US deserters flee to Canada to avoid service in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/20...

American Army soldiers are deserting and fleeing to Canada rather than fight in Iraq, rekindling memories of the thousands of draft-dodgers who flooded north to avoid service in Vietnam.

An estimated 5,500 men and women have deserted since the invasion of Iraq, reflecting Washington's growing problems with troop morale.

Jeremy Hinzman, 26, from South Dakota, who deserted from the 82nd Airborne, is among those who - to the disgust of Pentagon officials - have applied for refugee status in Canada.

The United States Army treats deserters as common criminals, posting them on "wanted" lists with the FBI, state police forces and the Department of Home Security border patrols.

Hinzman said last week: "This is a criminal war and any act of violence in an unjustified conflict is an atrocity. I signed a contract for four years, and I was totally willing to fulfil it. Just not in combat arms jobs."

more

[bemildred]

1. Dang, this really takes me back.

I could start to be proud to be an American again, having
fellow citizens with the balls to stand up and say "fuck you
and your stupid war" again like in the old days.

[tuvor]

2. Bring 'em on. n/t

[lawladyprof]

14. Tuvor, are you Canadian?

N/T

[tuvor]

20. I am.

Maybe my sig is too subtle?

[lawladyprof]

29. Feeling sad about Canada

Just heard from the Canadian counsul that there is no provision for people to retire to Canada. I had hoped that in a few years I might retire there. No dice.

[Kolesar]

35. With medical costs being a major component of retirement costs

Moving to Canada would have sounded like a good financial move since medical care is taxpayer-funded. Did you say "pretty please"?

[The Zanti Regent]

3. When will the army arrest the deserter in the Oval Office?

You know, the one who killed my only child?

The one whose things Goodwill took away today...

[mike_c]

5. Zanti....

[keopeli]

7. My sincere condolences and support to you.

[buddysmellgood]

17. My heart goes out to you and your brave child.

[Cooley Hurd]

24. Their time will come, Zanti...

Their time will come.

I'm so sorry for what you've endured. Goddamn it...

[DrZeeLit]

28. Zanti -- heartfelt condolences...

I am so sorry for your loss, and OURS. As a nation what have we done but lose the best of us yet again. I truly mourn for you and your son. I understand nothing I say can really help -- just know you are in the thoughts of so many who care.

[UpInArms]

31. I am so very sorry

[mike_c]

4. salute....

It takes true courage to stand up and say "No." All draft age men and women should make detailed contingency plans now. Get passports, and open an account in a Canadian bank. Those of us who are immune to the war machine's grasp should do what ever we can to assist these brave souls who are putting their safety, their freedom, and their lives as Americans on the line to resist.

[Gman]

6. Ah, yes! A time honored American tradition!

Thank God for the Canadian people and their willingness to accept our Americans caught up in an unjust war.

"In order to stay in Canada, deserters must convince an immigration board that they would face not just prosecution but also "persecution" if they returned to America. Hinzman's hearing has begun in Toronto and a decision is expected next month.

That shouldn't be hard to do. Canada knows about the tendencies of our right wing revolutionary government to persecute those that don't conform to the ways of the revolution.

[DELUSIONAL]

8. These are the troops I can support!!

They aren't following orders to kill and torture and drop bombs or support "troops" that kill, torture and drop bombs etc.

[The Zanti Regent]

12. I am not a jock strap

I worry about the troops, but I do not support what they do and I certainly do NOT support the asshole who sent them there.

[StephanieMarie]

9. Not reading this in our MSM papers, are we? n/t

[The Zanti Regent]

10. You mean M$M?

Thank you James Wolcott, for coming up with the correct term to expose PRESSTITUTION!

[Flammable Materials]

11. Pentagon disgusted by peace.

Men and women who decide they don't want to kill, and maim, and torture, and murder - and they are viewed as "disgusting".

That's it, white is black, black is white, two and two is five.

[d_b]

13. True patriot!

[earthside]

15. Heroes of Humanity

This is what I wrote on my web site - Earthside.com - in response to this report:

"Heros of Humanity.
It is wrong to participate in an immoral and illegal war. Every U.S. soldier in Iraq should refuse to obey any further order that could result in the death of an Iraqi citizen. The real heroes and the genuinely courageous are those who have the bravery to say 'NO!' to Bush and his Pentagon stooges."

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. Misuse of our troops should be a felony

The asshole who's using our valuable military personnel to satisfy his own greedy agenda should serve jail time.

[LynnTheDem]

23. RIGHT ON.

HIGH CRIMES.

TREASON.

[MissBrooks]

18. This is nuts...

I don't believe in war - but I also don't believe in breaking the law.

For those guys to go into the service and then decide they don't want to serve - that's ridiculous! If you don't want to go - don't join.

[arikara]

19. Just curious...

Which is worse, deserting from the military because a soldier's values preclude following illegal and immoral orders; or giving the orders to unlawfully invade another country and torture, maim and murder not only combatants but tens of thousands of innocent civilians (in the name of smoking guns in the form of mushroom clouds, hidden WMD's... oops... ties to Al Queda... ooppps... catching Saddam the man who tried to murder my poppy... uh... freeing women... oooopsie I mean... OIL... uhoh I mean...spreading democracy.)

Speaking of breaking the law by deserting, isn't the so-called commander in chief a deserter? Is it ok to desert your post for a coke snorting good time as long as there is no aversion to murdering and torturing involved?

I'm sure those decent people wouldn't have joined if they knew what they were in for. Speaking as a Canadian, the deserters who leave because they can't follow those orders are welcome here. The chimpy kind can stay away.

[tuvor]

21. See message #16. n/t

[LynnTheDem]

22. Where in their contracts does it say they must illegally invade & occupy

nations in what the Nuremburg Tribunal called THE SUPREME CRIME?

Coz ya know what...I don't see that clause in my soldier hubby's contract. No where at all.

Must be really fine print coz I sure as fuck can't see it.

[Cooley Hurd]

25. They joined, but the military broke THEIR committments to them!

...via stop-loss and sending them into a war zone for indeterminate periods of time (against standing rules).

So, these men have no reason to honor a contract that the military broke to begin with...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

32. Exactly

We need a strong military. How can we maintain one when the government abuses their authority?

[cornermouse]

26. And does that also apply to the National Guardsmen who

have been sent in a situation to which they could have normally expected never to be sent? Or how about all those who thought they did their time but have now been recalled and sent? I'm thinking in particular of a newpaper story about a 70 year old psychiatrist that was recently recalled and sent to Afghanistan in uniform.

Just asking.

[pokercat999]

27. Think about what you are saying.

Would you obey unjust laws, like the segregation laws in the South just a few years ago? Your statement indicates that you would.

What if you joined the military in 1999 and now find them engaged in an unjust and illegal war, as a matter of fact what if you sincerely believe the commander in chief is a war criminal? Enlisted men cannot just resign like "officers and gentlemen".

Sometimes following the "law" would later be declared a criminal act.....think about it, those following Hitler were obeying the law.

It's always easier to go along to get along, the real "hero's" are the folks who will give up everything for what is right and just, not just currently "lawful". IMHO

[llmart]

30. Amen.

It's my "humble opinion" too.

[Catchawave]

33. The Pentagon can certainly send a message to the troops....

....and court martial GWB?

[Mari333]

34. Good for them/

(((Zanti)))