The American Foreign Legion

Lately we’ve been told that hatred for America is at an all time high. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of courageous individuals clamor to reach our soil every year. How can such a disparity be reconciled? If there exists a means of using this magnet of hope to our advantage, why not? Does not the fact that multitudes of people risk their lives to join us lend us some moral capital?
In this war on terror we need more patriots on the ground! The Bush Administration is adamant with their assurances and reassurances yet our troops keep getting killed! The increasing casualties are due in part to lack of support personnel.
Maybe now's the time to grant citizenship to illegal immigrants and foreign persons who volunteer for service in a new paramilitary force.

Our war on terror carries precedence over any other war within which we are now engaged. Even so, our Government is entangled in several wars simultaneously. The drug war for example, has consumed 17 trillion dollars and produced nothing of substance (no pun intended). Considering our present crisis, why not also allow those on the fringes of society (including those serving prison time) to volunteer for a noble cause, allow them to serve their country and repay their debt with courage and valor? Consider the hundreds of thousands of people serving time for crimes that did not result from a complaint filed by a victim. Consider those, who did not cause or intend to cause great harm on another, who may possess a longing desire to become a better person and/or mitigate the damage that their criminal conduct has caused. Pardons could be earmed by non violent offenders who volunteer for a term of service ranging from two to six years.
The American Foreign Legion could become a well trained, fully equipped paramilitary organization. They could provide enhanced security and support to fledgling Iraqi police precincts. They could be the eyes and ears needed to thwart future terrorist ambushes.
Including prisoners and parolees and people seeking adventure or respect or redemption in the American Foreign Legion can also have a rehabilitative effect on the volunteers.
Naturally such a unit would be tightly regulated and highly disciplined. The Foreign Legion would be regarded as non- military personnel, though their leadership would consist of distinguished military officers. Also, the compensation for the Foreign Legion would be less that that afforded regular enlisted military volunteers. Foreign Legionnaires will be motivated primarily by their hope for either forgiveness or acceptance. Foreigners who volunteer will prove that they are deserving of citizenship. Likewise, citizens who find themselves marginalized due to negligence or even criminal conduct (not resulting in the great harm of another) will volunteer for an opportunity to become de-marginalized.