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I certainly don't think he is a traitor or a hero. He is definitely a deserter.
He is certainly not a legitimate refugee claimant as he is trying to say he in in his attempt to stay in Canada. There have been a number of editorials in major newspapers in the last few days arguing that Mr. Hinzman is an illustration of everything that is wrong with our refugee system, and I agree. This man is not a refugee, and he should be sent back to the U.S. post-haste to face the music. He was not drafted, he volunteered (and not just for the army, but as a paratrooper!).
mp
Who on this thread has said "OK he made a mistake, he was young or whatever, and he should not have to be held accountable."? I see that Andro's posts have been deleted, so I can't comment on their content. There is not a single other post prior to your comment that says what you said. Not even mine. You, on the other hand, refuse to acknowledge that it is even possible that he truly had a change of heart, after confronting what killing is really about.
As for Clinton, do you consider impeachment to be given a free pass? Do you think that Bush 41 really was "out of the loop" in Iran-Contra?
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"Go yell at an M&M"
I have no problem if he had a change of heart. But that change of heart comes with a consequence...one that he isn't man enough to face. He knew what the penalty would be if he left..instead he high tailed it to Canada to avoid it.
I'm happy to acknowledge he had a genuine change of heart. I'm mean, he did serve in Afghansitan, right? But regardless, even with a real change of heart the military can't function if every person who has second thoughts can just walk away scot free.
In the end, does it really matter? He should be help accountable. I sort of feel bad for the guy, because he's likely going to be on the receiving end of some extra-legal abuse, either in Canada or the US. On the other had, the "war crime" defense and the amount of publicity he's generating for himself tempers my sympathy significantly.
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Andro's comments were exactly what I was referring to. And you are right, I will not entertain the thought he had a change of heart. He was an antiwar socialist filled with Noam Chomsky propaganda ideas for some utopian society. He knew what he was getting into he just didn't plan on having to go do what he was trained to do. And believe me he is not the only one who joined the military and didn't plan on going to war. The difference is others fullfilled their obligation and committment.
Looks like Canada doesn't want him either. Can't wait till he steps foot back on US soil. I bet he was disappointed.
U.S. soldier who deserted to dodge 'criminal' war in Iraq loses asylum bid Updated at 14:16 on March 24, 2005, EST. [/url]
TORONTO (CP) - An American war dodger who fled the U.S. military because he believed the invasion of Iraq was criminal has lost his bid for refugee status in Canada in a case closely watched on both sides of the border.
In a written ruling released Thursday, the Immigration and Refugee Board said Jeremy Hinzman had not made a convincing argument that he faced persecution or cruel and unusual punishment in the United States.
There was no immediate comment from Hinzman but his lawyer Jeffry House said he would ask the Federal Court to review the decision.
"Mr. Hinzman is disappointed," said House.
MORE LATER
The Canadian Press, 2005
Traitor, no.
Idiot and coward, yes.
Bravo Foxtrot (buddy fucker), hell yes.
Tony (USN, ret.) and admittedly biased about this issue ;-)
There are 6 cases before the CDN refugee review board presently. In one sense I want to sympathize with these guys but on the other hand this is now a volunteer military and if you join then expect the worst to happen. Duh. You are now in the military. If not then don't join in the first place. You now have that option.
This is an entirely different situation from Viet Nam (my era) when Canada took in over 100,000 draft dodgers and deserters. In those days most of these guys were concripts and had legitimate moral beliefs against that war, which also wasn't too popular at home either, at least in the latter years.
I don't think we'll be seeing another Nam type situation up here. You can't really compare the two.
You grew up on a border town so I'd expect you have as good a perspective on the current situation as anybody.