Recruiting For Iraq War Undercut in Puerto Rico

[kskiska]

Source: WP

Saturday, August 18, 2007; A01

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The political activists, brown envelopes tucked under their arms, staked out the high school gates just after sunrise. When students emerged from the graffiti-scorched streets of the Rio Piedra neighborhood here and began streaming toward their school, the pro-independence advocates ripped open the envelopes and began handing the teens fliers emblazoned with the slogan: "Our youth should not go to war."

At the bottom of the leaflet was a tear sheet that students could sign and later hand to teachers, to request that students' personal contact information not be released to the U.S. Defense Department or to anyone involved in military recruiting.

The scene outside the Ramon Vila Mayo high school unfolded at schools throughout Puerto Rico this week as the academic year opened. On this island with a long tradition of military service, pro-independence advocates are tapping the territory's growing anti-Iraq war sentiment to revitalize their cause. As a result, 57 percent of Puerto Rico's 10th-, 11th- and 12th-graders, or their parents, have signed forms over the past year withholding contact information from the Pentagon -- effectively barring U.S. recruiters from reaching out to an estimated 65,000 high school students.

"If the death of a Puerto Rican soldier is tragic, it's more tragic if that soldier has no say in that war," said Juan Dalmau, secretary general of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP). His efforts are saving the island's children from becoming "colonial cannon meat," he said.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/17/AR2007081702175.html?hpid=topnews

[Colobo]

1. Bah; nobody is forced to go to war in Puerto Rico. I'm from there

I did all my pre-elementary, elementary, middle and high school there, and I can tell you nobody is forced to serve down there. The pro-independence people are a bunch of anti-American liars who are using the Iraq War as an excuse to promote their political agenda.

Puerto Ricans that enroll in the military do it because they want to. I was asked quite a few times during my high school years if I was interested, and I always said NO. Others said YES. That's the way it works.

[Robbien]

2. The military recruiting in schools has changed

I would expect the new very aggressive tactics taken by the military in US schools are also the new ones being used in Puerto Rico.

Prior to this preemptive invasion policy of the US, the military recruiting procedures in schools was as you said, not as intrusive.

[saigon68]

6. This stil applies

Some day soon the bottom will drop out

[Exultant Democracy]

4. So no one from PR ever signed up for the National Guard?

Cause we all know that those poor kids got forced into a war that they didn't sign up for.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

5. "The pro-independence people are a bunch of anti-American liars who are using the Iraq War as an

excuse to promote their political agenda."

Now that is hilarious. Raymond Arrieta ain't got shit on you. Will you be here all week?

[Judi Lynn]

3. What could be more accurate than that very clear observation made by Juan Dalmau!

"If the death of a Puerto Rican soldier is tragic, it's more tragic if that soldier has no say in that war."

If any trace of honor could be attached to this filthy attack on Iraq, it would be far less degrading to ask people in other countries who have absolutely no input to go give their time, effort, perhaps limbs, and lives.

_Bush has really profited from having so many poor people in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, etc. Their need drives them to find work wherever they can, at the risk of their own lives. Republicans will NEVER allow poverty to be phased out. It's provides a constant flow of desperate, poor young people who are betting they can get into the service, make some money, and get out without being torn limb from limb.

With his ability for force people to stay on the battlefield long after they should be allowed to return, _Bush increases the odds dramatically that these young people will NOT make it home safely.