Illegal or not, THIS is the kind of immigrant we desire.

This is a perfect way to become a citizen. Better than being born here.

However I react somewhat negatively to your snide remark at the top that relates this incident to previous arguments on this blog about the unwillingness of our government to enforce the laws on immigration. The American Military has taken non-citizens since at least the Vietnam war. I went thru basic training in 1967 with 4 men from Peru and they all signed up with the understanding that they would become citizens if they learned English and served honorably. Later I served in units with Mexicans and Guatemalans.

My presumption is that our government made a decision (one that they could legally make) that they wanted these people to be citizens.

As regards todays illegal immigration, our government officials have decided to look the other way because it was easier politically.

Because, as with all grunt labor in our society, we need them to do it.

Translation: like the Romans, we may need a mercenary army.

No, a draft.

No, not a draft. Unless, of course, you want to destroy the effectiveness of the US military.

It'sa miracle they won WWII.

Our AVF is one substantial reason we don't have to worry about fighting another WWII.

I joined the AF while there were still draftees in the ranks. I saw the astonishing difference in professionalism over the years first hand.

Nukes are why we don't have to worry about WWII.

Wrong. Not having anything like a peer competitor is why we don't have to worry about another WWII. And nukes aren't the reason we don't have one to worry about.

There a more than one reason for that (economy, technology are others), but you can have all of those you want, and still blow it because the military can treat its soldiers like indentured servants.

But why listen to me. After all, I only have first hand experience to go on.

So does John Kerry and he's always wrong.

Well, in this case, you are wrong. If you want to greatly reduce the effectiveness of the US military, then reinstate the draft.

It makes no more sense than forcing a team that has the ability to pick from those who want to be members to suddenly be required to eliminate all standards of motivation and ability.

Say goodbye to unit cohesion, say hello to entrenched, huge, repetitive, training costs. Among other things.

When warfare required mass concentrations of soldiers, the costs of a draft could be justified. But to impose a draft on the modern US military would be a gross error.

Except that we don't need them to be terribly good, because the enemies aremn't, but we may need more infantry for Korea, Pakistan, etc.

That's true only if you are foolish enough to fight symmetric warfare, and don't mind unnecessary losses.

Otherwise, we them to be the best they can possibly be, which means imposing a draft upon the military would verge on treason.

Hang me.