Even Canada doesn’t want US military deserters
I’ve written before about US Army deserter Jeremy Hinzman, who cut and ran to Canada to avoid deployment to Iraq in 2004. He and other deserter lost their appeals to stay up north this week:
Two U.S. Army deserters who fled to Canada and sought refugee status on grounds of their opposition to the war in Iraq have lost their bids to have the Supreme Court of Canada hear their cases.
The court refused Thursday to hear the appeals of Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey, who were rejected by Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board in 2005.
The board ruled they would not be at risk of their lives if they returned to the United States, nor were they at risk of “cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.”
Hinzman and Hughey deserted the U.S. Army in 2004 after learning their units were to be deployed to Iraq to fight in a war they have called immoral and illegal. The men argue that serving in Iraq would force them to commit crimes against civilians, and that they would be persecuted if forced to return to the United States.
Both the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal have refused to review their cases.
It ain’t over yet. A few of Hinzman’s moonbatty friends in high places will fight to keep him from being deported. Knock yourselves out:
If deported, Hinzman, who works as a Toronto bike courier, and Hughey, who works in British Columbia, face court martial and possible imprisonment for desertion.
Last night, protesters with the War Resisters Support Campaign said with legal remedies failing, they will concentrate on pressuring Canadian politicians to take action.
New Democrat immigration critic Olivia Chow said she plans to submit a parliamentary motion calling for hearings on the issue and will ask Minister of Immigration Diane Finley to intervene immediately.
“To deport courageous war resisters who oppose the illegal invasion of Iraq is saying yes to George W. Bush’s war and no to supporting and protecting people seeking peace,” Chow said through an assistant at the protest.
Attended by a handful of other deserters and their families, the Toronto demonstration was one of eight scheduled in cities across the country yesterday.
Lee Zaslofsky, who himself deserted the U.S. Army in 1970 to avoid deployment to Vietnam, said it is time for the federal Liberal Party to follow in Pierre Trudeau’s footsteps and support a provision allowing deserters to remain here in Canada.
If there’s a Canadian version of DLTDHYOTWO, let me know.
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CONGRAT”S SOAP! Tipping beer in honor.
To be a CO you have to convince a board that you believe ALL war for any purpose is immoral… not just the CURRENT conflict. Unless you can point to a life-changing experience since enlisting it’s hard to do if you’re already in uniform.
As for these two jokers, they deserted in time of war… they should get a firing squad.
Tip a few for me there John! Thanks!
Congrat’s Soap!
Based on what I read & his own statements, I think the best thing Jeremy Hinzman ever did for his country was leaving.
That said, when he is returned I hope he spends a year in prison (no more, I don’t want my tax dollars paying for his upkeep) and receives a dishonorable discharge so he cannot receive any government benefits or employment. Dishonorable is the perfect adjective to describe this miserable person. (Note: I served as a paratrooper and the more visceral part of my brain says he needs a long and severe a** whooping).
As far as his getting CO status, look up Desmond Doss (WWII vet) & Thomas Bennett (Vietnam), two conscientious objectors who were awarded the Medal Of Honor (Bennett’s posthumously). These were brave men, men of courage & honor. I urge all to read about them.
TIP TIP TIP, THen I read #105 and spit some out in laughter. “best thing Jeremy Hinzman ever did for his country was leaving”.. Now that’s classic. Very well put, Mr. Chips.
Soap #99 - late to the party, but pray your daughter and grandbaby are tucked in by now and sleeping blissfully. Wishing you and yours God’s richest blessings and the sweetest dreams.
As far as deserters, if Canada fails to deport them I say let Canada have them. You can bet that if the only job one of them could get was that of a courier, at some point they will need some kind of assistance, bringing constant attention to themselves and their lack of honor. All and all though, we’ve not had the number desert we did in past wars and that’s because this is a really focused dedicated group. I’m really proud of them, and hope we can help them - instead of spending money on prosecuting those that failed to see the consequences of a decision (what a novel idea). Either way, it should be stamped on every legal document from now until doomsday, “Coward.”
Mr. Chips made me smile too. More “courageous” Americans should grab a piece of fat and slide off to Canada.
UPDATE:
Trevor came into the world at 6lbs 8ozs and 19 inches at 11:32pm eastern. He is perfect!
Great news!
Congrats Soap!
And to all my fellow posters that have served/are serving/or family members my heartfelt thanks and gratitude — Heroes one and all!
Those guys should be digging ditches.
I am always amazed at how cowards like this are unwilling to go to jail for thier beliefs.
Mr Chips
You missed the most famous CO of all time … Sgt. Alvin York …
“To deport courageous war resisters who oppose the illegal invasion of Iraq is saying yes to George W. Bush’s war and no to supporting and protecting people seeking peace,”
aj? huh? what?
john, i’m not part of MM.com
I have to admit that I was surprised that their applications for asylum were rejected. There is some hope for the world.
To give Hinzman some credit, he did go overseas and served in Afghanistan while his CO application was being processed. He only deserted when it was turned down. That doesn’t excuse him running away, but at least he made some effort to work with the system.
And as it was been pointed out earlier, he and Hughey stand to make a lot of money on the talk show circuit after things settle. Don’t see what they are complaining about.
I wonder what would happen if we said keep them, we don’t want the cowards. And, bar them from ever reentering the US again. They won’t defend their Country no matter which one it is.
Congratulations on-my-soap-box! Great news to hear another healthy child comes into the world.
