Lobbyists urge Cda. to back U.S. army deserters

[Spazito]

There's good news for the approximately 100 American soldiers who have quit the U.S. military to start a new life in Canada. A group of lobbyists is taking up their cause in Ottawa.

Retired U.S. Senator Tom Hayden will meet with NDP Leader Jack Layton and members of the Bloc Quebecois. He'll bring up cases such as those of Jeremy Hinzman -- a former U.S. soldier who went AWOL before being shipped off to Iraq.

Currently living in a small basement apartment with his family in Toronto, Hinzman is waiting for Ottawa to decide what to do with him.

If he's forced to return home, he could face the death penalty for going AWOL. Under Canada's immigration laws, he and his family are here illegally.

more

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1114092828942_109502028/?hub=TopStories

Edited to add: Thanks to those who have pointed out the egregious errors in this article, it is appalling, imo.

I am adding a link to another article that seems to be more accurate regarding the same story:

American activist seeks Canadian haven for U.S. army deserters

OTTAWA (CP) - Tom Hayden, the legendary American activist of the 1960s, is asking Canada to provide a haven for deserters from the U.S. army.

Hayden, once a defendant in the notorious trial of the Chicago Seven and later a California state legislator, went to Parliament Hill on Thursday to ask the federal government to give special consideration to Americans who flee military service in Iraq on grounds of conscience.

He said American soldiers and reservists of today are in the same boat as Vietnam-era draftees and deserters who came to Canada to avoid service in southeast Asia.

He said the soldiers are coerced to volunteer for the army by lavish offers of cash and educational benefits.

more

http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?id=1d4bf518-3411-4977-a366-e7122a0ff61d

[leftchick]

1. the death penalty for AWOL?

I had no idea. What a great country the ol USA is. :(

[malmapus]

2. Well possible death for desertion, AWOL I think worse is jail time

But these cases seem to be desertion, AWOL is like taking off without getting proper leave permission.

[meppie-meppie not]

10. if the death penalty is even remotely on the table we won't send

him back because that would be in violation of our laws. With this minority government and with the next probably being a minority as well, during the next election campaign trail I want to organize to have people available at all rallies for the prospective candidates and I want this issue front and centre. Those candidates who don't support a safe haven for deserters are will be at the top of the protest list and out in my books!

[cajunrevenge]

3. I think the death penalty would be used in only extreme circumstances

I doubt anyone has been killed for going AWOL since possibly the civil war, if it was even done then. It would be a pr nightmare.

[Ironpost]

4. In awol case its a slap on the back, a wink and a handshake

It sounded good for a moment. peace

[TacticalPeek]

5. Tom Hayden was never even close to being a US Senator.

One cannot face the death penalty for going AWOL.

This article is so disinformative it is probably better not to read it.

There are several web sites and articles around the net that have accurate information about this topic, just google them up.

[theharbinger]

6. check this link

http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/mil/html/mh_014700_desertion.htm

it is short and to the point. The last US soldier executed for desertion was actually in 1945! :wow:

[Gregorian]

7. There's one in the White House. You might check there, first.

[fasttense]

8. You can get the death penalty for desertion but not for AWOL.

Desertion is seen as abandoning your post and allowing the enemy to come in. AWOL is just absence without leave. Probably the reporter got the words wrong (that's nothing new).

[AnneD]

9. exactly

you can be AWOL if your orders are lost in the mail or you are off post, oversleep and are late getting in (hey it happens). Desertion is a different beast. Desertion is leaving your post in combat and receives the severe penalty in order to maintain discipline in the field of combat.

[meppie-meppie not]

11. thanks for the clarification. I still will only support a candidate who

has open boarders for those who refuse to participate in these immoral wars.