NYT: On Farthest U.S. Shores, Iraq Is a Way to a Dream

[Pirate Smile]

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands - By jogging at sunset on the white sands of a palm-fringed beach here, 17-year-old Audrey O. Bricia is doing more than toning up for her next try in this island's Miss Philippines contest. She is getting in shape for United States Army boot camp.

To gain an edge on the competition for enlistment, she reserved a seat two days in advance to take Army's aptitude test on a recent Saturday morning here. Safely ensconced in her seat, she watched an Army recruiter turn away 10 latecomers, all new high school graduates.

"I am scared about Iraq, but I am going to have to give something in return for those benefits I want," said Ms. Bricia, a daughter of Filipino immigrants whose ambition is to attend nursing school in California.

From Pago Pago in American Samoa to Yap in Micronesia, 4,000 miles to the west, Army recruiters are scouring the Pacific, looking for high school graduates to enlist at a time when the Iraq war is turning off many candidates in the States.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/31/national/31recruit.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1122783087-j1dob7zPVyTyYL539mMvHA

[Sentath]

1. I didn't do well in Roman History

But what I do remember of it makes me nervous when I read things like this...

[wli]

2. foederati indeed

[TahitiNut]

3. Yep. It's about empire and 'citizens' being privileged.

No human rights, just citizen privileges and entitlements. (The next best thing being a foederatus.)

[bluestateguy]

4. Asking the Americans who support this war to serve would be a better idea

"Let's go Dylan, out of the fraternity house, and off to boot camp you go."

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. competition for enlistment

Now that is a laff.