U.S. Army Deserter Seeks Asylum In Germany

Army Specialist Deserted German Base After 6-Month Iraq Deployment

(AP)  A U.S. soldier who deserted after serving in Iraq declared Tuesday he has applied for asylum in Germany.

Army Spc. André Shepherd said he deserted from his unit's Katterbach base in April 2007 after returning from a six-month deployment in Iraq, where he was a mechanic working on Apache attack helicopters in Tikrit.

"We went to war basically for nothing," Shepherd, of Cleveland, Ohio, told The Associated Press. "There's no way I would go back for a second tour with the information that I have since received."

Shepherd has been staying with friends in southern Germany since going AWOL and working odd jobs to support himself.

Germany should grant him asylum, Shepherd said, because of its strong opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

"The Germany government already declared the war illegal in 2005," Shepherd said.

The Interior Ministry, which oversees migration and asylum, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Shepherd applied for asylum last week, said Tim Huber, director of the Germany-based Military Counseling Network, a group that has been assisting him.

U.S. Army Europe spokesman Bruce Anderson confirmed that Shepherd served in the Army's 12th combat aviation brigade but would not comment on the asylum application.

Shepherd's bid for asylum follows that of U.S. Army Spc. Jeremy Hinzman, who in September won a last-minute stay of deportation from Canada after a judge there ruled he could remain while awaiting a decision on whether he could appeal a deportation order.

Hinzman faces charges in the United States of fleeing to avoid duty in Iraq. He had served a tour in Afghanistan during his three years in the Army, but has argued that the war in Iraq is immoral and illegal.

[mrmeatspin]

"the biggest lie ever is......."

We are all sinners in need of redemption from the great virgin boinker in the sky


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Posted by HonestAbe8 at 11:55 AM : Dec 04, 2008
+ report abuse


here is a good one:

liberals are exempt guilt and association from the evils of capitalism and oil corruptions AS SOON AS THEY WEAR THIER TIE DYE SHIRTS AND PUT ON THIER ''NO WAR FOR OIL'' BUMPER STICKERS

[mrmeatspin]

"the biggest lie ever is......."

We are all sinners in need of redemption from the great virgin boinker in the sky


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Posted by HonestAbe8 at 11:55 AM : Dec 04, 2008
+ report abuse


******

all those liberals who $$$OLD thier movie$ and Book$ and lecture$ about how Bush lied to us did it because they care $o much about our freedom$..

on forget to get the micheal moore hat and t-shirt combo..*they are on sale*

[mrmeatspin]

"the biggest lie ever is......."

We are all sinners in need of redemption from the great virgin boinker in the sky


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Posted by HonestAbe8 at 11:55 AM : Dec 04, 2008
+ report abuse


********
oh man that is old...

here is another lie..

AL GORE cares and he WILL SAVE OUR PLANET...

[honestabe8]

"the biggest lie ever is......."

We are all sinners in need of redemption from the great virgin boinker in the sky

[fush2]

you already served three years so whats the problem??? and you should have known what you were getting yourself into when you signed that contract..

[mrmeatspin]

if Army Spc. Andri Shepherd thought he was living in a squeaky clean world where you can bad men wears black and good guys wears white..and the military is all about a bunch of guys having fun..and IF the military spent months teaching him how to use his weapon and how to kill a man with his hands AND STILL NOT CATCH ON..

you might be too stupid to be in the military..your right stay in germany..

[mrmeatspin]

And they are going to take your guns. How do you like them apples, Mr. Meat Spin?

If hope Mr. Shepherd finds his way to Canada.

Posted by JamesFBlake at 07:05 PM : Dec 03, 2008
+ report abuse

************

and who is going to take my guns?? rosie odonnell?? and I am sure canada would ship his arse back..

[mrmeatspin]

You''''ve been conned, Mr. Meat Spin. Mr. Shepherd has been conned, as well. And he knows it. But he says he''''s not going back because of information he has received. What information would that be? That 9/11 was an inside job? How did he get this information? Maybe somebody sent him a Truth video? If so, kudos!

If you think they are all over there fighting for your freedom, you are out of your skull. They are going to come home. And they are going to be cops. And they are going to take your guns. How do you like them apples, Mr. Meat Spin?

If hope Mr. Shepherd finds his way to Canada.

