More American soldiers seeking to flee to Canada

[babylonsister]

More American soldiers seeking to flee to Canada

A surge in the number of calls from American troops during the past week has prompted a Canadian war resistance group to ask for help in housing soldiers fleeing the U.S.

"We have noticed an uptick since the summer, but this is much more intense," said Lee Zaslofsky, co-ordinator of the War Resisters Support Campaign, a Canada-wide organization.

Zaslofsky says the demand is being driven by President George W. Bush's call for more troops, coupled with a waning appetite for war south of the border. The soldiers, he says, include both reserves and those returning from past deployment. Zaslofsky says the group has received calls from at least 24 concerned U.S. soldiers.

"If you have room where you can house a resister for a few days, a few weeks or longer, please get in touch with us," the group said. The campaign has been running since 2004 and is based in cities across Canada.

Estimates on the number of U.S. soldiers who fled to Canada range from a few dozen to a few hundred.

Thulasi Srikanthan

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0111-02.htm

[fasttense]

1. If there is a draft, my son will be joining them.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

3. I'm wondering if there's a way of hiding within our own borders?

..I mean, is our government prepared to track down -what could be 100's of people?

[TreasonousBastard]

2. When I was working with the GI Rights Hotline...

we were getting over 30,000 calls a year.

I wonder how many it's getting now?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. I believe that there is an extradition agreement now between the US and Canada

and Canada can return them to the US.

[babylonsister]

5. But it doesn't sound like they're fond of the idea of returning them when

the Canadians are looking to house AWOL soldiers. Thank you, Canada.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. The Canadians are Wonderful! The big problem is going to be the righwing PM whom I believe

plays footsies with Shrub.

[Ganja Ninja]

7. This is a national disgrace.

We have soldiers that have served faithfully and done 2 or 3 or even 4 tours of duty in Iraq that simply can't take anymore. Is this country now going to treat them like draft dodgers because they refuse to take part in this travesty any longer? It's sickening.