Reply #4: Meanwhile, at least one *deserter* is NOT being court-martialed

[KamaAina]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061031/ap_on_re_us/awol_soldier_surrender_6

Kyle Snyder, a former combat engineer, left the U.S. in April 2005 while on leave to avoid a second deployment to Iraq....

Snyder said he began to turn against the war when he saw an innocent Iraqi man seriously wounded by American gunfire. He believed the shooting was not properly investigated.

Attorney James Fennerty said a deal has been reached to keep Snyder from being court-martialed. Instead, he said, Snyder will receive an other-than-honorable discharge.

That would be the same punishment received by another deserter, Darrell Anderson, 24, of Lexington, who surrendered at Fort Knox on Oct. 3. Anderson was held for three days while his case was processed, then released.

Desertion is a more serious offense than missing a troop movement, no? Could it be that Lt. Watada is really being court-martialed for (gasp!) speaking out about Iraq?

Surprise! It appears the Army is weaseling out of the deal in the Snyder case:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061101/ap_on_re_us/awol_soldier_surrender_11

Snyder's lawyer, James Fennerty, said he had reached a deal with Army officials to allow Snyder to be processed back into uniform at Fort Knox, southwest of Louisville, and then be discharged. But he said Snyder told him Tuesday afternoon the Army wants to send him back to his original unit at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where commanders would determine his future.

"We wouldn't have brought him back here if we knew this was going to happen," Fennerty said.

Indeed. :puke: