Peace Corps and the Military-WTF????

[liveoaktx]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/01/AR2005080101310.html

The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is offering to allow recruits to meet part of their military obligations by serving in the Peace Corps, which has resisted any ties to the Defense Department or U.S. intelligence agencies since its founding in 1961.

The recruitment program has sparked debate and rising opposition among current and former Peace Corps officials. Some welcome it as a way to expand the cadre of idealistic volunteers created by President John F. Kennedy. But many say it could lead to suspicions abroad that the Peace Corps, which has 7,733 workers in 73 countries, is working together with the U.S. armed forces.....

Congress authorized the recruitment program three years ago in legislation that drew little attention at the time but is stirring controversy now, for two reasons: The military has begun to promote it, and the day is drawing closer when the first batch of about 4,300 recruits will be eligible to apply to the Peace Corps, after having spent 3 1/2 years in the armed forces. That could happen as early as 2007.

Two longtime proponents of national service programs, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), devised the legislation "to provide Americans with more opportunities to serve their country," said Bayh's spokeswoman, Meghan Keck. When it stalled as a separate bill, aides to the senators said, they folded it into a 306-page defense budget bill, where it did not attract opposition.

***** AND "Peace Corps is no place for military"
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0812frilets127.html

I am writing to express my dismay about the U.S. military allowing recruits to meet part of their military obligations by serving in the Peace Corps.

I was a Peace Corps volunteer (Sierra Leone, 1988-1990). Any association with the U.S. military or intelligence services would compromise the mission of the Peace Corps.

The countries we serve need to know that the Peace Corps has only one mission: to assist them. If they are suspicious of ulterior motives, then Peace Corps volunteers will either not be welcomed or their opportunities to assist will be greatly reduced....
If the military needs help recruiting new members, then Congress should increase pay or other incentives to entice people to join. Damaging the mission of the Peace Corps and putting volunteers at risk is the wrong approach.

[Tesla]

1. Dippin into the Peace Corp budget is all this is....

[mopinko]

2. piddly though that is

does anyone have a dollar amount for the peace corp? i tried to find this at one time, but was too lazy to dig. i wanted to make a button about getting what you pay for.

this whole thing is so f'ing wrong. evan bayh, :puke:

[SouthernDem2004]

5. More like a method to con people into joining the military. /nt

[magellan]

3. I agree with you, liveoaktx

I heard about this on Democracy Now! earlier this week (I think) and was outraged by it. The Peace Corps cannot operate effectively if those they want to help see them as part of the US Military. And that IS what people will think.

Jeebus, every time we turn around BushCo have found something else to screw up.

[Swamp Rat]

4. NO WAY!!!

The NeoCons want to infiltrate, use, and then destroy the Peace Corps!!! :grr:

[PATRICK]

6. That sums it up

although there is nothing quite like Bayh and McCain falling for the upside of the stupid idea.

Odd how the peace making or peace keeping Clinton professional army was flourishing and now we have Imperial troopers branching off suddenly into a distinctly incongruous and disconsonant offshoot. It highlights the pigheaded disaster that the US has become in its foreign affairs.

As for the poor leadership below the Bushistas, no good intention goes unpunished. Unfortunately the real punishment falls on us while the McCains glory in the bright ideas that serve the RW.

It seems linked to making the upcoming draft more palatable reagrding alternative service. It can used in a cruelly calculating way on sevral levels.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Sincerely, Thank you for your service.

I'm a vet who's getting a little tired of the obligatory "thank you for your service" thing. Like most vets, I spent 4 years accomplishing virtually nothing but avoiding the brig and work.

You, Peace Corps folks, actually do something constructive for the people you help, and for this country.

To want to blend the military and the Peace Corps is an oxymoron.

On another note, I just read a very good book by one of your fellow workers who served in Cote d'Ivoire.

[Divernan]

8. After 3.5 yrs. at war, 25% of vets with mental health problems

A recent report I saw discussed the post traumatic stress syndrome, disfunctional stress levels and other mental health problems of soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. The estimate was 25% - and those are only the ones who are self aware enough to ask for help. So Bush wants to export ticking time bombs to third world countries whose people are already under tremendous stress re health and economic matters? What a recipe for disaster.

I am not criticizing any soldier with mental health problems - I think it's the expected outcome of what they've gone through. But I don't think it will help either the soldiers or the people in the host countries for the Peace Corps to send them there.