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Posted on 07/12/2015 5:01:30 PM PDT by Olog-hai
When Army Sgt. Patrick Hart decided a decade ago that he would not serve in the war in Iraq, he expected to follow the same path as thousands of American war resisters during the Vietnam era and take refuge across the border.
But after five years of wrangling with the Canadian immigration system, he came back to the U.S.—and ended up in a military prison.
The country that once welcomed war resisters has developed a much different reputation during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan: Supporters say no U.S. soldier who has sought legal residence in Canada, either as a refugee or on humanitarian grounds, has been successful.
“Nobody’s won,” said Hart, a Buffalo native who exhausted his legal options then turned himself in to the Army, was court-martialed for desertion and sentenced to two years in prison.
There are an estimated two dozen U.S. military members still waiting out their fate in Canada, and the resisters’ movement is seen as nearing a crossroads. …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Shouldn’t.
But the world is crazy.
Please go to Mexico. Clearly, they have plenty of room. They are not at war, at present, so I am sure you can enjoy a peaceful life.
I wish you nothing but the best. However, please refrain from ever referring to yourself as a "model soldier" ever again. You did not do your duty as a soldier. You are an embarrassment to the NCO corps. You disgraced your country, your unit and your uniform.
Enjoy Mexico!
Volunteer
Not to compare, but I always admired Rhett Butler’s stand in “Gone With The Wind”. Here was this blockade runner who had railed such against the South entering into war, (”I’m the only cause I’m interested in.”) knowing how it was going to turn out, and just as the South is falling to it’s knees he runs off and joins the Confederacy.
Though that seems to have profited him too. But he couldn’t have known that at the time.
What a great story, all around.
I didn’t volunteer. ..God I hated the Left in those days...
I guess I was pretty well programmed to join the military. A long ago Cousin in the Army in WWI was killed in the Meuse Argonne offensive. My Dad was in the South Pacific till 1945. His twin brother was a waist gunner on an 8th AF B17, a Cousin served in Korea 1952. Everyone in the family went into the military. Seems like everybody my age I knew went to Viet Nam. They bitsched about it, but they went.
So, I just did it.
Well, with that history you’ve tipped us all off that your surname is not Romney or Sununu!
I served my four years in the Air Force and met my wife, an Air Force nurse practitioner and got married. We celebrate our 40 year anniversary this fall.
So I have not regrets or complaints about how the bad timing of the draft lottery affected me so many years ago.
Our Canadian allies lost men in the War on Terror. Why should they tolerate these maggots?
I enjoyed it too.
One of it’s most clear points IMO, was the anticipation and eagerness to wage war. They made the South look like it was itching for it.
Then you see the devastation. I sometimes grow sad watching some folks relishing the idea of a CW2.
Every time I do, I flash back to the scenes of the Southerners thinking it would be over in short order, them winning it all.
Good for you. I respect those who did a great deal. I don’t think there’s a more ardent supporter of the Vietnam Vet than myself.
When the Left was spitting on them, honestly, I wanted to shoot anyone doing it.
You can’t do that, but it infuriated me.
Excellent story. I’m so glad it turned out so well for you.
Congrats!
Sometimes in life, what first appears to be a disappointment or setback usually turns out to be an opportunity to change for the better.
I agree. I am slow to change, so I’m as big an offender as there is to not buying in to change.
Why should Canada be a sanctuary for U.S. military
criminals? Are they truly political prisoners in the USA , under the threat of death and persecution as they allege?The only way that could be true these days is if they might be conservatives being persecuted by Obama.
The US armed forces are all volunteer now, no draft, unlike in the Vietnam era.
The AP certainly makes no distinction; all those who flee into Canada from US military service they are now calling “refugees” no matter the status.
Sorry; makek that “resisters”. (Wonder how many ohms?)
While this is good for Canada (no one want’s border jumping cowards and freeloaders infesting them), it’s not so good for the US.
We had a real sweetheart deal with Canada. Our cowards went north and in return Canadians would come south and replace our cowards in the ranks with good, solid soldiers.
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