How did the U.S. Army manage to enlist its 80,000th soldier on Friday, meeting its yearly recruitment goal eight days early? It’s a surprising feat, considering the growing unpopularity of the war in Iraq, multitudes of more enticing options, and the Army’s failure to meet recruiting goals last year.

However, the Army is employing “new financial incentives, new recruiting approaches and a bigger recruiting corps” or simply put relaxing requirements and pandering to young people. In addition to raising the maximum age to 42, lowering minimum test scores, and relaxing criminal record requirements, they’re using yellow camouflaged Hummers to generate appeal, similar to their “Taking It to the Streets” campaign three years ago.

Perhaps the more blinged out Army Hummer is attracting recruits, or perhaps like the Air Force, “recruiters are falsifying paperwork to make their numbers.” Whether faking numbers, or blocking fire hydrants, the Army will stop at nothing to prolong an unnecessary war.