A new underground railroad
Some soldiers would rather desert
than return to Iraq
by Becky Oberg
Service members know the consequences of going absent without leave (unauthorized absence in the Navy) — a maximum penalty of five years confinement, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and a dishonorable discharge. The maximum penalty for desertion in a time of war is death.
Yet some military personnel are going AWOL or deserting to avoid returning to Iraq.
“I definitely don’t want to go back there,” a Florida National Guardsman told CBS News. “I think most people — if not all people who are there — don’t want to be there.”
That Guardsman missed his flight back to Iraq on Oct. 18. According to the Washington Post, the soldier has not returned to duty and may be on the run.
According to Natalie Granger of the Army Public Affairs Office, 3,800 soldiers deserted in 2002. Three thousand two hundred fifty-five were returned to military control.
In 2001, 5,065 deserted and 4,966 were returned.
“This is something that we have to deal with regularly,” Granger said.
Granger said she could not say whether the Army would execute a deserter today as each case is judged on an individual basis. “Obviously it’s an option,” she said.
Army spokesman Joe Burlas said the Army would probably not pursue execution. He said the last execution for desertion was during World War II.
“[The penalty for desertion is] basically five years confinement if there’s an intent to avoid hazardous duty,” he said.
The GI Rights Hotline, a national soldiers’ support service, told the New York Post that they’ve received more than 100 calls inquiring about the penalties associated for going AWOL. Some of the calls have come from soldiers home on leave, others have come from soldiers in the war zone. Some callers have said they will not return to Iraq.
The consequences of this action can be harsh. In a recent case, Marine Stephen Funk was acquitted of desertion but convicted of unauthorized absence, according to occupationwatch.org. Funk, a conscientious objector, was sentenced to six months in the Camp Lejeune brig (military prison), reduction in rank to private, forfeiture of two-thirds pay for six months and a bad-conduct discharge.
The penalty is harsher for desertion. After a service member is AWOL for more than 30 days, he or she is dropped from the rolls and administratively classified as a deserter.
When a soldier is classified as a deserter, a federal arrest warrant is issued. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies may apprehend the deserter. The next of kin is contacted by letter after 10 days and asked to urge the member to return voluntarily to military control.
Harboring a deserter is illegal. According to Claudia Cummings, public affairs officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Indianapolis, the maximum penalty is three years in a federal prison.
Some people, however, think it is worth the risk.
“When I hear about these women and men that would kill themselves to escape, my duty as a veteran and a loyal American is to fight my government in whatever nonviolent manner is appropriate,” Carl Rising-Moore said in an e-mail to anti-war activists in Indianapolis.
According to USA Today, 11 soldiers and three Marines have killed themselves in the past seven months in Iraq. Several other deaths are being investigated as suicides. In addition, the Army has sent 478 soldiers home from Iraq for mental health reasons.
Rising-Moore, an Army veteran, served during the Vietnam War. While he volunteered for duty in Vietnam, he was stationed stateside. When he was discharged, he was supportive of people who were fleeing to Canada to avoid serving. He said the current Iraq situation is similar to Vietnam.
“If everything else fails, people should desert, just as George W. Bush did during the Vietnam War,” he said.
There is a gap in Bush’s military service record from May 1972 to October 1973. Critics have charged he deserted.
Rising-Moore said people all over the country are willing to harbor deserters and help them escape to Canada.
“The Canadian people are up for the task,” Rising-Moore said.
Under Canadian law, political asylum cases are handled on a case-by-case basis by an immigration officer at the border. Canada follows the United Nations guidelines on granting political asylum.
Rising-Moore also said Sweden and Norway might grant political asylum to deserters.
Some countries definitely will not.
“There is no way they can come to Switzerland,” said a spokesperson from the Consulate of Switzerland in Indianapolis. “We are a neutral country. We don’t get involved in the affairs of other peoples.”
Rising-Moore is currently in Canada to gather support for what he called the “Freedom Underground.” He will visit all the major cities, including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and Ottawa.
Rising-Moore said some people think he has gone over the top, but he believes the Nuremberg principle applies. According to the Nuremberg principle, individuals have a responsibility to choose to follow the higher moral code when it conflicts with laws and orders.
“I would hope the American people would stand up against this fascist regime of George W. Bush, the un-elected military dictator of the United States of America,” he said.
