Posted on 01/07/2009 8:19:32 AM PST by fanfan
The first female U.S. Iraq war resister to seek refuge in Canada has been ordered to leave the country before the end of the month or face deportation.
Kimberley Rivera, who served in Iraq in 2006 and fled to Canada in 2007 after refusing redeployment, was told this morning she has until Jan. 27 to return to the U.S., said Michelle Rubidoux of the War Resisters Support Campaign.
"It's ridiculous," said Rubidoux, who accompanied Rivera to her hearing at the Greater Toronto Enforcement Centre on Airport Road.
The decision will force Rivera to uproot her family – her husband Mario and their three children, including their newborn daughter, six-week-old Katie – from their Toronto home. In the U.S., she would also face jail, as desertion is considered a felony.
"Coming to Canada began a new chapter filled with opportunities and hope for my family," Rivera said in a statement released before this morning's decision. "I am just glad I get to be a mom again."
Lee Zaslofsky, a spokesperson for the war resisters group, criticized the government's track record of deporting Iraq war resisters.
"During the last election campaign, Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledged the Iraq war was 'absolutely an error'," Zaslofsky said in a statement.
"He should support the troops who came to the same conclusion, rather than sending them and their families back to the U.S. to be punished."
Roughly 200 American war resisters are believed to be living in Canada at this time. A handful have been ordered to leave, and await court rulings to determine whether they can appeal the orders.
In July 2008, Robin Long, another soldier who fled the U.S. to avoid fighting in Iraq, was kicked out of Canada and is now serving a 15-month prison term in California.
Ping.
Put her in jail. She joined, then ran like a coward.
Well, Mrs. Deserter, our political elites think the same thing when we don't want to welcome every lawbreaker who manages to sneak in your former country. I'd think you would welcome the opportunity to flee a country which just re-elected a conservative to one which just elected a Marxist.
While I think EVERY deserter should be punished for cowardice, I would like to know why this one person is being sent back, if they all are not.
Guilty.
Even without a picture?
;-)
I have zero sympathy for people who volunteer, then run.
She is a coward who disgraced the uniform. No punishment is enough.
We're working on it.
i wonder if obama gives us a draft will they be as quick to aid escapees from gov slavery as from a volunteer army?
This article is from the Toronto Star. For anyone not familiar with the Star, it's left-wing bias is so bad, it makes the NY Times look "fair and balanced"
i would support them if they were conscripted. but the idiots volunteered, so its stupid
It's pretty easy for an American to lay low in Canada, if they want to. In truth, the US military doesn't really actively try to find deserters, especially not ones who have left the country.
So, if a deserter isn't out there giving interviews and calling attention to himself, he can probably avoid the attention of the Canadian authorities.
Well, here is what the UCMJ says her punishment should be.
(c) Any person found guilty of desertion or attempt to desert shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, but if the desertion or attempt to desert occurs at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct.”
If she gets prison she is lucky.
I am with you 100%! You took the money to do a job and then decided you didn’t like the job. Either give back EVERY SINGLE PENNY, including the value of the training that you received in your time in the military or go to jail!
People rely on you to do your job and now someone else has to be brought in and caught-up and integrated into a unit that may be facing combat - that is unfair to all those who relied on you and trusted that you had their back!
From an interview on a commie site
“Its re-dic-ulice ah say!!!”
Lousy traitor.
I expect Obomber to pardon all such draft dodgers just as Jimmuh Carter did after Vietnam.
Put her UNDER the jail! or Maybe a FIRING SQUAD
no sympathy from this vet
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