Canada to Deport U.S. War Resister Today

[babylonsister]

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/91579/

Canada to Deport U.S. War Resister Today

Posted by AlterNet Staff at 11:56 AM on July 15, 2008.

In an affront to Canadian public opinion, American war resister Robin Long will be turned over to U.S. authorities.
This is a release from Project Safe Haven.

Font TagToday, the minority Conservative government of Canada will achieve one of its long sought goals: the deportation of a U.S. war resister who would not fight in Iraq. Despite polls showing that nearly two-thirds of Canadians want to grant sanctuary to Iraq War refusers, and the passage of a Parliamentary motion that would allow them to immigrate to Canada, the Canadian Border Service Agency in British Columbia will bring war resister Robin Long to the border today and turn him over to U.S. authorities.

Read the story in the Globe & Mail.

"This is a gift from Stephen Harper to George Bush," says Gerry Condon of Project Safe Haven, referring to the conservative heads of state of Canada and the U.S. "And it is a gift to the headline writers, who will trumpet that Canada is no longer a safe haven for AWOL GIs.

"But it is an illusion," says Condon, "because this is not the first of many deportations. It may be the first and the last. A minority government that ignores the will of its people and its Parliament will not be allowed to rule much longer." Federal elections are expected to take place in Canada this fall.

Project Safe Haven, a war resister advocacy group based in Seattle, Washington, called on war resister supporters to gather at 9 am this morning at Peace Arch Park on the U.S.-Canada border at Blaine, Washington. There they will be joined by Canadian supporters.

In the meantime, an Iraq veteran who voluntarily returned to the U.S. after seeking asylum in Canada, is slated to be court-martialed Wednesday at Fort Knox, Kentucky, the same base where Robin Long is expected to be imprisoned.

James Burmeister, who was wounded in Iraq and suffers from PTSD, will be facing a court martial tomorrow (July 16) at the Fort Knox base. According to a statement issued today by his support team: The prosecutor will try to hold him to AWOL and desertion charges. They will likely reject that James ever suffered from PTSD in Germany, post-IED. They will likely attack and refute any arguments based on erroneous enlistment. Their objective will be to make an example of James, to encourage the Army to see Burmeister as lacking in discipline, judgment and courage. (For more information, contact PFC James Burmeister Support Campaign at [e-mail]).

"This is the way the U.S. Army treats those who refuse to commit war crimes," stated Gerry Condon. "And this is why our war resisters need a safe haven in Canada. We are confident that the will of the Canadian people in this matter will prevail. In the meantime, AWOL GIs will continue to go to Canada where they will be helped by the War Resisters Support Campaign."

[bdamomma]

1. Harper is a kiss a$$.

[LakeSamish706]

2. This Harper Govt. has got to go, sure wish we had a stronger Liberal leader. n/t

[Arrowhead2k1]

3. I can't believe Canada put in this Neocon fucktard

While we're trying so hard to get rid of ours.

[The Blue Flower]

4. Vets For Peace demonstration of support

I understand that VFP will gather at the Peace Arch in Blaine for a show of support for this brave resister.

[Peace Patriot]

5. Anyone who turns against unjust, genocidal war is my hero!

See my comment (#9) at
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3396128

[Peace Patriot]

6. An informative web site on the U.S. war resisters in Canada:

http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/

Sign their new letter!
Help with their campaigns!
Send them a donation!

They are doing what our government should be doing, and what the Canadian government should be doing: Peace-making.

[underseasurveyor]

7. OH there goes my blood pressure

"lacking in COURAGE" (the scene goes red)

WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU GEORGE AND DICK IN THE 60's? YOU FUCKING BASTARD C_O_W_A_R_D_S!!!!!

AARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH:nuke:

Sorry didn't mean to burst any eardrums with my screaming.

[babylonsister]

8. I hear you, and my blood is boiling, too. nt

[underseasurveyor]

9. heh you couldn't help but hear

and probably most everyone on my block heard me yelling.

:hug:

[struggle4progress]

10. First American Iraq War Resister Deported from Canada

Army PFC Robin Long has the distinction of being the first American Iraq war resister to be forcefully repatriated to the US from Canada. He was deported on Tuesday, July 15 and immediately turned over to U.S. military authorities. According to the Canadian "Globe and Mail" he is the first of an estimated 200 deserters who have sought refuge in Canada to be returned to the United States, an act which the newspaper called "an official end to the country's policy of welcoming American draft dodgers and deserters that began during the Vietnam War."

Courage to Resist, an organization that supports GI resisters, has made civilian legal representation available to Robin. The group recently spearheaded protests in front of Canadian consulates across America, calling on the American public to "support the troops who refuse to fight".

Robin Long was only 19 when he left his native Idaho to join the US Army with a promise that he would not be deployed to Iraq. “I made it apparent that I didn't want to go to Iraq. I didn't believe in the war that was going on over there so that's why I was stationed at Fort Knox.” He later realized that “they didn't have any new people enlisting so they were just taking anyone they could.”

In April 2005 Robin was ordered to Fort Carson in preparation for deployment to Iraq. He instead followed the path of a fellow enlistee who had left for Canada rather than fight in an immoral war. Robin eventually settled in when he got in touch with the Canadian non-profit community organization War Resisters Support Campaign. The people of Canada have largely been in agreement that US GI's should be allowed to stay in Canada for reasons of conscience ...

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/07/18/18517298.php