Friday, February 19, 2010

No Citizenship, No English, No Problem

Not to be alarmist or anything, but there are reports that five Muslim soldiers are under arrest at Fort Jackson (in South Carolina) in connection with a possible plot to poison the base's food supply (H/T Drudge). The soldiers are--get this--part of a program for non-American, non-Anglophones who, by signing up, can expect to have their application for citizenship expedited. CBN Military Correspondent Chuck Holton reports that the program

...is specifically geared towards non-US citizens who bring to the table one very in-demand skill - the ability to speak fluent Arabic, Dari, Pashto, or some other needed language. But these recruits also have a handicap - their grasp of the English language is not sufficient to allow them to make it through basic training. So the 09 Lima program puts them through a sort of pre-basic basic, where they learn American culture, Army culture and work on their English language skills. Once they finish the course, they are then able to enter normal basic training. It' is a very small program, with something less than forty recruits in each class...Here's the interesting part. According to Lt. Col. Frank Demith, these recruits are offered an "expedited citizenship program, once they serve one day of honorable active duty."
Military service has always been a way for non-citizen US residents to obtain citizenship, and thousands have performed honorably in service to our country before it actually became their country.
Though the Army must certainly have a thorough vetting process..., in the case of the 09 Lima program, the ability to receive "expedited American citizenship" must present a tempting opportunity for jihadi extremists with ulterior motives..
Indeed.

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