- Since the war started in Iraq, the Pentagon says 5,500
U.S. soldiers have deserted, with some of them seeking refugee status in
Canada, CBS reported Thursday.
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- Among them is 26-year-old Jeremy Hinzman, whose Toronto
court bid for refugee status wrapped up Wednesday.
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- Hinzman of Rapid City, S.D., joined the Army in January
2001, and was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. He said he didn't want
to simply get out of the Army.
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- 'I had signed a contract for four years,' he said. 'I
was totally willing to fulfill it -- just not in combat arms jobs.'
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- Following his hearing, his lawyer and the Solcitor
General's
office is expected to file written submissions by Jan. 24. After that,
the judge said a decision would be made as soon as possible, the Toronto
Sun said.
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- Meanwhile, other soldiers who were denied conscientious
objector status are using the Internet to locate Vietnam-era resisters
who assist and even drive objectors to Canada, CBS said.
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- http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/
- ?sid=861b2f1349377ccb
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