unknown
2008-08-30 15:44:12 UTC
War Resister Robin Long Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison
By Sarah Lazare, Courage to Resist. Posted August 25, 2008.
Long, an Iraq War resister deported from Canada last month, was
sentenced to 15 months of prison and dishonorable discharge.
This is an update to AlterNet's previous story on the case of Robin
Long.
Robin Long, an Iraq War resister deported from Canada into U.S.
military custody last month, was sentenced today to 15 months of
confinement and dishonorable discharge, receiving credit for 40 days
of time served.
Long's supporters, who flooded the Fort Carson, Colorado courtroom
where the court martial was held and held a vigil in his honor,
expressed dismay at the harsh verdict. "It sets a very chilling
precedent that someone who is brought back gets the book thrown at
them," said Ann Wright, a retired U.S. Army Colonel who publicly
resigned in opposition to the invasion of Iraq and served as a witness
at Long's trial. "I hope the Canadian government recognizes that."
Three years ago, Robin Long fled to Canada rather than fight a war in
Iraq he deems immoral and illegal. On July 15th, the Canadian
government forcibly returned Long to U.S. military custody, making him
the first war resister deported from Canadian soil since the Vietnam
War.
The Canadian government's actions flaunt its long-standing tradition
of providing safe haven for U.S. war resisters and ignore a
non-binding parliamentary resolution to allow U.S. soldiers to stay in
Canada.
Long is a part of a growing movement of GI resistance against the Iraq
War, and his case has been met with widespread support from friends
and allies throughout the United States and Canada
Court Martial
Long's court martial was held near Colorado Springs, where he was
charged with desertion "with intent to remain away permanently." He
was given the maximum time of confinement negotiated in a pre-trial
agreement, despite the testimony of several supporters, including
Colonel Ann Wright and Matthis Chiroux, an army journalist who
recently refused to deploy to Iraq. Long's sentence stands as one of
the longest handed to an Iraq War resister.
Long gave an impassioned testimony at his trial, in which he declared
that he was still convinced that he had done the right thing morally,
even if he did not make the most prudent legal and tactical decisions.
He said that he was glad that he did not go to Iraq but wishes that
there was another option available to him other than facing court
martial and confinement.
The trial was packed with Long's supporters, including members from
Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, and the Peace and
Justice Coalition of Colorado Springs. The courtroom was so full that
many of his supporters had to wait outside. When Long stepped out of
the courtroom, he was met with throngs of people who cheered him on
loudly, despite being pushed across the street by military police.
Long's supporters have spent months rallying on his behalf, and
Courage to Resist raised funds for his civilian lawyer, James Branum.
"I think it was a long sentence but it was positive that he got his
day in court and got to speak up and say what he believed," said Mr.
Branum. "His spirits were relatively good. Having two war resisters
show up at his trial meant a lot to him."
Colonel Wright says that she is disappointed in the steep verdict, but
she believes the outcome would have been far worse if Long had not
received such overwhelming support. "Once soldiers are returned to
military control, it is in the best interest of everyone if there is
support for war resisters.
Who is Robin Long?
Born in Boise, Idaho, Robin Long was raised in a military family,
playing with G.I. Joes and dreaming of one day joining the service.
Upon enlisting in the Army in June 2003, the recruiter promised that
Long would not be sent to Iraq. Long was excited about this chance to
serve his country and finally make something with his life, and he
headed off for basic training feeling he had made the right decision.
"When the United States first attacked Iraq, I was told by my
president that it was because of direct ties to al Qaeda and weapons
of mass destruction," Long told Courage to Resist in an interview in
January. "At the time, I believed what was being said."
Over the next few months, Long's enthusiasm began to wane. His drill
sergeant repeatedly referred to Iraqi people as "ragheads" and led the
troops in racist cadences. When Long protested, he was punished by
senior officers and alienated by his peers. At this point, Long began
to suffer a crisis of conscience. "I was hearing on mainstream media
that the U.S. was going to Iraq to get the weapons of mass destruction
and to liberate the Iraqi people, yet I'm being taught that I'm going
to the desert to, excuse the racial slur, 'kill ragheads.'"
