"The President sees the value of the unique training that the SOA offers and believes that the employment prospects and self esteem of underpriveleged youths will rise through the formalisation of existing skills, together with government acknowlegement of the usefulness of the psychological outlook possessed by the student body," claimed spokeswoman, Ms Bowes.

The courses to be offered by the School of the Americas will be specially tailored to the target population and will most likely include theoretical units such as "Negotiation and Force", "Interrogative Psychology: the Ethics of Private Thought" and "Democracy: Where does it fit in?" The SOA will also offer a range of fieldwork-based units on firearm and explosives safety, small group functioning, and human physiology with an emphasis on how to avoid causing unecessary pain, suffering or death in one's aquaintances.

"This initiative has the President's full support - many's the time I've come into the room while he has been watching TV newscasts featuring gang youths and found the President overcome with emotion. He has decided to do everything he can to help these poor boys and girls", said Ms Bowes. "By consolidating the skill set they already possess, and bridging deficient knowledge areas to create a viable career raft, the President feels positive that these people will become productive members of society. Futhermore, the skill sets with which participants will leave the School of the Americas will exactly fulfill the upcoming need for counter-terrorist and counter-dissent operatives".

"Some folks question how social misfits, drug addicts, and messed-up kids can be retrained to productivity. Well, this is the Land of Opportunity and the sky's the limit for anyone with a "can do" attitude " said Ms Bowes, quoting the President.

"This administration values the American family and to show our support of this important social institution, the first places on this course will be open to youths recommended by their family to the President's School of the Americas Outreach Program. So if you want to see your troubled teenager put on the road to a successful carreer, don't delay. Past alumni of this prestigious school are honored at School of Americas Watch," offered Ms Bowes.

Two further programs are outlined: Solution Green and Childcare For Toddlers At Risk.

Solution Green is "a way in which older Americans can volunteer to make an on going contribution to the reforrestation of this country" by helping to fertilise tree plantings. Harry Harrison, Under Secretary for the National Parks Service, praised this initiative as "killing two birds with one stone".

Childcare For Toddlers At Risk will provide for male veterans and disabled alumni of the School of the Americas, by creating kindergartens open to the younger brothers and sisters of children attending the SOA outreach units. "The synergies attainable here are quite unique" enthused Ms Bowes. "Many of these children are lacking in both discipline and a male authority figure, and childcare is practically second nature to all graduates of the SOA. With the foundations laid in these kindergartens we feel certain that these children will become an asset for America's future."