Soldiers Against Iraq Desert To Canada

Taking A Cue From Predecessors In Vietnam Era, Some Disillusioned Flee

(CBS)  During the Vietnam war, many young men who were drafted and didn't want to go to war fled to Canada. Today, a small group of soldiers and Marines are doing the same thing in protest of a war they say is unjust.

When you contemplate the danger and the violent death that are ever present factors in Iraq, you may wonder how Americans charged with fighting the war there can bear it.

The reality is that some of them can't take it. Justin Colby, 23 was inspired to join the Army to avenge the events of September 11.

"I thought that was something I wanted to do," he told Sunday Morning correspondent Rita Braver. "So I approached a recruiter and said, 'Sign me up.'"

On July 4 of this year, as his unit was about to be redeployed to Iraq, Colby became a deserter. And in September, he joined a small, but growing number of American servicemen who have sought refuge in Canada. Estimates say there are between 100 and 250 of them.

Before he decided to desert, Colby served heroically in Iraq. Starting in late 2004, he served a year as a medic there. He received the Army Commendation Medal for exceedingly meritorious service for his work while under fire. He said his base was constantly barraged by mortar and rocket attacks and he had a couple of close calls during his year there.

"The rocket landed within 15, 20 meters of where I was standing," he said.

But Colby was becoming disillusioned with the war in Iraq, especially because it became increasingly clear that Iraq, and its dictator Saddam Hussein, was not behind the attacks of 9/11.

"When I realized these people we were killing — 'cause we killed a lot of [them], I saw a lot of dead people — when I realized the people we were killing had nothing to do with 9/11, that's when I was, like, 'Okay, this is not for me! This, ya know, I was wrong.'"

Colby and the other deserters are the second generation of Americans to flee here, on the run from an unpopular war. In the 1960s and '70s, some 50,000 Americans — mostly draft dodgers but also some deserters — escaped to Canada, refusing to serve in Vietnam.

Lee Zaslofsky was one of those Army deserters. He was drafted in 1969 and fled to Canada in 1970. Today he is the coordinator of the War Resisters Support Campaign in Toronto — started in 2004 to help fleeing GIs. He is now a Canadian citizen.

"Provide them with temporary housing until they can get on their feet. If they need some money — we can give them some money; not a lot," Zaslofsky said. "We get them in touch with a lawyer."

He remains confident in the choice he made more than 30 years ago and says that he is happy to help other young men and women who faced similar dilemmas.

"I never had the slightest doubt about what I've done," Zaslofsky said. "What makes me feel good is that I'm able — at my age — to have the privilege of working with young people who have had the guts and the decency to stand up for what they believe is right."

One of those young people is former marine Dean Walcott, who served six years including two tours of duty in Iraq. In between he was assigned to a U.S. military hospital in Germany, assisting wounded marines. He said it was there that he fell apart after seeing so many burn victims.

"A lot of guys whose skin was melted off," he said. "A lot of guys who you couldn't recognize literally from their face to their feet. Missing arms, missing legs, couldn't breathe on their own, couldn't feed themselves. These kids, literally kids — 17, 18, 19, 20. And this look in their eyes that — Oh, I’m never gonna forget it. The look in their eyes when they finally come to understand that they're never gonna walk again. They're never gonna hold their wife and their children again. And having them ask me, 'Why?' Ya know — a 'big-picture why.' And I couldn't tell them."

After his second tour in Iraq, depressed and filled with anxiety, Walcott got himself assigned to a non-combat unit. But to his dismay, he was assigned to prepare reservists for deployment to Iraq.

"So basically instead of me deploying and me being psychologically or physically injured," he said, "now we’re pulling them away from their family for over a year — and telling them "Well, while I sit here in the office drinking coffee and being safe, you go to Iraq!'"

He simply walked out and headed to Canada, which he remembered hearing was a haven for Vietnam deserters.

But there's a catch for those who flee to Canada. In the era of the Vietnam war, American draft dodgers and deserters could easily take up residence in Canada, and stay as long as they liked. Now, however, Canadian law has changed.

"Well, legally what’s changed is that there’s a general policy in Canada now that to apply here you must apply from outside the country. And that's not really an option that American troops could do," said Jeffrey House, a Vietnam veteran who fled to Canada. "Because they’re gonna be sent to Iraq next week or next month."

House is now a lawyer in Toronto, trying to help deserters like Walcott. House is trying to convince Canadian courts that American deserters of today are, in effect, political refugees. He said he is currently representing about 35 clients and is trying to establish permanent residence.

"I believe the law says you need not participate in an illegal war," House said. "And so that's the circumstance we’re asserting. 'I'm an American solider, I don't want to participate in an illegal war. That’s why I couldn’t apply from the United States. That’s why I’m applying from inside Canada.' And [we believe] people will win their cases eventually."

But so far, despite all the countless papers House has filed, Canadian immigration boards have rejected the claim. The country’s appeals court will hear the case this spring.