After basic training, Long was transferred to the nondeployable unit
at Fort Knox. Upon meeting soldiers returning from Iraq, Long was
horrified by their stories of violence and brutality. Soldiers bragged
about their "first kills" and showed pictures of people they shot or
ran over with tanks. "I had a really sick feeling to my stomach when I
heard about these things that went on," he said.
In 2005, Long received orders to go to Iraq. The only soldier to be
deployed from his unit, Long received a month's leave to check out of
Fort Knox and report to Fort Carson, Colorado. He was scheduled to
deploy to Iraq a few weeks later.
While on leave, Long educated himself about the "behind the scenes"
story of the Iraq invasion. He talked to friends about whether to go
through with his deployment. By his scheduled departure day, Long had
made the decision not to go. He skipped his flight and stayed in a
friend's basement in Boise over the next few months. From there he
caught a ride to Canada. "I knew that my conscience couldn't allow me
to go over there (to Iraq)," he said.
Long spent the next three years building a life for himself in Canada.
He met a woman, had a child and established contact with other war
resisters in Canada. Long applied for refugee status on the grounds
that he was being asked to participate in an illegal war and would
suffer irreparable harm if he returned to the United States. Not only
was his bid rejected, but Canadian authorities responded by mandating
that Long report his whereabouts every month. He eventually settled in
Nelson, a small town in British Columbia.
Orders for Deportation
Robin Long found his new life in Canada to be increasingly precarious.
He was issued a warrant for arrest by the Canadian Border Services
Agency on July 4 of this year, on the grounds that he did not
adequately report his whereabouts to the authorities, and he was told
a few days later that he would be deported to the United States. Long
appealed the order, and his supporters rallied throughout the United
States and Canada, urging Canadian authorities to let him stay.
Despite these efforts, Long was deported on July 15, after the judge
ruled that he would not suffer irreparable harm if returned to the
United States.
Long's family remains in Canada, and before the trial, he expressed
concern about the separation, which could last a number of years. "I
have a son I wouldn't be able to see. It's kind of hard to think about
that," he told Courage to Resist.
Canada is home to an estimated 200 U.S. soldiers refusing to serve in
the Iraq War, and 64 percent of Canadians favor granting them
permanent residence, according to a June 27 Angus Reid Strategies
poll. The Canadian House of Commons passed a non-binding resolution
June 3rd, calling for a stop to the deportation of U.S. soldiers and
allowing them to apply for permanent residency in Canada, but the
resolution was ignored by the conservative Harper administration.
Several other war resisters living in Canada face the immediate threat
of deportation, including Jeremy Hinzman, who received a deportation
order for September 23rd.
"We would hope that the Canadian government allow the men and women
who refuse to fight a war that Canadians also refuse to fight to stay
up there, especially after seeing the heavy punishment that Robin Long
faces," said Ann Wright.
A Growing Movement Against the War
The high profile of Long's case is also a sign of the growing
significance of the GI movement against the Iraq War. As the war
effort becomes increasingly unpopular, more and more soldiers are
speaking publicly against the invasion and refusing to serve out their
contracts, with high-ranking military officials like Ehren Watada
publicly denouncing military atrocities, despite facing harsh
penalties for doing so.
Meanwhile, Iraq War veterans are teaming up with war resisters and
other civilian and veteran supporters to build the GI movement against
the war. Iraq Veterans Against the War, whose membership consists of
people who have served in the U.S. military since September 11th,
2001, has been active in supporting Long and other war resisters.
Several other groups, such as Courage to Resist and the War Resisters
Support Campaign (Canada), have risen to support soldiers willing to
take a stand. The orders for Long's deportation were met with protests
throughout the United States and Canada.
"Veterans and war resisters are beginning to see that they are in the
same boat, that they are brothers and sisters, and it is one
struggle," said Gerry Condon, a Vietnam War resister and active
supporter of the GI movement against the Iraq War. "The fact that
people are showing this kind of solidarity with each other is really
profound. Resistance within the military is certainly growing."
Sarah Lazare is the Project Director of Courage to Resist, an
organization that supports military war resisters.
