Canadian Parliament Passes Resolution
in Support of U.S. War Resisters

By James Circello

James Circello is an Iraq War veteran and member of March Forward!

Canada’s House of Commons has voted twice in 10 months to let Iraq war resisters remain in Canada. The latest vote directed the Government of Canada to immediately stop the deportation of U.S. troops that have deserted the military rather than be a part of the occupation of Iraq.

While we accept this as a clear victory for service members and the anti-war community all across the world, we must not be deceived into believing that Canada is a safe haven for those refusing to fight imperialist wars.

Canada currently has thousands of soldiers fighting in Afghanistan, as well as several military bases spread across that country. Canadian soldiers are being sent to murder and oppress the people of Afghanistan in the same fashion that U.S. soldiers are sent to murder and oppress the people of Afghanistan.

The full resolution actually states, “[It is recommended that] the government immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members (partners and dependents), who have refused or left military service related to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations and do not have a criminal record, to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and that the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions that may have already commenced against such individuals.”

A U.S. soldier who chooses not to fight in the imperialist war being waged on the people of Iraq will be protected in Canada. A soldier who chooses not to fight in the imperialist war being waged on the people of Afghanistan will not. That soldier will be deported and subject to imprisonment by the U.S. government, because the United Nations has “sanctioned” the brutal war on the Afghan people.

The people of Iraq and Afghanistan have a right to self-determination—their rifles are aimed at U.S. colonialism, not at individual troops sent to kill and be killed by the Pentagon’s top brass.

We openly call for all U.S. troops currently stationed around the world to lay down their weapons, desert their posts and join the struggle against imperialist wars that only serve the capitalist ruling class.

We believe that it is a fundamental right for service members to refuse to take part in these illegal wars. Join us in the movement of war resisters, veterans, students, workers and activists dedicated to ending these criminal wars. There is an entire community waiting to support every service member who chooses to fight against these wars.

This is not our war!
http://www.MarchForward.org