Congratulations soap!! Am still waiting for kids to
multiply and bless us with grands, but I don’t push!
What do you mean, Dave? We can’t keep illegals, etc,
out of our country..all they would have to do is go to
Mexico and walk back in unless they run across some
of the criminal element on the border and get taken
out by them. Come to think of it, maybe they would
decide war isn’t so bad when they come up against
those guys!
Congrats again soap on your new little bubble.
With Carter still living, I thank God ex-Presidents can’t grant pardons.
#113
York wasn’t a concientious objector. He was urged to file for that status by his family and fiancee, but decided that warfare in a just cause was morally permissible. The movie is great, but gets a couple of things wrong and that is one of them.
I think that these deserters deserve prison time and a Dishonorable Discharge and not the “Big Chicken Dinner” BCD. I volunteered to serve my country at the end of Viet Nam and stayed in until I was injured in a car accident that caused a spinal cord injury that caused motor skill problems.
I have no sympathy for this Hoser, however, I feel sorry for his child and his family who know his shame.
How do you look at your comrades when you go back to face justice. Nobody really likes war and wants to die but sacrifices have been made throughout history by men willing to fight what they feel was right and for honor. Send him to Hugo Chavez fight for him.
Not in my military.
DAGNABBIT To The Tenth Power!
Im always a day late and a 1.50 short to the lead up to a banning. My curiousity to what was said will be on overdrive for the rest of the day…
Put the cowards against a wall, and let the fireing squad do their duty. I’d like to voluteer for that duty, others too, I bet.
oldnavyfart-
The BCD (aka Big Chicken Dinner)/Bad Conduct Discharge is worse than a dishonorable discharge by a New York mile.
If my memory serves me correctly; a person with a DHD can still own firearms, and get gov’t backed college scharlorships (sp?), BUT-a person with a BCD cannot own firearms, loses all veterans preferences, and cannot receive gov’t scharlorships (sp?)at all.
To really make these gentlemen pay, take them to courts-martial, if they are found guilty, and then punish them accordingly. This way even if they get a DHD, they are still convicted felons and lose the right to own a firearm, or even vote. Additionally, I would give them the option if they want to remain in this country they accept whatever punishment the SCM gives, if not-then they can petition a foreign government and immigrate there and simulataneously rake away their American citizenship.
But I am sick little squid, my suggestion is to send them to courts-martial, convict them, and send them home on a flight wearing baby blue pajamas with the word Coward writtten on the back.
A little public humilation can be a wonderful thing.
GSP
The USBP caught a couple of Marines trying to sneak into Canada a couple of years ago. The USBP agent who caught them, a former Marine. Man, he had their 1st Sgt on the phone so fast. I think it was on the USMC B-Day when the Marines arrived to bring their butts back….I am glad to see Canada sending them back.
I was in Afghanistan with the Canadians. We lost a soldier each back on March 29th, 2005. So, they have their sons, daughters, parents and brothers and sisters in harm’s way too. It is no wonder our cowards will not be welcome in a country that has it’s people standing on the front lines.
atxcowgirl said:
My dad enlisted in the Army for Vietnam, even though his draft number was high. My uncle had a low-ish number, but was “stationed in Canada”, if you get my meaning…
Though it is unfortunate these two guys are in the military.
I mean, what kind of idiot enlists and thinks they won’t have to go fight?
Patton would have slapped the crap outta both of them.
Jose,
I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for this country. I have a cousin that served in Mosul for a year, and has finally come back. From what I’ve heard, he doesn’t talk much about what went on.
I just want you to know that in my opinion, you guys are heroes! You all are the real courageous ones.
These cowards that ran off to Canada when time came to serve their country as they promised should recieve the maximum allowable punishment under the UCMJ.
Jim
Many of our family friends live in the Western provinces, and they consider the draft dodgers and deserters to be freeloading losers. I second their opinion. I hope the Canadian supreme court kicks them back to the US to stand trial for their crimes.
I do think that there should be some way to get out of the military once you have enlisted other than death. Most of us can just quit our jobs if we want. But servicemen and women are not able to change their minds. My brother enlisted for 5 years when he was 21. Anything can happen in five years, and I think there ought to be an alternative for people who are so afraid that they go to Canada.
These deserters may be afraid, but I don’t think that makes them cowards anymore than any of us who may have not volunteered to serve at all.
Another thing–if you leave the country, isn’t that a fair deal? Leave and never come back? You are no longer a citizen and therefore released of your duty to serve. See ya.
A bit of information about Olivia Chow — she’s an NDP (New Democratic Party) Member of Parliament and married to the leader of the NDP. The NDP is like the extreme left wing of the Democratic Party and they are NOT even close to being in power. In fact, they aren’t even the official opposition. So, she can blather on and on and it won’t make much difference. The Conservative Party is in power and I seriously doubt that either of the whiny deserters (or any of the others up here) will get another chance. They should be escorted to the border soon.
As someone who pays Canadian taxes, I’ll be very thankful that they won’t be receiving welfare benefits any longer.
A side note — another deserter applying for refugee status in Canada wrote a book (The Deserter’s Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq by Joshua Key).
Another book published at the same time was The Volunteer by Michael Ross. He’s a Canadian who immigrated to Israel, converted to Judaism, served in the Israeli army and served in Mossad fighting terrorists. Every time I went to our local bookstore I would cover up copies of The Deserter’s Tale with The Volunteer. Subversive fun at the liberal-leaning bookstore!