By Sarah Lazare, Courage to Resist. Posted August 25, 2008.
Long, an Iraq War resister deported from Canada last month, was
sentenced to 15 months of prison and dishonorable discharge.
This is an update to AlterNet's previous story on the case of Robin
Long.
Robin Long, an Iraq War resister deported from Canada into U.S.
military custody last month, was sentenced today to 15 months of
confinement and dishonorable discharge, receiving credit for 40 days
of time served.
Long's supporters, who flooded the Fort Carson, Colorado courtroom
where the court martial was held and held a vigil in his honor,
expressed dismay at the harsh verdict. "It sets a very chilling
precedent that someone who is brought back gets the book thrown at
them," said Ann Wright, a retired U.S. Army Colonel who publicly
resigned in opposition to the invasion of Iraq and served as a witness
at Long's trial. "I hope the Canadian government recognizes that."
Three years ago, Robin Long fled to Canada rather than fight a war in
Iraq he deems immoral and illegal. On July 15th, the Canadian
government forcibly returned Long to U.S. military custody, making him
the first war resister deported from Canadian soil since the Vietnam
War.
The Canadian government's actions flaunt its long-standing tradition
of providing safe haven for U.S. war resisters and ignore a
non-binding parliamentary resolution to allow U.S. soldiers to stay in
Canada.
Long is a part of a growing movement of GI resistance against the Iraq
War, and his case has been met with widespread support from friends
and allies throughout the United States and Canada
Court Martial
Long's court martial was held near Colorado Springs, where he was
charged with desertion "with intent to remain away permanently." He
was given the maximum time of confinement negotiated in a pre-trial
agreement, despite the testimony of several supporters, including
Colonel Ann Wright and Matthis Chiroux, an army journalist who
recently refused to deploy to Iraq. Long's sentence stands as one of
the longest handed to an Iraq War resister.
Long gave an impassioned testimony at his trial, in which he declared
that he was still convinced that he had done the right thing morally,
even if he did not make the most prudent legal and tactical decisions.
He said that he was glad that he did not go to Iraq but wishes that
there was another option available to him other than facing court
martial and confinement.
The trial was packed with Long's supporters, including members from
Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, and the Peace and
Justice Coalition of Colorado Springs. The courtroom was so full that
many of his supporters had to wait outside. When Long stepped out of
the courtroom, he was met with throngs of people who cheered him on
loudly, despite being pushed across the street by military police.
Long's supporters have spent months rallying on his behalf, and
Courage to Resist raised funds for his civilian lawyer, James Branum.
"I think it was a long sentence but it was positive that he got his
day in court and got to speak up and say what he believed," said Mr.
Branum. "His spirits were relatively good. Having two war resisters
show up at his trial meant a lot to him."
Colonel Wright says that she is disappointed in the steep verdict, but
she believes the outcome would have been far worse if Long had not
received such overwhelming support. "Once soldiers are returned to
military control, it is in the best interest of everyone if there is
support for war resisters.
Who is Robin Long?
Born in Boise, Idaho, Robin Long was raised in a military family,
playing with G.I. Joes and dreaming of one day joining the service.
Upon enlisting in the Army in June 2003, the recruiter promised that
Long would not be sent to Iraq. Long was excited about this chance to
serve his country and finally make something with his life, and he
headed off for basic training feeling he had made the right decision.
"When the United States first attacked Iraq, I was told by my
president that it was because of direct ties to al Qaeda and weapons
of mass destruction," Long told Courage to Resist in an interview in
January. "At the time, I believed what was being said."
Over the next few months, Long's enthusiasm began to wane. His drill
sergeant repeatedly referred to Iraqi people as "ragheads" and led the
troops in racist cadences. When Long protested, he was punished by
senior officers and alienated by his peers. At this point, Long began
to suffer a crisis of conscience. "I was hearing on mainstream media
that the U.S. was going to Iraq to get the weapons of mass destruction
and to liberate the Iraqi people, yet I'm being taught that I'm going
to the desert to, excuse the racial slur, 'kill ragheads.'"
