Canada To Deport U.S. Army Deserter

[RedSock]

Source: The Canadian Press

Ottawa has decided that an American soldier who fled the army over the Iraq war will not face the risk of abuse or mistreatment if returned to the U.S.

That means Corey Glass can now be deported to the United States, where he faces possible jail time for desertion.


Read more: http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/428269

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This is a shameful day for Canada.

Corey Glass, 25: "What I saw in Iraq convinced me that the war is illegal and immoral. I could not in good conscience continue to take part in it. I came here because Canada did not join the Iraq War. Also, I knew Canada had welcomed many Americans during the Vietnam War."

Lee Zaslofsky, coordinator of the War Resisters Support Campaign and a Vietnam War resister:
"Corey Glass would be the first Iraq War resister to be deported from Canada. He would face imprisonment and severe penalties in the US. This goes against Canada’s tradition of welcoming Americans who disagree with policies like slavery and the Vietnam War."

Alexandre Trudeau, son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau and director of the documentary film Embedded In Baghdad:
"We must not forget that the invasion of Iraq was a war justified only by lies, greed and stupidity for which permission was not sought nor granted to the Bush administration by the United Nations. This outlaw war has ravaged the Iraqi landscape, destroyed tens of thousands of lives and sorely sapped the American treasury all while filling the coffers of profiteers."

There may be as many as 25,000 US war resisters, either in military jails, living underground, or now living outside the US.

[pegleg]

1. Welcome to the North American Union

[OhioChick]

8. First thing that came to my mind. n/t

[Hestia]

2. Chavez said that Venezuala would be happy to take any soldier/military in. Just a thought

[Peace Patriot]

14. Interesting. I didn't know that. They would also be going to a country (Venezuela)

which has transparent vote counting (unlike our own), highly developed democratic institutions (not tattered ruins like ours), and scrupulously lawful, beneficial leadership, that believes that education, medical care and social justice for the poor are human RIGHTS (unlike our "fuck the poor" leaders who have robbed us all blind).

I hope that the war resisters out there who need a place to go know the truth about Venezuela. It's not all that easy to know the truth, given the relentless lies and slander against Venezuela by the Bush Junta and the corporate news monopolies. And I hope that they are aware of Chavez's offer.

[redqueen]

3. Canada agreed to do this years ago.

Their RW shift seems to be continuing...

[RedSock]

4. Not a Done Deal

I should have added that last December, the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration called on the Canadian Government to "immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members ... to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and ... the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions ... against such individuals."

If the Canadian Parliament adopts this resolution, any and all resisters could remain legally in Canada.

While the Conservatives are unlikely to support it, the resolution would pass if the Liberals offered their support. They have yet to grow a spine on this issue, however.

[RedSock]

5. But They Signed up!

And to counter the inevitable "but they volunteered!" line -- which I still cannot believe some progressives still cling to:

Some of the resisters joined the National Guard in order to help their country in times of national emergency and were then deployed to Iraq. Contrary to military promises, soldiers with families/young children were also deployed.

After deployment to Iraq, they discovered they had been misled about the purpose of the war. They realized the invasion of Iraq was a war of aggression and had nothing to do with protecting the United States from attack. They also believed they would be complicit in war crimes if they stayed.

Some of these former soldiers served their entire tour of duty and were honourably discharged -– only to be "stop-lossed" -– re-enlisted against their will -- some for as many as 25 additional years!

That is not voluntary.

[ooglymoogly]

6. They signed on to a used war salesman's lies.

They couldn't kick the tires because they were flat and kept out of sight and the purchase contract was as crooked as the used war salesman.

[iaviate1]

7. Why shouldn't soldiers with families/young children also go?

Just because you aren't married (it's not allowed for many) or don't have children, doesn't mean you don't have people back home who love you just as much or that your life is any less important.

[Bragi]

9. People with young children shouldn't be soldiers...

Far as I'm concerned, anyone with young kids who joins the military knowing full well they will be sent into a war of aggression is an irresponsible and selfish parent.

- B

[AnneD]

10. That excuse...

worked for Cheney.

On a serious note, my grandfather was the sole support of his three children and helped his elderly parents on their farm. Back then (WWII)the Army was halfway decent and assigned him stateside duty. He was still drafted but his kids wouldn't see him die in war. Too bad he died at the hands of some overzealous police that tried to cover up the murder. It was hard taking care of three little kids (this was before SS)when you were over 60 back then. There was no help from the government-it was all family.

There are just some people that shouldn't have to go, esp if children are involved. You have to have at least one parent to raise them. I was in the USAR until I had my child-that changed everything. She was my first priority, and that is as it should be. The month she was born SH invaded Kuwait. I was IRR and I was scared they would yank me back in. I got 'lost' for a while just to make sure. I had already done 8 years of Reserve.

[Elspeth]

11. Kick

:kick:

[nwliberalkiwi]

12. The Other Solution

Go underground in Canada, there are many people that will help shelter conscientious objectors. Yes go underground until a new government is in power in Canada and the United States. They tried the lawful way now they should go underground---it is the right thing to do!!!!!!!!Screw going to jail it only enables the military war hawks!!!!!

[despe666]

15. Even better: a church

Even better, go hide in a church. They won't enter a church to deport you, and you have the added bonus of putting the spotlight on your situation. Journalists will flock there like flies on a piece of meat, and there is a very good chance the government will bend under public pressure.

[Peace Patriot]

13. No, no, no, NO! This is so wrong! Nobody should have to serve in a unjust war!

How could they extradite someone for this? To A COUNTRY THAT PRACTICES TORTURE! To a country with one of the worst prison systems in the world, where prison rape and other brutality is routine? To a country that practices capital punishment? To a country that has slaughtered 1.2 million innocent people to get their oil? Looks like Canada has similar problems to ours--the war profiteers rule!