But the United States military doesn't see desertion as a significant problem. Army Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty said fewer than 1,500 a year desert. The desertion rate has gone down since 9/11 and Hilferty said most desert for personal, family-related reasons [compared to] those motivated by opposition to the war.

"I don’t think America really wants an Army where soldiers get to vote," he said. "'I don’t want to attack that hill. I don’t think this patrol is a good idea. No, No I don't really, don’t want to go on that mission.' And that’s what these soldiers, I think, are saying. I don’t like this particular mission. You cannot have an army to defend America — that fights for truth and the American way — if you do that."

So far, a handful of American deserters who went to Canada have voluntarily returned to the U.S. One is in prison, another is in hiding. Several have been discharged. There’s no uniform penalty for desertion. Col. Hilferty says the military issues an arrest warrant for deserters — but does not actively attempt to track them down — whether in the U.S. or Canada.

"Primarily people turn themselves in. They return to their duty stations," he said. "Or if a police officer stops you for running a red light. Primarily what we do with deserters is we bring them back in the unit. That's our first course of action."

It's an idea that was rejected outright by Colby:

"What I feared the most was being incorporated back into the unit," he said. "Ya know, take my rank, take my pay and send me back to Iraq."

In the 1970s, President Jimmy Carter announced an amnesty for Vietnam draft dodgers and deserters, but with the war in Iraq still raging, no one is talking about how deserters from this conflict will be dealt with in the future. Theirs is an even heavier burden: with no draft, everyone in today's military joined voluntarily, including Walcott, who says he sees the contradiction between leaving the war for moral reasons and abandoning his mission.

"I do see the contradictions there," he said. "And I realize that as — again — it not only being illegal, it's also going back on my word which I swore to when I did it — and did it again. And it's also more than likely a sin."

But, he said, the images of the dead and wounded from Iraq will not go away.

"I regret that it became necessary, but I don't see any other way that I can help those men and women more than by doing what I’m doing now," Walcott said, "which is talking about it, raising the issue, getting it out there for people to debate about it."

[shanicef09]

I think its funny some people are offering him praise for being brave, some are disappointed because he deserted his country. I am livid with him for leaving his son behind. He is the smartest, most adorable soon to be three year old little boy and he just left because he was scared. His son will never know him and probably doesn't want to. His grandfather is the only father he knows and he should be ashed of himself. Justin you want to be a hero, bring your rear-end back and take care of him or maybe send him some money or a birthday gift, maybe even a phone call!!!!

[logicbomb1-2009]

It is absolutely astonoshing to me that with each and every single negative comment on this blog it seems to be the product of an ill-informed undeducated nitwit failing to offer any content over which serious debate may occur ~ in every circumstance of negativity here this is the case. On the other hand, every comment offering support and praise seems to have been made by nothing but the purest of intellectuals. Free thinkers, not the words of those who kneel.

[wachase69]

Thank you for the story...As a Viet Nam vet.I can only say I honor your bravery. How easy it is to go along how difficult to think for yourself. The Greener Pastures In The Snow...offer a safe place to be yourself. It only takes one to start a revolution of Truth. Peace to you all

[mtf5590]

Justin: the sins lie only on the shoulders of those in charge of this embarassing fiasco.

[annd2302]

RHW698 Now that is the American way finally.

I agree they are nothing byut deserters.

[ihatebush1]

Brief pause for comedic relief....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89skadS0uDY&NR

[skyk-2009]

Like I said, you have faith in Science and evolution. And I have faith in our Creator and Almighty God.

Case closed.
Posted by singinrick at 11:32 PM : Jan 28, 2007
LOL Right and you Religious Fascist have such a GREAT track record there Rick!! Can you tell us all here when the LAST time you freaks were right about ANYTHING? Not just about this but anything to do with social justice, science or morals? The fact is that IF we'd have listened to YOUR freaks we'd never have gone to the moon, we wouldn't have Clean Water to drink, our kids would still be working in factory's and they'd still be lynching Blacks in Mississippi!! Just the facts there Slick Rick!! LOL

[ihatebush1]

Wow...!

I wonder what all of this sounds like to some of our young people who may want to serve. Bush mis-uses them but they better not get scared and run in this "occupation", not "war", there are calls for hangin's.... nice....

[rhw698-2009]

COWARDS !
These people are not trying to avoid the draft, they took an oath to defend their country. Now they are faced with having to do so and they instead want to run. LET THEM ! They are deserters so let 'em run, revoke their US citizenship and place them on the FBI watch list. If and when they try to return to the USA or are arrested in Canada for anything, they can be returned to the US, court martialed under military jurisdiction and be executed. Desertion in wartime is a death penalty offense. Line 'em up and let the firing squad or the hangman have 'em.

[ihatebush1]

I got this from "lieberman18":


"As far as Ihatebush is concerned,

You can move to Canada too. This country right OR wrong is too good for wimps and neo-fascists. Like you."

I like people who talk tough, but in person wouldn't dare say sh*t like that to me. You don't know me. I don't run. And I am not in anyway condoning those who do run.

My point simply is that Bush has broken our military. Having served honorably in the military, as well as my brother still serving in the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, I know what it's like to obey orders from the chain of command.

