United Press International reports that 5,500 U.S. soldiers have deserted since the war in Iraq started. Following the example of Vietnam era deserters, some deserters seeking to avoid the Iraq war have fled to Canada.
According to The Globe and Mail, Jeremy Hinzman, a U.S. Army deserter seeking asylum in Canada, said he will face "social persecution" if he is sent back to the United States:
Jeffry House, Mr. Hinzman's lawyer, acknowledged that the refugee claim is a difficult one. He argued that to prosecute someone for refusing to participate in a war in which atrocities were committed is tantamount to persecution. "Mr. Hinzman had a right not to participate."
Mr. Hinzman's claim is considered a test case. There are three other refugee claims from U.S. Army deserters that will be heard after the decision has been issued in the Hinzman case, expected in February of 2005.
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Canada has given refuge to army deserters from Iraq, , Turkey and other countries with conscription, but never to soldiers who volunteered.
At The Indepundit, Smash points out that Murky View's Chris Alemany posts:
To be brief, I don’t think Canada can let him in. He joined the Army voluntarily, he signed a contract for however long, and he is bound to that contract. He is only suffering now because of the direct actions he took as an individual, they were not brought upon him without his intent.
Citizen Smash has two additional posts about a sailor, Pablo Paredes, who refused to board his Navy ship Tuesday when it sailed for Iraq with thousands of Marines. In the "An Open Letter to Pablo Paredes" Smash explains the error of Paredes's refusal to deploy. In "How to Be a Conscientious Objector" Smash contrasts Paredes' refusal to deploy with Spc. Samuel W. Lynch's honorable service as a conscientious objector.
I find the deserters seeking refuge in Canada and Paredes' refusal to deploy to be shameful. If these individuals who are unwilling to follow their orders they should stand up and face the consequences of their actions. The actions of these people will only encourage are enemies to fight harder and longer.
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