OldSolduer
Army.ca Relic
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I will tell you why they didn't ask for conscientious objector status: That requires commitment. These people have no idea what that means.
FORT CARSON, Colo. (AP) -- A soldier who fled to Canada rather than fight in Iraq has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty in Fort Carson, Colo., to a reduced charge of desertion.
Pvt. Robin Long told a military judge at his sentencing Friday that he left the country over moral objections to what he called an illegal war.
Prosecutors say the 25-year-old from Boise, Idaho, abandoned his duty and his country.
Long was stationed at Fort Carson when he fled to Canada in 2005. Canadian authorities denied his request for refuge and deported him last month.
Long reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to desertion with intent to remain away permanently, a lesser charge than desertion with intent to shirk hazardous duty.
old medic said:Associated Press Wire (numerous links)
Aug 22, 6:42 PM EDT
Soldier gets 15 months in prison for desertion
gun runner said:"What a weasel" , what a comment to make.. if the shoe was on the other foot,would you still make that same comment? I am sure that Private Long will no doubt be slapped with the same comments during his incarceration,but that country has a long history of fighting unpopular wars. The country was against the Second World War until Japan attacked. And how about Korea? Vietnam, now that was the one conflict where escaping to Canada was worth the trip. But now we are both countries at war..albeit for different reasons. Iraq has proven to be another unpopular war, and Americans are getting tired of seeing the caskets of their dead sons and daughters day after day. 3000+ dead in 7 years.. sad. It makes sense to me that this member of the U.S. armed forces would make this choice.. and his reasons are probably justifiable as well. As Canadians we have the luxury of criticism, and yes we are losing our sons and daughters as well, but not to the degree that our neighbours to the south are seeing. We have reason to be concerned for our loved ones.. I know, I have a brother in Afghanistan right now..but the U.S. has 1000 times the uniforms in afghanistan, and 6 times that number again in Iraq (150000).Not to mention that a 6 month rotation would be a total wet dream for those in uniform in Iraq. These soldiers are there for the long haul..15-18 months. How about those apples? So, how do you call a man with a conscience, and a concern for his well being a weasel. If I was in the same position(being sent to a conflict with a high mortality rate, and low morale.) I would probably want to review my options as well. But I am not an American.. and I am not in harms way. I am sure if you had seen the wholesale carnage that these soldiers have seen(yes we have too as well) then you could understand what he is trying to avoid. Just my thoughts. Ubique
gun runner said:...that country has a long history of fighting unpopular wars. The country was against the Second World War until Japan attacked. And how about Korea?
gun runner said:Vietnam, now that was the one conflict where escaping to Canada was worth the trip.
gun runner said:It makes sense to me that this member of the U.S. armed forces would make this choice.. and his reasons are probably justifiable as well.
gun runner said:As Canadians we have the luxury of criticism, and yes we are losing our sons and daughters as well, but not to the degree that our neighbours to the south are seeing.
gun runner said:If I was in the same position(being sent to a conflict with a high mortality rate, and low morale.) I would probably want to review my options as well.
gun runner said:It makes sense to me that this member of the U.S. armed forces would make this choice.. and his reasons are probably justifiable as well.
gun runner said:So, how do you call a man with a conscience, and a concern for his well being a weasel.
gun runner said:leave the Regiment out of your comments. Ubique
U.S. deserter slams Harper
By BILL KAUFMANN, SUN MEDIA
Voters should insist their leaders grant U.S. military deserters asylum for the sake of Canada's own troops, an American deserter said in Calgary yesterday.
Chuck Wiley, a 17-year U.S. naval veteran who fled to Canada in 2007, said he fears what he calls the Bush administration's abuse of its soldiers will be repeated in Canada if voters allow Ottawa to deport U.S. deserters.
"They've made it clear in the U.S. the rights of soldiers will be ignored and if they're successful in doing it to us, Stephen Harper will try to enforce the same attitude," said Wiley, 36, who last served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.
"Harper's always been supportive of everything George W. Bush stands for ... it's not just about us."
Wiley said unless Canadians elect a more sympathetic government he'll likely be deported to the U.S. within five months and possibly face prison time.
"I'd love it to be an election issue," he said before speaking to about 50 people at a northwest church.
Last June, Parliament passed a motion calling for a halt to the deportation of war resisters, noted Calgary Centre NDP candidate Tyler Kinch. "The prime minister should honour the will of Parliament," said Kinch.
A series of cross-country protests staged in support of American deserters yesterday turned highly partisan, hundreds called for a change in government -- including a Toronto demonstration flush with placards reading "Stop Harper."
About 20 rallies from coast to coast -- initially scheduled to coincide with the 10-day countdown to deserter Jeremy Hinzman's deportation -- rounded out a day of action to support American soldiers seeking refugee status.