Sanctuary for war resister: Rodney Watson takes refuge in Vancouver church

From what I gathered, from his interview, he was recruited for the kitchen staffing for the Iraq conflict, only to find himself, gun in hand, pointing it at a Iraqis child's head.

I feel so bad for these resisters. The Conservatives, despite the majority of Canadians stating they want them to stay, are not listening. Then they have to deal with the animosity from people who think they deserve what they got and should be deported. On top of that many have been here for long enough to form close bonds and even start families.It would be cruel to send them back.

What else can we do statica, I've written Mps, and even Harper. What do you think would help in this cause that has a good chance of working? The MSM appears to pretty much forget them.

I think it owuld be great if the MSM would actually call it like it is and point out that this is a backdoor draft. These people have no choice but to complete endless "tours of duty". How is that voluntary when they did not sign up to be indefinate cannon fodder? (That was rhetorical)

Thanks for all  of this statica, but really for me the reality comes down to this:

Quote:

The felony-equivalent convictions given to Iraq War resisters who have been sent back to the U.S. by the Canadian government will result in lifelong punishment such as the loss of the right to vote in many states and severely limited chances for employment.

What does all this say?

Where is their freedom of conscience?

Their country's government lied, to them, and indeed to the entire country's peoples.

Their personal lives should be destroyed, because they refuse(d) to be complicit in the lies and the crimes against humanity being committed?

No state should have the right to take the right to vote away from any of it's citizens. For any reason,.

They are being compelled to give their lives into the service of another. Full stop.

Employers are not allowed to change job descriptions, after you took the job, and then tie you into it.

It is compelling people to give their body into the service of another, in this case, the people of the USA, whom the State represents.

It is against Canadian human rights, and others would  name it for what it is, slavery.

First thanks statica for the links and the press info.

Remind, the quote you quoted was exactly what bothered me as well.

Tamaran - the reasons you listed are far from being inclusive. Sure some join the army to fight, but those that really believe in the war would never be war resisters would they?  Army recruiters prey on young and the poor. Americans are brainwashed from the time they are in diapers to accept that the State is the ultimate authority - That to question authority is wrong. I have deep empathy for these men and women who chose to escape and come to Canada.

Read up on Stop Loss as statica suggested or read some of the information at http://www.resisters.ca

Good job on the website!

Quote:

He was also expected to "keep the peace" by monitoring Iraqi civilians who worked on the base and fire his weapon at Iraqi children who approached the perimeter. 

Full Article: http://www.rabble.ca/news/2009/10/sanctuary-war-resister-rodney-watson-takes-refuge-vancouver-church

Is anyone concerned about this fact/statement?

Is this act not against the Law of Armed Conflict or the Uniform Code of Military Justice?

Webgear wrote:

Should a Canadian investigation be conducted about this individual's actions while deployed in Iraq?

I say, "Bring it on!" If he did not shoot any children or commit any human rights violations, crimes or war crimes, then he is exonorated. If he did, not only is he guilty, the guilt (as you well know) goes up the chain of command, right up to the U.S. and Canadian governments.

Let's put the illegal Iraq and Afghan wars on trial!

E.Tamaran wrote:

He willingly joined a military force engaged in a brutal occupation of a foreign country. That occupation was built on lies that had been exposed by the time of his joining, so we can only conclude that he wanted to go to Iraq for reasons other than benevolence. The fact he was a willing part of the occupation should earn him a spot along the wall, regarless of what he actually did there.

Two points:

1) Does mainstream media refer to the Afghan and Iraq wars as illegal, immoral, unjust, brutal invasions and occupations? Do they show the killing, injuring and destroying? Do they report the truth of what goes on in Afghanistan?

The only way you can know the truth about these wars is if you search for it. Most Canadians, even today, think Afghanistan is a U.N. peacekeeping (lovey-dovey) "mission".

Even though I discussed at length with a MCPL Army buddy of mine, the truth of what was going on in Afghanistan, he still signed for a tour of duty. This was the Canadian Army Reserve, where one can choose to do a tour or not. His reasoning: He mentioned the names of other soldiers we knew in our unit and said he was going because they were there. I told him this was no justification and reminded him of the old axiom: "Just because your friends are jumping off a bridge, doesn't mean you have to". He went anyway. A victim of the immense pressure the military (even the Reserves) to conform and obey puts on its members.

2) Military recruiters in the U.S.A. and Canada specifically target depressed cities and poor neighborhoods. If Rodney joined the military because it was either the only job he could get or the best job (out of very dismal other jobs) - keep in mind, recruiters "sell" the military by offering good pay, three square meals a day, a roof above your head, a bed to sleep in at night, clothing, education and training on equipment that will provide a good job when one returns to the civilian world and free medical and dental care coverage in the U.S. - then he was the victim of what is called "economc conscription".