It is Christmas morning and a quick check of www.commondreams.org turned up the following reminder that we here in America, those of us of Christian or other affiliations who choose to celebrate this holiday, have the luxury of spending the day with family and friends, safe from the threats from which many cannot take a day off. The story below is about a man who made the mistake of enlisting in the armed services back in ‘04 because he’d lost his job and because a recruiter promised him he could be a cook and not have to deal with combat. I have heard this story before. In my book, CALLED TO SERVE: STORIES OF THE MEN AND WOMEN AFFECTED BY THE VIETNAM DRAFT, and in stories from men who I didn’t get to interview as well, I have heard the sad tales of recruiters who promised the man before them that they’d be safe, that enlisting meant they’d not be put in harm’s way as would the draftees. But it turned out again and again to be the big lie. One of the men in the book not only saw combat, but the ensuing PTSD and the drugs that he took to self-medicate became the theme of his next 20 years. Of course, others don’t come back at all. And now, with the dreaded and inhumane STOP-LOSS policy, which though diminished continues to this day, the military can rely on its “involuntary extension” to keep those who have served their expected tour of duty for numerous additional tours. Thankfully there are now several organizations including MARCH FORWARD (http://www.pephost.org/site/PageServer?pagename=VSMTF_aboutus) and IVAW (http://www.ivaw.org/) that support those who have served and, due to their conscience and what they have witnessed and participated in, want to end these awful wars. Below you can read about a man who is seeking asylum in Canada and who has experienced first hand the dreadful tactics of our military, the racism and the destruction wrought…in our names. I also recommend reading the comments that you can find at the website where the article appears (http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/12/24-3). Quite a few make reference to similar experiences during the Vietnam War.
WHY A RESISTER CHOSE CANADA OVER THE WAR IN IRAQ
by Rodney Watson
I am from Kansas City, Kansas, and I joined the U.S. Army for financial reasons in 2004 after my steady job of seven years ended.
I enlisted for a three-year contract with the intention of being a cook and not in a combat role. I wanted to support the troops in some way without being involved in any combat operations.
A recruiter promised that I could do this.
In 2005 I was deployed to Iraq just north of Mosul where I was told that my duties as a cook would be to supervise and ensure that the local nationals in the dining facility were preparing meals according to military standards.
But instead of supervising in the dining facility, I was performing vehicle searches for explosives, contraband and weapons. I also operated a mobile X-ray machine that scanned vehicles and civilians for any possible explosives that could enter the base.
I had to keep the peace within an area that held 100 to 200 Iraqi civilian men who would be waiting for security clearances, and shoot warning shots at Iraqi children who were trying to set up mortars to fire at the base.
In Iraq I witnessed racism and physical abuse from soldiers toward the civilians.
On one occasion a soldier was beating an Iraqi civilian, called him a “sand nigger,” threw his Qur’an on the ground and spat on it. The civilian man was unarmed and was just looking for work on our base. He posed no type of threat and was beaten because soldiers brought their personal racist hatred to Iraq.
This was not what I had signed up for.
After all the wrongs I witnessed in Iraq, I decided that once my one-year tour of duty was over I would never again be part of this unnecessary war.
When I returned home, my unit was informed that we would be redeployed within four months. This would put me beyond the term I signed up for. I was going to be stop-lossed and forced to serve past my contract.
While on two-week leave I made my decision to come to Canada and not return to my base at Fort Hood, Texas.
I have been here in Vancouver since early 2007. I have been self-sufficient. I have fathered a beautiful son whose mother is Canadian. I plan to marry her and to provide our son with a loving and caring family unit.
I have made many friends and I have built a peaceful life here.
My son and my wife-to-be are my heart and soul and it would be a great tragedy for my family and for me personally if I were deported and torn away from them.
I think being punished as a prisoner of conscience for doing what I felt morally obligated to do is a great injustice.
This Christmas I hope and pray that people will open their hearts and minds to give peace and love a chance.
I appeal to the Canadian government to honour your country’s great traditions of being a place of refuge from militarism and a place that respects human rights by supporting my decision, and the decisions taken by my fellow resisters to refuse any further participation in this unjust war.
I ask that you urge your government to respect the will of the majority of Canadians by acting on the direction it has been given twice by Parliament to immediately stop deporting Iraq War resisters like me and to let us become permanent residents here.
My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones in this unnecessary war.
© Copyright Toronto Star 1996-2009
Rodney Watson is an Iraq War veteran who was ordered deported by the Harper government this fall. On Sept. 18 he took refuge in Vancouver’s First United Church. Dec. 27 will be his 100th day in sanctuary. Watson’s request to remain in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds remains outstanding.
Tom, thank you for posting these stories and keeping us informed. What happens when an AWOL soldier is deported? I presume they’re jailed while awaiting trial in a military court.