US deserters flee to Canada to avoid service in Iraq

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | January 9, 2005 | Charles Laurence

[Stoat]

US deserters flee to Canada to avoid service in Iraq
By Charles Laurence in New York
(Filed: 09/01/2005)

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: a 'wrong career choice'

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."

Hinzman, who served as a cook in Afghanistan, was due to join a fighting unit in Iraq after being refused status as a conscientious objector.

He realised that he had made the "wrong career choice" as he marched with his platoon of recruits all chanting, "Train to kill, kill we will".

He said: "At that point a light went off in my head. I was told in basic training that if I'm given an illegal or immoral order, it is my duty to disobey it. I feel that invading and occupying Iraq is an illegal and immoral thing to do.''

Pte Brandon Hughey, 19, who deserted from the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, said that he had volunteered because the army offered to pay his college fees. He began training soon after the invasion of Iraq but became disillusioned when no weapons of mass destruction were found.

"I had been willing to die to make America safe," he said. "I found out, basically, that they found no weapons of mass destruction and the claim that they made about ties to al-Qaeda was coming up short. It made me angry. I felt our lives as soldiers were being thrown away."

When he was ordered to deploy to Iraq, Hughey searched the internet for an "underground railroad" operation, through which deserting troops are helped to escape to Canada.

He was put in touch with a Quaker pacifist couple who had helped Vietnam draft-dodgers and was driven from Texas to Ontario.

The Pentagon says that the level of desertion is no higher than usual and denies that it is having difficulty persuading troops to fight. The flight to Canada is, however, an embarrassment for the military, which is suffering from a recruiting shortfall for the National Guard and the Army Reserves.

The deaths of 18 American soldiers in a suicide bomb attack in Mosul, northern Iraq, last month, was a further blow to morale. Soon after, the number of American soldiers killed since President Bush declared that large-scale combat operations were at an end passed the 1,000 mark.

Lt Col Joe Richard, a Pentagon spokesman, said that the US government wanted the deserters to be returned from Canada. "If you don't want to fight, don't join," he said.

"The men in Canada have an obligation to fulfil their military contracts and do their duty. If and when they return to this country, they will be prosecuted."

The penalty for desertion in wartime can be death. Most deserters, however, serve up to five years in a military prison before receiving a dishonourable discharge.

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.

During the Vietnam war an estimated 55,000 deserters or draft-dodgers fled to Canada. There were amnesties for both groups in the late 1970s under President Jimmy Carter, but many stayed.

One who did so is Jeffrey House, a Toronto-based lawyer, who represents some of the deserters. He said that at least 25 had reached Canada in recent months with the help of "railroad" organisations, and believed that the immigration board would back his clients.

[Stoat]

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.

Sounds good to me.  I don't see a  problem.

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."

And where was it, exactly, when you signed up to join that they made it a point to you that it was your choice as to whether you would serve as an infantryman or a cook?  "tapping foot, waiting for answer"

He realised that he had made the "wrong career choice" as he marched with his platoon of recruits all chanting, "Train to kill, kill we will".

So, up to this point you had absolutely no idea that the purpose of the Army is to kill people and break things?  This is news to you?  Exactly how breathtakingly stupid are you, then?

"I had been willing to die to make America safe," he said. "I found out, basically, that they found no weapons of mass destruction and the claim that they made about ties to al-Qaeda was coming up short. It made me angry. I felt our lives as soldiers were being thrown away."

So, because you chose to listen to Michael Moore's version of events instead of the truth, you think that gives you license to desert?

The Pentagon says that the level of desertion is no higher than usual and denies that it is having difficulty persuading troops to fight.

And so what is the point of this article, then?

"The men in Canada have an obligation to fulfil their military contracts and do their duty. If and when they return to this country, they will be prosecuted."

Sounds good to me.

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.

I'm guessing that Canada's definition of 'persecution' would include anything at all involving a prison or something less congenial than a 'good conduct' medal.

[EagleUSA]

Every country has its cowards...and every dog has his day.

[wingnutx]

Every article I see is about the same couple of guys, while they try to make it sound like a flood of deserters.

[freedumb2003]

"The men in Canada have an obligation to fulfil their military contracts and do their duty. If and when they return to this country, they will be prosecuted."

Sounds good to me.

They should be shot.

[Zeppelin]

Piss-off Ping!

[eleni121]

Shameful cowardly twits...dumb too.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Quite a change in just a few years.
Before America joined WWII, Americans would go to Canada to join the war.
Now they are just cowards going to Canada to get out of a war.

[bwteim]

See also earlier introductions to this same POS:

U.S. deserters' bid for asylum has Canada abuzz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1307090/posts
Washington Times ^ | 12/23/04 | Levon Sevunts
Posted on 12/23/2004 1:33:42 AM EST by kattracks

US Army deserter Jeremy Hinsman refused to serve because....(photo)
crushelits | Dec. 10, 2004 | crushelits
http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1298551/posts
Posted on 12/10/2004 7:11:08 AM PST by crushelits

[highpockets]

When there was a draft maybe, and I mean M A Y B E.... But without a draft? Then you are a simply a dishonest person.

[Zeppelin]

***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.***

...and just to remind everyone, one such draft-dodger went on to be President of the United States of America. Oh, and he got a BJ. All-around good guy, right?

[koba37]

I find these "men" even more despicable than the draftdodgers of the 60s/70s. These "men" signed contracts, nobody held a gun to their heads and made them join. They didn't like Army life and used any excuse to get out. Screw 'em. Let the Canucks feed and clothe them. Don't want any of my tax dollars going toward their upkeep.

[Mad Mammoth]

Strip them of their citizenship, keep them on every watch list maintained by the federal government, seize any and all assets they have left behind, and let them find some third world hellhole to call home.

Begone ye cowardly worms, we never knew ye.

[Clintonfatigued]

Soldiers have every right to privately disagree with a public policy. But if they're so opposed to using the military in its assigned missions, why did they join in the first place? They knew the rules when they enlisted. No one drafted them, they CHOSE to join!

You know what? The military is better off without such people in their ranks. If they want to leave the country, I say let them leave and GOOD RIDDANCE!

[koba37]

Where did they pull this number from:

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

I bet it's less than 100... Are they counting IRRs not showing up??

[Stoat]

"The men in Canada have an obligation to fulfil their military contracts and do their duty. If and when they return to this country, they will be prosecuted."

Sounds good to me.

They should be shot.

Excellent point, sorry for my omission.  I should have said "Sounds good to me.  Prosecute them and then shoot them"

"The men in Canada have an obligation to fulfil their military contracts and do their duty. If and when they return to this country, they will be prosecuted."

Sounds good to me.

They should be shot.

[fastattacksailor]

Deserter (GRRRRRR!) pig

[the_gospel_of_thomas]

Strip them of their citizenship, keep them on every watch list maintained by the federal government, seize any and all assets they have left behind, and let them find some third world hellhole to call home.

Sounds GOOD to me - no need to get VIOLENT with them.
However, you need to be vigilant, and not let some wacky judge let them back into the US after 5, 10, 30, 40 years, whatever. Goodbye is GOODBYE.

[Last Dakotan]

And so what is the point of this article, then?

To cast America and this administration in a bad light. Same thing will happen tomorrow, and the next day.

[Kaslin]

I bet it's less than 100...

It would not suprise me if it were only 100, or less

[JimRed]

He realised that he had made the "wrong career choice"

The next step in that "career" should be a nice long stop in Levenworth.