After basic training, Long was transferred to the nondeployable unit
at Fort Knox. Upon meeting soldiers returning from Iraq, Long was
horrified by their stories of violence and brutality. Soldiers bragged
about their "first kills" and showed pictures of people they shot or
ran over with tanks. "I had a really sick feeling to my stomach when I
heard about these things that went on," he said.
In 2005, Long received orders to go to Iraq. The only soldier to be
deployed from his unit, Long received a month's leave to check out of
Fort Knox and report to Fort Carson, Colorado. He was scheduled to
deploy to Iraq a few weeks later.
While on leave, Long educated himself about the "behind the scenes"
story of the Iraq invasion. He talked to friends about whether to go
through with his deployment. By his scheduled departure day, Long had
made the decision not to go. He skipped his flight and stayed in a
friend's basement in Boise over the next few months. From there he
caught a ride to Canada. "I knew that my conscience couldn't allow me
to go over there (to Iraq)," he said.
Long spent the next three years building a life for himself in Canada.
He met a woman, had a child and established contact with other war
resisters in Canada. Long applied for refugee status on the grounds
that he was being asked to participate in an illegal war and would
suffer irreparable harm if he returned to the United States. Not only
was his bid rejected, but Canadian authorities responded by mandating
that Long report his whereabouts every month. He eventually settled in
Nelson, a small town in British Columbia.
Orders for Deportation
Robin Long found his new life in Canada to be increasingly precarious.
He was issued a warrant for arrest by the Canadian Border Services
Agency on July 4 of this year, on the grounds that he did not
adequately report his whereabouts to the authorities, and he was told
a few days later that he would be deported to the United States. Long
appealed the order, and his supporters rallied throughout the United
States and Canada, urging Canadian authorities to let him stay.
Despite these efforts, Long was deported on July 15, after the judge
ruled that he would not suffer irreparable harm if returned to the
United States.
Long's family remains in Canada, and before the trial, he expressed
concern about the separation, which could last a number of years. "I
have a son I wouldn't be able to see. It's kind of hard to think about
that," he told Courage to Resist.
Canada is home to an estimated 200 U.S. soldiers refusing to serve in
the Iraq War, and 64 percent of Canadians favor granting them
permanent residence, according to a June 27 Angus Reid Strategies
poll. The Canadian House of Commons passed a non-binding resolution
June 3rd, calling for a stop to the deportation of U.S. soldiers and
allowing them to apply for permanent residency in Canada, but the
resolution was ignored by the conservative Harper administration.
Several other war resisters living in Canada face the immediate threat
of deportation, including Jeremy Hinzman, who received a deportation
order for September 23rd.
"We would hope that the Canadian government allow the men and women
who refuse to fight a war that Canadians also refuse to fight to stay
up there, especially after seeing the heavy punishment that Robin Long
faces," said Ann Wright.
A Growing Movement Against the War
The high profile of Long's case is also a sign of the growing
significance of the GI movement against the Iraq War. As the war
effort becomes increasingly unpopular, more and more soldiers are
speaking publicly against the invasion and refusing to serve out their
contracts, with high-ranking military officials like Ehren Watada
publicly denouncing military atrocities, despite facing harsh
penalties for doing so.
Meanwhile, Iraq War veterans are teaming up with war resisters and
other civilian and veteran supporters to build the GI movement against
the war. Iraq Veterans Against the War, whose membership consists of
people who have served in the U.S. military since September 11th,
2001, has been active in supporting Long and other war resisters.
Several other groups, such as Courage to Resist and the War Resisters
Support Campaign (Canada), have risen to support soldiers willing to
take a stand. The orders for Long's deportation were met with protests
throughout the United States and Canada.
"Veterans and war resisters are beginning to see that they are in the
same boat, that they are brothers and sisters, and it is one
struggle," said Gerry Condon, a Vietnam War resister and active
supporter of the GI movement against the Iraq War. "The fact that
people are showing this kind of solidarity with each other is really
profound. Resistance within the military is certainly growing."
Sarah Lazare is the Project Director of Courage to Resist, an
organization that supports military war resisters.