“It is better to go through the proper channels to leave the military, but if one is willing to die rather than go through the process, than I recommend that they leave right away,” Rising-Moore wrote in e-mail communication. “I reiterate that a better solution to this option is to become a war resister within the military and tell your commanding officer that you do not wish to kill any more. It may take a few months, but eventually they will let you out. You may wish to also refuse to be assigned to Iraq because even if you are in a noncombatant role, you are still supporting this illegal and immoral war.”
Rising-Moore said that two weeks ago, 30 military personnel refused to report for duty in Iraq.
• In 1971, Abbie Hoffman described how to desert in Steal This Book.
Hoffman recommended Sweden and Canada.• According to its government Web page, Canada received between
30,000 and 40,000 deserters and draft dodgers during the Vietnam
War. Many went to Toronto, which still has a heavy American presence.• According to the History Channel, the last execution for desertion
was in 1945, when Army Pvt. Eddie Slovik was shot by a firing squad.• The Army’s Deserter Information Point (USADIP) is in Indianapolis.
USADIP is the Army’s information control center for absentees and
deserters.
November 05, 2003 / Comments (13)Comments:
Helping conscientious Americans in the avoid Vietnam in the 60's, here for you again today.
Posted by: john davies @ 01:21 AM
Dear sir
Your article is great but permitt (sic) me to add one more thing and that is :
The soldiers who are deserting and or not reporting to duty did not desert initially when war was declared but they did report to duty when ordered to attack Iraq Then Mr. Bush declared mission accomplished few month's ago, therefore I can see why some are deserting simply because Iraq now needs policing and not soldiers who are being picked up and easy targets for the terrorist who do not care about there own lives ,frankly they have all the right to refuse to stay in Iraq especially when this war was not just and did not have the UN approval , on these basis the soldiers can leave the army legaly, suirely there are Lawyers who can take this issue on.
This is just food for thought.
franklyn nash
UK.Posted by: franklynnash @ 07:06 AM
There's no chance of an American being shot for desertion. As Congress declined to declare war, legally wartime sanctions cannot be used.
Posted by: joeyman9 @ 09:19 AM
So how can people help?
Posted by: Gort @ 09:19 AM
People should go to www.awolbush.com and read that G.W. is AWOL too!!
Posted by: James @ 10:29 AM
If you need help, where do you go? I believe there is a time and a place if the purpose is just. Living in a just society, the purpose of this action by GWB and his motley crue is NOT just and this is neither the time or the place. So much for Freedom.
Posted by: Stephen @ 11:22 AM
Please tell me why the press has not hounded George Bush about this issue? Why does he not have to answer for those missing months in his military record? Why doesn't the media band together and refuse to be cowed by these neo-cons? If the press took its responsiblity seriously, the administration's leaders would have to face their misdeeds.
Posted by: Sara @ 12:40 PM
Go AWOL and then you may just end up being the Commander in Chief.
George W. set the precident for all others to follow.
Why isn't he in the brig?
Posted by: Chris @ 02:03 PM
Just call it Taking the Bush option or Bushing out.
Posted by: jesse @ 03:15 PM
Have Bush put his daughters in his murderous invasion of a third-world country. If Bush read the Constitution, only Congress can declare war. Several past Presidents continue to use the Bill of Rights and our Constitution as toilet paper. This invasion is not worth anyone's life. "...only in commerce" should we deal with foreigners. Bush is not a king, nor sent by God as he claims. God bless the soldiers going AWOL. Stick together and get the hell out of there.
Posted by: nancy @ 10:24 PM
Well, well, well........finally, there is somebody willing to step up and help these servicemen and women. It certainly is obvious that although everyone waves their flags and decries "support the troops" few really have thought of a way to do it. Good for Carl Rising-Moore, I for one would be very willing to help with the underground. This is a fascist regime with Mr. Bush as the leader and theif. More Americans and any other countries willing to help should be willing to lend a hand to this worthy undertaking. It's time that all of us who protest this occupation and slaughter stand up and be counted!
Posted by: beth @ 05:20 AM
Sisters and Brothers,
There is much interest in helping those that are in the military presently.
Very few believed that they would be placed in combat in an illegal and immoral war.
The majority of military personnel in Iraq now believe they are sitting ducks. The morale sinks with every passing day.
