An American is making headlines for deserting and begging our neighbor to the north for refuge.
An American soldier who fought in Afghanistan two years ago but deserted and fled from the United States before he could be sent to Iraq has launched a long-shot bid for political refuge in Canada.
Jeremy Hinzman, 26, has appeared before Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board, claiming he would face persecution if sent home to the US.
Mr. Hinzman testified that while his comrades regarded him as a “soldier’s soldier”, he realised over time that he could not kill another human being.
I wonder if the brave troops Hinzman left behind still consider him a “soldier’s soldier.” Actually, no, I don’t. I think his former comrades could come up with more colorful terms now.
The South Dakota-born soldier of the 82nd Airborne Division is claiming refugee status based on his contention that he was right to refuse to fight in the war in Iraq, which he says is illegal and violated human rights.
Mr Hinzman said he had requested conscientious objector status in the US in 2002.
But his case failed and he was sent to Afghanistan, where he eventually made 18 combat parachute jumps.
Late last year he learned he was to be deployed to Iraq, prompting him to flee to Canada early this year with his Laotian wife Nga Nguyen and two-year-old son, Liam.
His case, and that of two other fugitive American soldiers, has stirred sympathy in Canada, which opposed the Iraq war.
But it has also raised fears that a positive ruling could spark a flood of US deserters across the border, as the toll of the Iraq war and occupation deepens, having already cost more than 1000 US lives.
The chances of Mr Hinzman getting refugee status are seen as slim. No such decision has ever been made in Canada.
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He testified that his growing awareness that killing was wrong was partly born from an interest in Buddhism and attendance at Quaker religious meetings.
Outside, a knot of anti-war supporters, waved banners reading, “Let him stay.”
Yes, please let him stay, Canada. We’ll keep the red, white and blue, and y’all can coddle our yellow.
Should he remain in Canada as a deserter, Hinzman’s citizenship should be revoked if possible. If it can’t be, that’s a shame that I would love to see corrected. Should any such deserters elect to return, I would like to see Hinzman and his ilk given a choice: prison or finish service in one of the historical roles of conscientious objector, such as a medic or chaplain’s assistant. See, I have a heart, especially for Quaker Buddhists.
