U.S. Deserter Denied Canadian Citizenship

Jeremy Hinzman, a U.S. deserter from the 82nd Airborne, was denied Canadian citizenship this week. Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board said Hinzman had not convinced its members that he would face persecution if he were returned to the US. Hinzman,26, currently lives in Toronto with his wife and son. He faces a court martial and could be sentenced to up to five years in prison if he is returned to the US.

Mr Hinzman fled his unit in January 2004, shortly before the 82nd Airborne was due in Iraq... he was the first to receive an answer from a number of US deserters seeking Canadian residency.

Hinzman's lawyer, Jeffrey House, reacted on Canadian TV, "He is disappointed. We don't believe that people should be imprisoned if what they're asked to do is illegal."

The interesting part of this case is that the media portrays it as a soldier deserting because of his opposition to Iraq. This is false. Hinzman was also opposed to the war in Afghanistan (which nearly the entire world agreed with...including the Frogs) and asked the Army to be classified as a conscientious objector. Hinzman ended up serving in Afghanistan in a non-combat role.

This is a case of a soldier who had no business in being in the Army in the first place; maybe he joined without thinking he would ever be deployed - and quit when he realized the function of the Army. I hope he stays in Canada (or moves to Iceland with Bobby Fischer) - I think it will raise the collective IQ of both our countries. Riding Sun seems to agree.