Gang Activity in Iraq?

The Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings and Vice Lords were born decades ago in Chicago's most violent neighborhoods. Now, their gang graffiti is showing up 6,400 miles away in one of the world's most dangerous neighborhoods -- Iraq.

Armored vehicles, concrete barricades and bathroom walls all have served as canvasses for their spray-painted gang art. At Camp Cedar II, about 185 miles southeast of Baghdad, a guard shack was recently defaced with "GDN" for Gangster Disciple Nation, along with the gang's six-pointed star and the word "Chitown," a soldier who photographed it said.

The graffiti, captured on film by an Army Reservist and provided to the Chicago Sun-Times, highlights increasing gang activity in the Army in the United States and overseas, some experts say.

Military and civilian police investigators familiar with three major Army bases in the United States -- Fort Lewis, Fort Hood and Fort Bragg -- said they have been focusing recently on soldiers with gang affiliations. These bases ship out many of the soldiers fighting in Iraq.

www.suntimes.com...

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[edit on 1-5-2006 by DontTreadOnMe]

Mod Edit: title

[edit on 2-5-2006 by kinglizard]

Hmm, you may want to change your title...

Granted I'm a country boy, but I was raised to think the saying "gang bang" had a different meaning which is not appropriate for the decorum of this site. When I opened this message, that's what I thought I'd be reading about.

As much as I dislike gangs and gang bangers....I don't see anything wrong with them joining the military. Better to kill insurgents than to kill Americans.

"Gang banging" to the older generation, the ones not brought up on gangster rap, means to gang rape......

Nowadays it is a term to describe street gang activity, and I dont call them "gangsters" because that was a different era where bootlegging was their main purpose as opposed to the street gangs where territory and drug dealing are their main past times.

I really dont see a problem with gang bangers in iraq because......who better to fight a terrorist? another type of terrorist......

The only problem I see is dicplinary and being able to trust the men you are with, granted there is a similiar comradory with gang members, but just not to the same degree.

[edit on 2-5-2006 by XphilesPhan]

Originally posted by SportyMB
As much as I dislike gangs and gang bangers....I don't see anything wrong with them joining the military. Better to kill insurgents than to kill Americans.

I respect Iraqis who are fighting the occupation of their country over gangsters who may tarnish an Army's name through various activities, and may return home to deal drugs and whatever else.