave your personal feeling about *this* particular war out of the argument for 2 seconds and focus on this issue? If not - then there is no point in trying to continue rational debate on the topic, as you can't separate facts from feelings.

If "Your Ideal Candidate" was President and we were fighting WWII all over again, would it be ok then? If so - then you are a hypocrite and this discussion is useless. If not, then you *can* separate your feelings from the facts and should attempt to do so - you'll be much more coherent, I'd wager.

That's why recruiters are so hell bent on getting to these kids ASAP. Their recruiting goals are slipping and they're looking for way more than "a few good men." Even if they're only boys.

you seemto speak like you've been a recruiter. STOP making assumptions... like we say in the military assumptions are the mother of all FVCK UPS. you assume you know this, assume you that.

you assume everything is a freakin conspiracy.

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
I accompanied all of my kids on their first couple of car purchases. Though I thought all of them were well rounded and intellegent, I thought it wise to help them in their first dealings with trained salesmen motavated to close a deal. They made the final decisions, but I made sure that the negotiations were fair and honest. In all cases, I had to be quite active to accomplish this. Only the youngest joined the military. Only a few of the recruiter's claims made it to paper when I insisted that his promises be put in writing. He did join up, but he had a more honest assessment of what to expect than he would have had, had he gone alone. I could not have lead them through any of these experiences until they were 18 (able to sign contracts). None of my kids became cocky, know-it-alls at 18. None were embarrassed by my presence, and all thanked me for my help. Just because your kids reach the age of majority, does not mean you should stop teaching them.

That is an excellent post. A lot of people and parents in this country seem to believe that once their kid turns 18, they should throw them to the wolves because they are technically adults. I don't think most high school kids realize what joining the armed services means. When I was in high school, we had a recruiter talk to our class. He didn't show us any videos of someone getting their arms blown off from a roadside bomb or someone shot to death, instead he kept on repeating "We'll pay for your college tuition, you can travel the world, you'll acquire skills" etc.. Now someone earlier made a comparison to a college talking to your kids. The difference is that once you sign on the dotted line, you sign your life to the government and they can do whatever they want with you, when you sign up for college, you can drop out that semester and transfer. Big difference. Anyway, I think it would be better to recruit kids at 19 or 20 but the military wouldn't have as many new recruits.

 

[Riprorin]

When you bought a car, did the salesman show you pictures of people who were maimed or killed in head-on collisions?

 

[BBond]

Originally posted by: Riprorin
When you bought a car, did the salesman show you pictures of people who were maimed or killed in head-on collisions?

No, but he didn't force me to drive down the road where those collisions happen every day either.

 

[Riprorin]

How about construction companies, do they show prospective employees pictures of workers maimed or killed at construction sites?

Or do factories show recruits pictures of workers maimed or killed in workplace accidents?

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: Tabb

Originally posted by: Riprorin
Liberals support 13 year olds having abortions without parental notification, yet they want to pass legislation that would prevent military recruiters from contacting students unless their parents "opt-in".

Typical nonsense and hypocrisy from the left.

Link

How is it non-sense exactly? Parents should be notified if a child has some medical procedure done on them and the military does not need a childs personal information, espically that the age.

I agree with the parents knowing about a military recruiter contacting their kids, because they do make alot of promises... and sometimes they don't come through. Plus,as you have pointed out Tabb - parents should be informed/give consent to Abortions and other medical procedures(including what pharmaceuticals "doctors" give their kids). If a parent is held legally responsible for their child(and they are) then the parents have the ultimate say and should be notified. At 18 however - all bets are off.

CsG

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: Riprorin
How about construction companies, do they show prospective employees pictures of workers maimed or killed at construction sites?

Or do factories show recruits pictures of workers maimed or killed in workplace accidents?

This link is for you Rip

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Riprorin
How about construction companies, do they show prospective employees pictures of workers maimed or killed at construction sites?

Or do factories show recruits pictures of workers maimed or killed in workplace accidents?

This link is for you Rip

Caveat emptor. I don't care what profession we're talking about.

 

[imported_tss4]

Originally posted by: BBond

18 year olds can graduate high school but all that proves today is they are capable of passing simplified multiple choice tests.

