U.S. War Resisters in Canada
Why Canada Should Welcome Conscientious Objectors.
Several war resisters from the United States have fled to Canada in protest of the war in Iraq. Canada should let them stay in a land of peace and not send them back.
Canada has a reputation for being one of the world's most peace loving countries. That reputation is being destroyed for two reasons. One is the war in Afghanistan, which sees Canada as an imperialist aggressor. The other involves the situation of U.S war resisters who have tried to seek haven in Canada from serving in Iraq, some for second or third tours of duty.
Supreme Court Decision
In a recent Supreme Court decision, Canada has decided not to hear the appeals of these resisters. They now face the possibility of being sent back to the U.S. where they will risk discipline for deserting and most likely be sent back into a war they do not support. That certainly does not say much for U.S. national security, to have soldiers fighting for a cause in which they do not believe -- in other words, the effectiveness of these soldiers probably won't amount to much.
Another Vietnam?
Those who oppose the U.S. war resisters staying in Canada offer many of the same excuses as when draft dodgers opposing the Vietnam War came to the country. After all, these people signed up to serve in the military, and the military has the right to send them wherever it chooses. Right?
However, in the case of Vietnam, the Canadian government allowed the war resisters to stay. In many ways, Iraq is like another Vietnam. Soldiers are dying, and innocent civilians are getting killed, for a cause that is getting more and more dubious - "restoring democracy" to a country where the word means little. Imposing U.S. standards on the rest of the world is more accurate.
Some say this is nothing like Vietnam, because during that time the draft was imposed and people were being forced to fight against their will. However, many U.S. soldiers are waking up to the reality that the conflict in Iraq is solving nothing, and refusing to go back for a second or even third time for an unjust cause.
Canada as Peace Maker
Canada needs to reclaim its reputation as a peace maker by allowing U.S. war resisters to stay. Otherwise, the country will only solidify a new and dubious reputation as a supporter of imperialist aggressors and a puppet to the United States government. This is an issue that has never been put to public referendum - whatever happened to democracy and letting people have their say? U.S. war resisters pose no threat to Canada's security, only to the Conservative Government's allegiance with the Bush regime.
Let Them Stay!
For more information on this issue, visit the website for the War Resisters Support Campaign.