I think it's wrong to place our guys (and gals) in hardship postitions of making them deal with these very short and frequent rotations. It used to be just the special forces that had little "down time".

So all I'm saying is don't be stupid. We are bleeding slowly because of Iraq and regardless of your Republican talking points, we are losing this war. We need to get new leadership that will be smart about it by following facts instead of their rosie ideology. Your (Republican) party has failed.

And if I knew you I would say it to your face.

[coffeehead-2009]

FTAA already planned to eliminate borders between canada/america/mexico - the PUSH for our kids to be "globally educated, one language etc.."
So much "mental training" for us here - the visual propaganda of showing crowd control, dominator aircraft, spy satelites in our homes. All just to "train us" to being comfortable with this in our lives.

The Bible says that just before the return of the Lord there will be intense persecution. The world will be governed by one man, the Anti-Christ, who will arise out of the confederation of nations (Global Governance), and he will control the ability to buy and sell (centralized economic control through the mark), and will work a temporary false peace, and persuade the people by false signs and wonders empowered by the beast, that he is God, and will require worship (a one-world false religion), enforcing compliance if and when necessary. Christians will be deemed enemies, and will be forced to recant their faith in Christ or die.


UN charter --- signed already by many nations and waiting to be signed by the u.s.

The Preamble of the Earth Charter states:

we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature.... Towards this end, it is imperative that we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations.

[bobgee_1999]

exusmcsgt: religion is desperate, willful ignorance; there's no point arguing with it. It's clear that singinrick has no idea what the word "theory" means, knows nothing about evolution, and not a whole lot more about the Bible. Knowledge exists and if he actually wanted it, it wouldn't be that hard to find. Faith is the product of fear, and he'd have to overcome his personal fear to ever learn anything. He won't.

[annd2302]

Posted by exusmcsgt at 10:48 PM : Jan 28, 2007

singinrick-

And I'm still waiting for a reputable reference that states everything in science points to a creator.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

exusmcsgt Your accracy on this subject is 100% accurate. singinrick, I'm afraid you lost this one:

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection was controversial when it was first proposed in the middle of the nineteenth century, and the controversy continues to this day.

Evolution is not science; it is mere speculation as to how things "might" have started.

Important NOTE: The popular claim that artificial intelligence will prove that intelligence can evolve from nonintelligent sources loses all credibility from the fact that intelligence is required to create artificial intelligence.

Sort of sounds like %u201CPOLITICS%u201D

Extremly good site:

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution

[jdweymouth]

Geecee55: Did you know that if Washington told Ottawa to heel, Ottawa would? Canada is a short step from being an American province. I'm just glad I don't live there, and I don't care about the landscape, or otherwise. A country that supports draft dodgers, deserters (the ones mentioned in this article not included), and caves to French separatists is not a country that would be known for their "grit". You're anti-Bush because he's made the U.S. everything Canada could never hope to be: great, feared, respected.

When I say respected, I mean they will curse us to our face, but not dare do anything about it.

singinrick wrote:

"Case closed."

You're a coward - case closed.

[geecee55]

canada551 - Are you for real? I'm a Canadian too, and unlike you, almost no one I know would condemn American draft dodgers who don't want to participate in this totally IMMORAL war! Sorry, it's not even a war, it's an occupation!! You're a shameful voice for Canada - which is why I couldn't let you speak for the rest of us! And no, the only people in Canada who support them are NOT anti-American in everything - we're anti-WAR! We're anti-killing of innocent men, women and children. We're anti-Bush, not anti-American!! Disagreeing with a country's administration doesn't make you hate the whole country!! I applaud those soldiers who are taking a moral stand, who are saying they will no longer participate in the murder of innocent people for a cause that makes no sense. They would be welcome in my home any time!!

[exusmcsgt]

singinrick-

Like it or not, you and the muslims alike believe in fairy tales. They don't like yours any more than you like theirs.

That's what happens when you turn your back on fact and opt for faith instead.

There are 2,500 different flavors of dogma in this world. You subscribe to one and they subscribe to another. That still leaves 2,498 others out there.

They are all the same- fairy tales. Good night.

[exusmcsgt]

singinrick-

Good luck with peddling your fairy tales, bro.

I know it means jewels in your crown and all, but I have had all this childishness I need for now.

[exusmcsgt]

God = A life of purpose and meaning

Evolution = A life with absolutely no reason, no purpose, and no meaning, and NO explanation of why we are here and also NO HOPE.
Posted by singinrick at 11:09 PM

Let me give you my version of the above, preacherman.

God-

A warm fuzzy for people who can't accept reality.

Evolution-

A scientific explanation of our existance that is not based on mysticism, majic, or miracle - just science. (For adults only)

[exusmcsgt]

singinrick-

You wouldn't know the truth if it bit you on your a$$. Your "truth" comes from an ideology "how-to" manual.

And yet you condemn Muslims for having blind faith in their own dogma.

You are an unaldurated HYPOCRITE, rick.