U.S. soldier seeks asylum in Canada | Toronto Star

[patriotvoice]

A soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division who says he had "a romantic vision" of military life has left his post and is living in Canada, where he has sought refuge as a conscientious objector.

http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1077190022962&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724

A couple of comments. First, I find it alarming that someone can have a "romantic vision" of the military; it takes extreme social conditioning efforts to imbue that. After all, the military is, by de facto definition in the United States, an aggressive organization.

Second, the article quotes an 82nd Airborne Sargeant: "We don't have time to go and track down people who go AWOL.... We're fighting a war." I find that statement highly relevant vis-a-vis the whole "Where in the World is W" National Guard quandry.

On edit: a more "local" perspective:
http://www.wral.com/news/2858242/detail.html

[TXvote]

1. Canada Will Deport

Little known piece of news. At the request of the US government Canada "clarified" its current position on returning AWOL soldiers just as they were negotiating whether canada could bid to rebuild Iraq (Dec 2003). Canada was clear when they said they would return any defectors to the US upon request and viola, they were allowed to bid. Looks like this guy should have just laid low. Now Ashcroft is going to come looking for him.

[glarius]

2. You think you've found Bush's AWOL excuse for him?

"Second, the article quotes an 82nd Airborne Sargeant: "We don't have time to go and track down people who go AWOL.... We're fighting a war.
I find that statement highly relevant vis-a-vis the whole "Where in the World is W" National Guard quandry."


Hardly.....In Bush's case it has nothing to do with officialdom tracking him down, but the fact that those who supposedly served with him at that time have no recollection of him being there....Also, one would think that Bush would have come forth with at least one person who he served with!!!

[cprise]

3. Romantic vision

Having this stuff pop up in your browser is pretty disgusting.