Deserters, Iraq, and the UN--and our ignorant politicians
Related to those who sign up, for whatever reason, to serve in armed forces. The opposition parties on June 3 combined in the House of Commons:
So, contrary to what the opposition say, since October 2003 any US deserters concerned about Iraq are in fact refusing to participate in a UN-sanctioned war. And I'll bet no Government speaker knew enough to raise that inconvenient truth. I'll also bet very, very few of our journalists know the facts either.
Update: A letter of mine in the Ottawa Citizen, June 10 (a Norman's Spectator "Letter of the day" and also in Spotlight on Military News and International Affairs, "Canadian Commentary").
U.S. soldiers who have deserted the military because of the war in Iraq should be allowed to stay permanently in Canada, the House of Commons voted in a nonbinding motion yesterday.But only the actual invasion of Iraq was not sanctioned by the UN Security Council. The US and coalition military presence, and use of force, have in fact been fully authorized by the Security Council since this resolution of October 16, 2003 which states:
The three opposition parties, which together hold a majority of seats in the House, backed a motion that said the government should allow conscientious objectors and their families "who have refused or left military service related to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations [emphasis added]" to stay in Canada...
THE SECURITY COUNCIL,Most recently, on December 18, 2007, the Security Council extended the mandate of those foreign forces--for the last time--until December 31, 2008. After that their presence will need to be on the basis of agreement with the government of Iraq.
[...]
13. Determines that the provision of security and stability is essential to the successful completion of the political process as outlined in paragraph 7 above and to the ability of the United Nations to contribute effectively to that process and the implementation of resolution 1483 (2003), and authorizes a multinational force under unified command to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq, including for the purpose of ensuring necessary conditions for the implementation of the timetable and program as well as to contribute to the security of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, the Governing Council of Iraq and other institutions of the Iraqi interim administration, and key humanitarian and economic infrastructure;
14. Urges Member States to contribute assistance under this United Nations mandate, including military forces [emphasis added, compare to St. Steve Staples here], to the multinational force referred to in paragraph 13 above...
So, contrary to what the opposition say, since October 2003 any US deserters concerned about Iraq are in fact refusing to participate in a UN-sanctioned war. And I'll bet no Government speaker knew enough to raise that inconvenient truth. I'll also bet very, very few of our journalists know the facts either.
Update: A letter of mine in the Ottawa Citizen, June 10 (a Norman's Spectator "Letter of the day" and also in Spotlight on Military News and International Affairs, "Canadian Commentary").
posted by Mark, Ottawa at 9:39 p.m.
4 Comments:
Well, isn't that, um, interesting.
The opposition parties formally back a Parliamentary motion to aid and abet military deserters from a country with which Canada has mutual defense treaties, both NORAD and NATO (also a mutual extradition treaty for wanted criminals).
With the upcoming deportation of the first deserters from Canada to the US, this purpose of this motion seems to be a very big message to judges and other legal officials who rule on and administer immigration matters, most particularly deportations.
As well as ignorance, there's provincial smug self-righteousness and anti-Americanism alive and well in the NDP, the Bloc and the Liberal Party.
so these guys have the wrong approach. They should apply as deserters.
"The Eritrean Liberation Front was formed in Cairo, trained in Syria and had an office in Sudan but now its members are turning up in Canada.
Members of the obscure east African guerrilla group have been arriving and requesting asylum, but federal immigration authorities have told them they cannot stay.
During Eritrea's 30-year fight for independence, the ELF hijacked an Ethiopian airliner, kidnapped British and U.S. civilians and killed a Dutch missionary nurse."
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 06/09/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.
The committee hearing on this last December was rushed, and the United Nations clause a last minute amendment. It originally just said "related to the war in Iraq."
MP Bradley Trost tried to raise some concerns re Canadian soldiers, and what it means to be a conscientious objector, but the oppositon ignored him.
I wonder if the government let it go because the new wording actually works against the original intent.
More here.
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