After the rocket attack on the Black Hawk helicopter that killed another six military personnel several days ago, other soldiers went on a shooting spree that used rocket fire and heavy caliber shells against "suspected hideouts" of the enemy. There was no mention of how many were killed in these attacks, but it is exactly what happened in Nam when surviving soldiers would kill anything that moved in retaliation to their friends death. And so it goes. It is hard not to engage in a mob mentality when your fellow troops are killed. But yet, that is the task at hand. To preserve your humanity while being attacked by the "enemy".
Every soldier that survived Nam that I know has problems coping with what happened there. If you become a cold blooded killer in Iraq, you will bring that back home. Keep your head down and apply for noncombat status. You will be the real heros. May you survive this ordeal and return to your loved ones soon.
If enough troops quit fighting, the war will end that much sooner. Save your lives and your humanity because it is not worth killing or being killed for. Chickenhawk has nothing but a mouth, "bring em on". He lied about the justification for war and our troops die daily. When will it end?
To eliminate those in opposition to the US and British occupation of Iraq, it would require carpet bombing with nuclear bombs from one end of Iraq to the other. That will not happen, because that would make the problem of stealing Iraq's oil impossible.
If anyone wishes to escape this double talking administration while in the military, I will have some contacts soon to report. If you are going to leave the country, do not wait untill you are AWOL. Make your move while still on leave.
Do not travel in uniform and wear a baseball cap if your hair is military style. My friends north of the border are good people and interested in doing whatever is required of them.
The Pentagon has decided to send more troops to Germany and Europe for R and R instead of returning them to the continental US. Norway, Sweedon and Finland have a long history of protecting our soldiers that have had enough of this mess. Again, do not wait untill your leave is finished before leaving if that is your choice.
editor note:
If you require counseling, the GI hotline can help and has cases that allow those who return from Iraq to register a C.O. claim. 800-379-2679. (The Center on Conscience & War)contact Carl by phone at 317-748-6661 or click on the link below to send him an email.
Do not call (Carl) from your home phone number or a government phone because this cell number is not secure. Do not give me your correct name or service, it is not necessary. If you choose to leave the country, remember that it may be many years before you can return. It was during the Carter Administration that amnesty was given to those that fled the USA to avoid the Viet Nam War. This decision is a serious undertaking, and should not be decided without counseling. But as I stated in the article by Becky Osberg, "If everything else fails, people should desert, just as George W. Bush did during the Vietnam War."
Posted by: Carl Rising-Moore @ 10:36 PM
There are so many men who signed their name at that post office on their 18th birthday but have no idea what to do now.
This website will help. There are many alternatives and yes, that wind of the draft will soon be a hurricane. http://www.duckdaotsu.org/resist.html
AFSC has excellent resources as well.
If you need money to buy that book or just want to look for alternative direction, please visit the site.
...Just a Taoist hermit
on the side of a mountain
who listens for that train
whistle whenever it's near....
Posted by: lisbeth @ 05:54 PM
find this article on the web at:http://www.nuvo.net/archive/2003/11/05/a_new_underground_railroad.html
going
AWOLsing the giant
back to sleepAnyone Feel
a Draft?desertion
murder
suicideHold on to Your Humanity:
An Open Letter
to GIs in Iraqworkshops
for attorneys
assisting GIsFreedom
Underground
an important article
by Becky ObergBushDraft.com is not a new brand of beer legslation to reinstate the draft .....change all the gender-specific words in "resist" to "person" and you will have a clue aout the new legislation...... contact
Carl Rising-Moorewho on earth isthis guy
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and why the hell does he want to reinstate the draft???HOW TO STAY OUT
OF THE MILITARYARE YOU A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR? I know what I must do Harass The Brass:
Some Notes Towards the Subversion of the
U.S. Militaryanti-war
site mapconscientious
objectorXmas Leftovers:
High Rate of Suicides
in IraqTeaching
Non-violent
Regime Changedraft board notice
hiring selective
service workerssupport
duckdaotsujoin
duckdaotsuwebweaverwoman koshareskiva galleryRANT! THE BEST OF THE SOAPBOX
T H O U S A N D S O F P O E T S , ONEVOICE
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Speech against military conscription (draft)
before the U.S. House of Representatives
on December 9, 1814 by Daniel Webster