Posted by JamesFBlake at 07:05 PM : Dec 03, 2008
+ report abuse

*****

and it seems like Hollywood and Mr shepard just CONNED YOU..how much did you pay for this information?? a price of a book??? a movie ticket?? a chance to see an ad on cable tv??

send home and let him clean latrines back in the states..I bet he wont go for it because his intentions are not as benevolent as you were conned to believe..

what you have is too much time on your hand..a large space in your skull that hollywood seams to had filled with poopoo and a pocket full of dollars that some micheal moore type actor wants.

and if you think you are going to CON me to think that you care..YOU BEST KEEP ON WALKING..

[jamesfblake]

MrMeatSpin:

A question occurs regarding sending him to Afghanistan instead. Purportedly to hunt down Osama Bin Laden. I noticed Osama is on the FBI''s Ten Most Wanted list. But not for 9/11. It''s not even listed.

You''ve been conned, Mr. Meat Spin. Mr. Shepherd has been conned, as well. And he knows it. But he says he''s not going back because of information he has received. What information would that be? That 9/11 was an inside job? How did he get this information? Maybe somebody sent him a Truth video? If so, kudos!

If you think they are all over there fighting for your freedom, you are out of your skull. They are going to come home. And they are going to be cops. And they are going to take your guns. How do you like them apples, Mr. Meat Spin?

If hope Mr. Shepherd finds his way to Canada.

[mrmeatspin]

the biggest lie ever is.......

"vote for a liberal and terrorism will disappear, there will be world peace, the world will now respect the United States, everybody will have a job and nobody goes hungry"

(man obama better be practicing "raising the dead and walking on water")

[mrmeatspin]

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Posted by nikosk11 at 01:33 PM : Dec 03, 2008
+ report abuse

well think if it this way..if terrorism DOES NOT END when the liberal ''chosen one'' steps int eh white house..

then those bailing out of the military WOULD BE YOUR PROBLEM...har har

[mrmeatspin]

Shakespeare



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Posted by smurfcrusher at 11:29 AM : Dec 03, 2008
+ report abuse


*********

what does shakespear and al franken have in common??

[nikosk11]

A man of conscience. This is not a "fun" or easy decision for a man to make. Clearly he has a mind, and moral fiber greater than most mortals.

Posted by smurfcrusher at 11:36 PM : Dec 02, 2008

Well said.

[nikosk11]

A traitor coward!
He took the oath!

posted by republic76

Are we talking about George Bush?

[nikosk11]

republic76,

Your Bush took the oath too when he joint the Nat. Guard. Now we all know what he (with his dad''s help) did when his unit got called for deployment in Viet Nam, don''t we?

[smurfcrusher]

"But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make, when all those legs and arms and heads, chopped off in battle, shall join together at the latter day and cry all ''We died at such a place;'' some swearing, some crying for a surgeon, some upon their wives left poor behind them, some upon the debts they owe, some upon their children rawly left. I am afeard there are few die well that die in a battle; for how can they charitably dispose of any thing, when blood is their argument? Now, if these men do not die well, it will be a black matter for the king that led them to it; whom to disobey were against all proportion of subjection."

-Shakespeare

[mrmeatspin]

wonder, just how many of you who criticize this soldier, have ever even served in the military, let alone in combat. He was bright enough to realize that Bush''''s "Backdoor Draft" had exploited his feelings of patriotism, for the profit of Exxon-Mobil. So, if you were in the same situation AND smart enough to recognize that you had been tricked into risking your life for a lie, would you????


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Posted by excoachken at 08:04 AM : Dec 03, 2008
+ report abuse


***************

you dont have to be a soldier to UNDERSTAND bravery, determination and patriotism.

he was weak enough to be manipulated by propaganda generated by the liberal media..ASK THIS GUY TO FIGHT IN AFGHANISTAN INSTEAD..i bet you he would refuse..BECAUSE deep down..his reasons are not as benevolent..

and FYI..the day you stop using OIL is the day you earn the right to declare our war to get oil immoral..

because where i stand you are one fo those anti-oil people that drives around in oil burning cars..it leaves a nasty taste in mouth

[mrmeatspin]

does not want to fight in iraq??????do not want to fight ''innocent'' muslims???

fair enough..

send his arse to afghanistan then...LET HIM HUNT DOWN OSAMA BIN LADEN..

[biap64]

"The Germans will not fight in Iraq due to conscience." The Germans and the Japanese "can''t" fight because their constitutions after WWII were re-written at our insistence to ensure that they can not use their military in offensive operations.

[excoachken]

I wonder, just how many of you who criticize this soldier, have ever even served in the military, let alone in combat. He was bright enough to realize that Bush''s "Backdoor Draft" had exploited his feelings of patriotism, for the profit of Exxon-Mobil. So, if you were in the same situation AND smart enough to recognize that you had been tricked into risking your life for a lie, would you????