War Deserters told to leave Canada..

[Emancipation 2]

It's an interesting decision on many levels, cause this is a mum and has a CDN born child..

Is the child a CDN citizen automatically? I have no idea on that one.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/01/07/...ra-hearing.html

Edited January 7, 2009 by Emancipation

[thetreble 19]

When you sign up for the military, you know full well what you are getting into. When you sign up, you are told you must serve your country in time of war regardless of what your feelings are of that. I feel like in the US, people in poverty stricken areas are targeted because the army can give you great benefits like a free education...but then when it comes time to fight, they want to back out because they feel they got coaxed into it somehow.

Bottom line is, you signed your name on a contract. Period. While I don't agree with US recruitment methods, I do agree with following through with that you agreed to do and that no country should let you stay within their boundaries because you didn't like the war.

[Reeena 0]

Being in the US military and stationed here in Canada I don't understand how the deserters are able to "hide out" here... The military is not all fun and games, they should of thought about that before they signed up.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

When you sign up for the military, you know full well what you are getting into. When you sign up, you are told you must serve your country in time of war regardless of what your feelings are of that. I feel like in the US, people in poverty stricken areas are targeted because the army can give you great benefits like a free education...but then when it comes time to fight, they want to back out because they feel they got coaxed into it somehow.

Bottom line is, you signed your name on a contract. Period. While I don't agree with US recruitment methods, I do agree with following through with that you agreed to do and that no country should let you stay within their boundaries because you didn't like the war.

sister treble has spoken wisely. If you are a peacenik like me; you just DON'T join the armed forces. If you do, live with the consequences.

[nowhereman 1]

I'm in the military as well & don't have a whole lot of sympathy for deserters (it's an all volunteer Army & they signed a contract). On a personal level I totally disagree with going to war with Iraq but when I was called I went.

Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior.

- Carl von Clausewitz

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Exactly. If you sign up, you show up. It's called professionalism.

[beans 7]

I feel the Canadian goverment did the right thing.

[Emancipation 2]

I think it's good for Canada to send these people back... reserve refugee status to those who really need it.. who are actually under persecution or in dire circumstances.. I do shake my head at things like this.. they could have joined the National Guard if they wanted to be part of an organization that helps but is run like the military no?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Perhaps, Canada has already developped a policy to prevent claimants from abusing "anchor baby" approach to staying in the country. The US could take some lessons from its northern neighbour, particularly on this specific issue (as well as lots more generally).

I feel the Canadian goverment did the right thing.

I agree--see my point about USCIS should take lessons from CIC.

[The_Dude 1,142]

My brother in-law joined the Marines in 1996 and signed up for a 6 year tour. At the end of that tour, he was going to leave the military, and propose to my sister and lead a private life. The government didn't see it that way. He signed a contract for 6 years, and 6 years only, however, the government decided that he was needed and was basically force fed a new enlistment. That doesn't seem fair to me. I signed an employment contract for 3 years, and after those 3 years, I can re-negotiate the terms, or find employment elsewhere. I cannot be forced to work at this same job if I don't want to. Why is it that the government can do that to it's soldiers?

I don't think the Stop Loss procedure is fair, but if you are in the military, your options for redress are very limited. You either do as your told, or you face the harsh reality of bucking the system.

[BermyCat 1]

I agree with thetreble too. If there was a draft I might feel differently but she volunteered.

Also, aren't deserters criminals? Canada would send home most other criminals that tried to escape US law by crossing the border. Why would deserters be treated differently?

~ Catherine

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I agree with thetreble too. If there was a draft I might feel differently but she volunteered.

Also, aren't deserters criminals? Canada would send home most other criminals that tried to escape US law by crossing the border. Why would deserters be treated differently?

~ Catherine

The fact that the military decided to drop the deserters cold-turkey after they failed to return may have removed the technicality (and crime) of desertion--as well as any credibility of their cases.

[nowhereman 1]

My brother in-law joined the Marines in 1996 and signed up for a 6 year tour. At the end of that tour, he was going to leave the military, and propose to my sister and lead a private life. The government didn't see it that way. He signed a contract for 6 years, and 6 years only, however, the government decided that he was needed and was basically force fed a new enlistment. That doesn't seem fair to me. I signed an employment contract for 3 years, and after those 3 years, I can re-negotiate the terms, or find employment elsewhere. I cannot be forced to work at this same job if I don't want to. Why is it that the government can do that to it's soldiers?

I don't think the Stop Loss procedure is fair, but if you are in the military, your options for redress are very limited. You either do as your told, or you face the harsh reality of bucking the system.

Well for one there is often a catch... I don't know the rules for Marines but for example in the Army an officer is obligated for 8 years. An officer may do a 4 your tour & think he's done, but he isn't. In fact an officer's commitment is essentially indefinite & the only way to be completely out is to resign your commission. Even then the Army can (and often does) disapprove the resignation, so to say it's an all-volunteer Army is simply untrue.

However desertion is a different matter altogether & yes it's a criminal act (basically the military version of a felony). Often what happens is that they get a deserter on a lesser charge of "missing movement" & administratively discharge the individual with a Less Than Honorable discharge (which isn't as bad as a Dishonorable discharge but worse than a General discharge).

[nowhereman 1]

I agree with thetreble too. If there was a draft I might feel differently but she volunteered.

Also, aren't deserters criminals? Canada would send home most other criminals that tried to escape US law by crossing the border. Why would deserters be treated differently?

~ Catherine

The fact that the military decided to drop the deserters cold-turkey after they failed to return may have removed the technicality (and crime) of desertion--as well as any credibility of their cases.

I would tend to think this is an untrue statement. The military rarely actively seeks to find deserters. Usually a deserter's name simply goes in that national crime database & if he is ever stopped by the police (e.g. traffic ticket) they pull up his status (pretty much like an open warrant) and then arrest him. There have been cases with Vietnam era deserters being picked up this way 30-40 years after the fact.

[trailmix 77]

Why do people have to sign a contract to be in the Military?

Or rather, why is it so stringent. I mean say you sign a contract to work with NASA for 3 years and you decide you don't want to work there anymore after 2 years. Chances are you and NASA will come to some agreement - I mean they might sue you, but probably not.

With military organizations you are labelled a 'deserter', you can be charged. Also, as mentioned above, they can force you to stay even after you have served your contract.

I was just thinking about this the other night.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just pondering.