Canada deports Boise soldier who fled Iraq war
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - A U.S. Army deserter who fled to Canada three years ago was deported Tuesday to America, marking the first time a resister to the U.S war effort in Iraq has been removed by Canadian authorities.
Paula Shore, spokeswoman for the Canada Border Services Agency, confirmed that Robin Long, 25, was deported, but she could not discuss specifics of the case, including Long's destination.
Authorities say he is being held in the Whatcom County Jail until he can be turned over to military police and be transferred to Fort Carson, Colo.
Lee Zaslofsky of the National Coordinator of War Resisters Support Campaign confirmed that Long is a former resident of Boise.
"When he got into the military he found that basically what he would be asked to do was fight some war, or take part in a war he believed to be wrong and so he had a choice to make and I think he made the right one," Zaslofsky said.
Long fled to Canada in 2005 to avoid serving in Iraq. He sought refuge in Canada on the grounds that the U.S. Army wanted him to participate in what he called an "illegal war of aggression in Iraq."
Justice Anne Mactavish of the Federal Court of Canada ruled Monday that Long couldn't provide clear evidence he would suffer irreparable harm if he was returned to the United States.
"I still don't think that Bush has proven we have any reason to be over there, and I would be wrong to be a tool of destruction," Robin says on the Canadian website, War Resisters Support Campaign.
In her ruling, Mactavish said that although the percentage of American military deserters prosecuted for desertion has increased since 2002, the vast majority have not been prosecuted or faced jail time.
Last week, the Federal Court blocked the deportation of National Guard Sgt. Corey Glass, 25, while it decides whether to hear his case. Glass refused redeployment to Iraq.
Long and Glass were among some 200 American deserters believed to have come to Canada trying to avoid service in Iraq. So far, Canadian immigration officials and the courts have rejected efforts to grant them refugee status.
Don Landin, post commander of the largest Veteran of Foreign War post in the state, says he has no sympathy for Long.
"What ever the United States military chooses to do to with him, he deserves," Landin said.
Landin, a 25-year-vet and retired naval officer says what Long did by deserting his unit is a disgrace to his fellow soldiers and vets.
"This gentleman raised his right hand, put on the cloth of the United States Military, swore to defend it, and renigged," he said.
During the Vietnam War, up to 90,000 Americans successfully won refuge in Canada, most of them to avoid the military draft. The majority went home after the United States granted amnesty in the late 1970s.
Paula Shore, spokeswoman for the Canada Border Services Agency, confirmed that Robin Long, 25, was deported, but she could not discuss specifics of the case, including Long's destination.
Authorities say he is being held in the Whatcom County Jail until he can be turned over to military police and be transferred to Fort Carson, Colo.
Lee Zaslofsky of the National Coordinator of War Resisters Support Campaign confirmed that Long is a former resident of Boise.
"When he got into the military he found that basically what he would be asked to do was fight some war, or take part in a war he believed to be wrong and so he had a choice to make and I think he made the right one," Zaslofsky said.
Long fled to Canada in 2005 to avoid serving in Iraq. He sought refuge in Canada on the grounds that the U.S. Army wanted him to participate in what he called an "illegal war of aggression in Iraq."
Justice Anne Mactavish of the Federal Court of Canada ruled Monday that Long couldn't provide clear evidence he would suffer irreparable harm if he was returned to the United States.
"I still don't think that Bush has proven we have any reason to be over there, and I would be wrong to be a tool of destruction," Robin says on the Canadian website, War Resisters Support Campaign.
In her ruling, Mactavish said that although the percentage of American military deserters prosecuted for desertion has increased since 2002, the vast majority have not been prosecuted or faced jail time.
Last week, the Federal Court blocked the deportation of National Guard Sgt. Corey Glass, 25, while it decides whether to hear his case. Glass refused redeployment to Iraq.
Long and Glass were among some 200 American deserters believed to have come to Canada trying to avoid service in Iraq. So far, Canadian immigration officials and the courts have rejected efforts to grant them refugee status.
Don Landin, post commander of the largest Veteran of Foreign War post in the state, says he has no sympathy for Long.
"What ever the United States military chooses to do to with him, he deserves," Landin said.
Landin, a 25-year-vet and retired naval officer says what Long did by deserting his unit is a disgrace to his fellow soldiers and vets.
"This gentleman raised his right hand, put on the cloth of the United States Military, swore to defend it, and renigged," he said.
During the Vietnam War, up to 90,000 Americans successfully won refuge in Canada, most of them to avoid the military draft. The majority went home after the United States granted amnesty in the late 1970s.
