Saturday, July 19, 2008

First Deserter Returned From Canada Guilty


Via the Toronto Star:

An U.S. Army deserter who took refuge in Canada before returning to the U.S. voluntarily was given a dishonourable discharge yesterday and sentenced to nine months in jail, a close supporter said.
James Burmeister, 22, was sentenced by a military judge in Fort Knox, Ky., after a four-hour court martial hearing, said Carol Rawert-Trainer, of the American non-profit group Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
"It's quite a shock to everybody," said Rawert-Trainer from Louisville, Ky. "We all thought they were going to take it easy on him because he turned himself in, but it doesn't look that way."

The article has more but the bottom line is this time Canada with troops in Afghanistan will not be a refuge for cowards and deserters. I mean what did anyone on the left expect, this man volunteered after the war started and then deserts. Nine months is not enough time since a normal combat tour for the Army is 12-15 months

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