Data released Monday by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee reveals that the number of Army felony waivers given to enlistees jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. The number of felony waivers granted in the Marine Corps rose from 208 to 350.
The numbers are broken down according to the nature of offense for when a felony waiver was needed. During the 2006-2007 period, the Army offered waivers to three soldiers who had been convicted of manslaughter, one convicted of kidnapping, 11 convicted of arson, 142 convicted of burglary, three convicted of indecent acts with children, seven convicted of sexual assault and three convicted of making terrorist threats.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon discharged about 700 service members for being gay in 2006 under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Honestly, I don't know what is more pathetic -- the stupidity of the animus against qualified gays and lesbians serving our nation or that our military has been so broken by the failure that is taking up space in the White House.
I mean really. Crunch the numbers -- if they hadn't drummed 700 people out of the military in 2006, then they wouldn't have had to replace them with child rapists, drug dealers, arsonists and the rest of that rogues' gallery.
If it weren't so tragic, it would be funny.
Full story @ http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17891
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