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Soldier Who Deserted To Canada Draws 15-Month Term
New York Times ^ | August 23, 200 | Dan Frosch

Posted on 08/23/2008 4:28:46 AM PDT by PurpleMan

An American soldier who fled to Canada rather than fight in Iraq pleaded guilty to a desertion charge Friday and was sentenced by an Army judge to 15 months in a military prison.

The soldier, Pfc. Robin Long, 25, of Boise, Idaho, who left his unit in 2005 on grounds of moral opposition to the war, will also be dishonorably discharged and demoted to private E-1, the Army’s lowest rank.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: deserter
Justice
1 posted on 08/23/2008 4:28:46 AM PDT by PurpleMan
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To: fanfan

Ping.


2 posted on 08/23/2008 4:41:48 AM PDT by Springman (Rest In Peace YaYa123)
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To: PurpleMan

Serving his sentence in abu Ghraib would be the icing on the cake.


3 posted on 08/23/2008 4:42:24 AM PDT by HEY4QDEMS (NoBama..........................keep the change!)
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To: PurpleMan

Can never understand this train of thought.
Morally opposed to the war? The why did the idiot jion the military. The military exists for one reason. Wage war. How do you sign upo for that and then all of a sudden realize oops not for me......


4 posted on 08/23/2008 4:46:00 AM PDT by SECURE AMERICA (Got Freedom ? Thank a Veteran...... Want to keep Freedom? Don't vote Obama)
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To: PurpleMan

Good. I just wish the SJA would have attached special circumstances to the desertion charge. While I know that we will never execute a deserter, the 30 years in prison for desertion to avoid hazardous duty would have been sweet.


5 posted on 08/23/2008 4:46:08 AM PDT by benjamin032
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To: Springman; GMMAC; Clive; exg; kanawa; conniew; backhoe; -YYZ-; Former Proud Canadian; ...
Thanks for the ping, Springman.


6 posted on 08/23/2008 4:46:33 AM PDT by fanfan (SCC:Canadians have constitutional protection to all opinions, as long as they are based on the facts)
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To: PurpleMan

The key here is the dishonorable discharge. He can do his 15 months and it’s over and forgotten but the DD will follow him the rest of his life.


7 posted on 08/23/2008 5:15:28 AM PDT by 101voodoo
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To: SECURE AMERICA

Obviously this coward joined the military only to pay his bills.


8 posted on 08/23/2008 5:19:48 AM PDT by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (If Hillary is elected, her legacy will be telling the American people: Better put some ice on that.)
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To: 101voodoo

In some circles, and even within the DoD of an ObamaNation, it will be a resume enhancer.


9 posted on 08/23/2008 5:26:53 AM PDT by ExGeeEye (I'm Right Guard, here to prevent B. O.)
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To: HEY4QDEMS

For fifteen months he will be Mrs. Robin Long


10 posted on 08/23/2008 5:30:51 AM PDT by Vaduz (and just think how clean the cities would become again.)
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To: PurpleMan

He should have been given 10 years of hard labor, a dishonorable discharge and he should be forced to pay back all the money the USA spent training him. Plus interest.


11 posted on 08/23/2008 5:36:26 AM PDT by navyguy (Some days you are the pigeon, some days you are the statue.)
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To: PurpleMan

> Justice

Justice would have been a firing squad. This was Mercy.


12 posted on 08/23/2008 5:39:49 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter (Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fàg am bealach.)
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To: PurpleMan

As a former infantryman, I believe desertion in time of war should warrant a firing squad.


13 posted on 08/23/2008 5:43:14 AM PDT by Terabitten (Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets - E-Frat '94. Unity and Pride!)
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To: PurpleMan

It’s an all volunteer army and this idot volunteered himself into a 15 month prison sentence... Fool!


14 posted on 08/23/2008 5:43:32 AM PDT by jerod (They were pro-abortion, for gun control & wanted a cleaner environment at all cost - The NAZI party)
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To: SECURE AMERICA
He's just another one that wanted the benefits but not the responsibility.
15 posted on 08/23/2008 5:54:18 AM PDT by snowman1 (SHAMNESTY.)
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To: PurpleMan

JUst lost his 2nd amendment rights. Not that he probably belived he had any.


16 posted on 08/23/2008 6:01:17 AM PDT by therut
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To: Terabitten

Justice would have been a strong rope and a tall tree. I agree with the poster who stated that in some circles his dishonorable discharge will be viewed as a badge of courage in some sick perverted way.


17 posted on 08/23/2008 6:37:22 AM PDT by RU88 (The false messiah can not change water into wine any more than he can get unity from diversity.)
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To: 101voodoo

You are correct. Many people do not realize that a Dishonorable Discharge and a Bad Conduct Discharge are forms of punishment under the Unified Code of Military Justice. His sentance is 15 months and, with good behavior that will be reduced but this young man will have to carry his DD for the rest of his life.


18 posted on 08/23/2008 6:43:48 AM PDT by ops33 (Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Retired))
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To: PurpleMan
I hope that 15 months is HARD time.Its a slap on the wrist. He could have been assessed all the money it took to process and train him. I wish.
19 posted on 08/23/2008 7:17:51 AM PDT by Candor7 (Fascism? All it takes is for good men to say nothing, (Ridicule Obama))
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To: Vaduz
For fifteen months he will be Mrs. Robin Long>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

He will learn the true meaning of " Incoming!"

And the guards will simply nod and smile.

Looks good on him.

20 posted on 08/23/2008 7:20:12 AM PDT by Candor7 (Fascism? All it takes is for good men to say nothing, (Ridicule Obama))
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To: SECURE AMERICA

all I can think of is a) he joined the Army before 2001- 2002 or b) he opposed the Iraq war but maybe not Afghan? Doesn’t make sense. 15 months strikes me as a light sentence.


21 posted on 08/23/2008 7:24:18 AM PDT by EDINVA
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To: ops33; 101voodoo

But remember that the Board of Corrections of Military Records can make it all better. After all, John Kerry has an honorable discharge now (after it was upgraded twice). And he never had to admit to his original discharge for the good of the Navy (in lieu of court-martial). If this guy keeps his nose clean in fifteen years or so he can go for an upgrade or two.


22 posted on 08/23/2008 8:48:46 AM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: 17th Miss Regt

Yes, you are probably right.


23 posted on 08/23/2008 8:59:06 AM PDT by ops33 (Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Retired))
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To: PurpleMan

These kind of gutless idiots just don’t get it. If you don’t want to serve then you step up to the plate and take your punishment.

This coward ran twice, once from his service and once from his punishment for refusing his duty.

Way to go kid, enjoy the REST OF YOUR LIFE with this ball and chain around your ankle.


24 posted on 08/23/2008 9:04:49 AM PDT by jokyfo ("OBAMA" is Arabic for "CIPHER" and Farsi for "VACUUM")
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To: PurpleMan

Hooray! To bad there are no longer any people like General Patton to slap him on top of his sentence.

JoMa


25 posted on 08/23/2008 11:53:56 AM PDT by joma89
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To: 17th Miss Regt
After all, John Kerry has an honorable discharge now (after it was upgraded twice).

You have evidence of this? If so please post it. I have heard this before but I have never seen anyhting in the way of proof and I would dearly love to shove it down a few peoples throats.

26 posted on 08/23/2008 2:39:45 PM PDT by 101voodoo
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To: 101voodoo

He is a convicted felon.... for life or until the Dems restore his voting righs


27 posted on 08/23/2008 4:23:31 PM PDT by PurpleMan
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