We didn't have multiple choice when I graduated high school. We actually had to know the answers.

What an ignorant comment. Yes, high school was so much more challenging in your day.

 

[Deptacon]

Originally posted by: tss4

Originally posted by: BBond

18 year olds can graduate high school but all that proves today is they are capable of passing simplified multiple choice tests.

We didn't have multiple choice when I graduated high school. We actually had to know the answers.

What an ignorant comment. Yes, high school was so much more challenging in your day.

hahah yeah, was a pretty stupid comment..... BBond did you have to walk 20 miles in the blizzard to and from school....and make 2 cents for working all weekend.... please.... do you ever not attack anybody, or put someone else down????

BBond, you hate the military, you hate recruiters, you hate christians, you hate republicans, you hate bush, and of that matter, anyone who works for him....

you also think kids a re stupid and can't make sound decsion, you think soldiers are stupid for shooting at the italian, you think bush, and with that everyone who works for him is stupid.....

basically, if they arent you, michael moore, john kerry, or hillary, they are stupid, liars, and murders right?

 

[hysperion]

Originally posted by: Deptacon

Originally posted by: arsbanned
I smell a bannin' comin' on. His Army.... Funny shiznit. YAVOLT HERR GENERALLL!

my army , this man's army are all phrases we use, something we consider w eearned after the right of passage, or complettion of training, or years in etc..... its freakin lingo...calm the hell down....

you think I don't have a right to call it that?

he can call his "army of one" his army if he wants

 

[Deptacon]

Originally posted by: hysperion

Originally posted by: Deptacon

Originally posted by: arsbanned
I smell a bannin' comin' on. His Army.... Funny shiznit. YAVOLT HERR GENERALLL!

my army , this man's army are all phrases we use, something we consider w eearned after the right of passage, or complettion of training, or years in etc..... its freakin lingo...calm the hell down....

you think I don't have a right to call it that?

he can call his "army of one" his army if he wants

yeah idont like that new motto..."army of one" doesnt make much since to me.... but hey, whatever gets the numbers i guess

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: Deptacon

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Is a legal minor allowed to have sex -- with parental consent?
Is a legal minor allowed to vote -- without parental consent?
Is a legal minor allowed to drink alcohol -- with parental consent?

Whether or not the parent gives consent is beside the point. What is at stake is whether a CHILD -- someone under the age of 18 -- is able to make an informed, voluntary decision to join and commit themselves to the military. I don't believe that is the case. I don't accept that a legal minor can give an informed consent to join the military. I'd say a parent who gives consent for their child to join the military is engaging in a despicable form of child abuse.

1) yes
2) no
3) yes

(Good) parents know their children better than you or I or the government knows them. Not all 'children' mature at the same rate - and some, never at all. Please remember, we are talking about 16-17+ year olds, not toddlers and babies. I'd wager than some of these 'kids' are 10x more mature than a good portion of the know-it-all posters in here. If they and their parents have decided and agreed that a military career is best for them, or for their country, then good for them! If they decide that enlistment isn't for them, then good for them as well!

Just because you have reservations about it, doesn't mean it's not a good idea. You raise your kids how you see fit and let others raise theirs, mmkay? No one is shipping 14-year-olds off to Iraq. Why not stow the outrage for something a bit more appropriate?

They are shipping 17 and 18 year olds off to Iraq though. And I don't care what you say. Kids that age aren't mature. That's just ridiculous. They're full of hormones and pumped up on military inspired video games. They think they're invincible. Only, as many families know all too well due to Bush's unnecessary invasion, they aren't.

If the military wants to recruit these kids the kids should be aware of what they're in for. Not some fantasy described by a recruiter. And definitely not in public schools. If an 18 year old is interested in joining the military and as you believe they are mature then they are quite capable of driving themselves down to the recruiting office if they so choose. To have trained high pressure military recruiters hound kids day after day isn't fair or right.

I've also read that recruiters are now offering large "bonuses" (worth tens of thousands of dollars) as a way of recruiting more cannon fodder for Iraq.

you done calling us cannon fodder? you ignorant prick

teenagers, immorally recruited into military service by the US government, and sent to Iraq, are indeed 'cannon fodder'.