Should the US start an 'American Foriegn Legion'?

[Pekka]

I've debated this issue when it was here like a year ago or more.. I said I strongly support this idea.

[Japher]

I didn't think American citizens could participate in hostilities against nations that the US is not formally at war with... some nonhositility pact or something

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Japher
I didn't think American citizens could participate in hostilities against nations that the US is not formally at war with... some nonhositility pact or something

That would have been a massive problem for hundreds of thousands of American soldiers since the Korean War, then.

Edit: Oops, make that WWII- last time the US formally declared war on another country.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Japher
I didn't think American citizens could participate in hostilities against nations that the US is not formally at war with... some nonhositility pact or something

Actually, and this relates to another thread, plenty of Americans fought in the Canadian army in WW2, before the US entered the war. And a group of American pilots fought in the French Air Force during WW1 - Lafayettes Escadrille.

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by Oerdin
We already accept foreign citizens into the military as a step towards citizenship. When they successfully complete their enlistment then they get citizenship.

If foreigners are going to be in our uniform then I'd like them working with Americans so that they can learn American cultural values, etc...

Very well , then . Increase the size of every American unit by 25 % to 35 % , filling up the extra with people who want citizenship . That way , you get all that you want - an immediately increased military size , easier cultural assimilation for prospective immigrants , and increased diversity ( which may not be a very good thing for an institution like the Armed forces , which is why the foreign legion was proposed in the first place ) .

[Japher]

Actually, and this relates to another thread, plenty of Americans fought in the Canadian army in WW2, before the US entered the war. And a group of American pilots fought in the French Air Force during WW1 - Lafayettes Escadrille.

I saw Pearl Harbor too!

[Whaleboy]

so that they can learn American cultural values, etc...

[DAVOUT]

The Foreign Legion as it is since the beginning is recruiting people who want to cut the links with their civil life for a few years (generally five). During this period, they will have only one obligation : obey their officer, and the Legion will take care of everything. It is only incidentally that at the end of the contract they can obtain the French nationality. Only one out of eight applicants is recruited. Consequently, the légionaires are not recruited for non military motives such as acquiring a citizenship, but only because they are willing to incorporate a military corps known for a serious training and discipline.

[Zkribbler]

Hmm, not "catch and release," or "catch and deport" but "catch and draft."

[MichaeltheGreat]

It worked with all those Mick and Kraut immigrants up north during the War of Yankee Aggression.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
It worked with all those Mick and Kraut immigrants up north during the War of Yankee Aggression.

You mean the war against the treasonous Southerners?

[Whoha]

to the question: no.

[chequita guevara]

We already allow foreigner nationals to join the military.

What's more worrisome is the number of white supremicists that are getting waivers to join.

[RGBVideo]

"Wavers"? What's a waver?

[chequita guevara]

Unqualified people being allowed to join: like the overweight, asthmatics, criminals, etc. We don't have enough people wanting to join, so they're granting all sorts of waivers . . . except to fags. Fags aren't allowed in the military.