The few, the proud

...the criminals whom we are providing combat training and arming with assault weapons. USA Today reports that the US Army is increasingly granting "conduct" waivers for people convicted of felonies and misdemeanors in order to meet recruiting goals for warm bodies.

They are also lowering educational standards. In 2001, 91 percent of recruits had finished high school; now only 79 percent have.

But I'm sure these criminal high school drop-outs will have the right stuff to navigate the subtle cultural minefield incumbent to winning Iraqi hearts and minds.