US Soldier Seeks Asylum in Canada - Says ordered to kill civilians in Iraq

Discussion in 'America Attacks!' started by skip, Dec 8, 2004.

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  1. skip

    skip Founder Administrator

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    A US Army soldier has accused his fellow soldiers of killing unarmed Iraqi civilians and says he was ordered to do so routinely.

    This is the first case of a US soldier seeking asylum in Canada during the Iraq war.

    Former Marine in Iraq: We fired on unarmed civilians, wounded combatants

    By BETH DUFF-BROWN
    Associated Press Writer
    A former Marine on the front lines of Iraq, a witness for an American seeking to become the first U.S. soldier granted asylum in Canada, said Wednesday several men in his unit were "psychopaths" who enjoyed killing unarmed Iraqi civilians who posed no threat.

    U.S. Army Pfc. Jeremy Hinzman, 26, is calling on the Immigration and Refugee Board to grant him, his wife and 2-year-old son refugee status in Canada, claiming he would face persecution if forced to return to the United States.

    He fled Fort Bragg, N.C., to Canada weeks before his 82nd Airborne Division was due to be deployed to Iraq. He had served three years in the Army, but had applied for conscientious objector status before his unit was sent to Afghanistan in 2002.

    Hinzman's case comes just as Ottawa is attempting to improve relations with Washington, which soured dramatically after Canada refused to send troops to Iraq.

    Jimmy Massey, a staff sergeant who was in the Marines for 12 years and served three months in Iraq before being honorably discharged with post-traumatic stress syndrome, told the immigration board during the last day of Hinzman's three-day hearing that his colleague likely would have been forced to commit atrocities that violated Geneva Conventions.

    Massey, 33, of Waynesville, N.C., said his 7th Marines weapons company was stationed at a checkpoint in the southern Baghdad district of Rashid. He said he and his men killed more than 30 civilians in a 48-hours period in early April, including unarmed demonstrators and a man who drove up in a car and raised his hands above his head in the universal symbol of surrender.

    "I know in my heart that these vehicles that came up, that they were civilians," he said. "But I had to act on my orders. It's a struggle within my heart."

    The orders, he said, were to shoot at anyone who drove into what is known as the "red zone" surrounding the vehicle checkpoint because they could be suicide bombers carrying explosives.

    He told the immigration and refugee tribunal, which is expected to make its decision early next year, that he got caught up in the frenzy of the attacks and shot at civilians as well.

    "I take full responsibility for my actions," said Massey. "We deliberately gunned down people who were civilians. I became so concerned because I felt that Marines were honestly enjoying it. I saw plenty of Marines become psychopaths, they enjoyed the killing."

    The Marine Corps denies Massey's allegations.

    "We're not saying he's lying, but his perception of what the situation was in relation to the rules of engagement, and what was justified, is different than ours," said Maj. Douglas Powell, a spokesman for the Marine Corps at the Pentagon. "It was investigated and any acts of wrongdoing, in regards to violations of the laws of war, the laws of armed conflict, were unsubstantiated."

    Hinzman is arguing that the war in Iraq is illegal and fighting in it would have made him a war criminal. He also said he would face persecution if forced to return to the United States, noting he receives threatening hate mail via the Internet.

    A typical term in a military prison for Army desertion is a year.

    "After I would be released from jail, the chances of my getting a job would be slim and there would be social persecution," he told reporters after his hearing.

    Hinzman is one of three American military deserters seeking refugee status in Canada. Hearings for Brandon Hughey, of the Army's First Cavalary, and David Sanders of the Navy were scheduled to be heard by the refugee board in January.

    Jeffry House, an American lawyer who first came to Canada as a draft dodger during the Vietnam War, is representing the three Americans. He said the 30,000 to 50,000 Americans who fled to Canada during Vietnam and were allowed to settle in their northern neighbor, but that Hinzman would become the first American soldier to be granted political asylum in Canada.
     
    skip, Dec 8, 2004
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  3. gertie

    gertie Senior Member

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    an american seeking assylum in another country. it was only a matter of time.
     
    gertie, Dec 8, 2004
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  5. EllisDTripp

    EllisDTripp Green Secessionist

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    How long until one of the "Usual Suspects" come in here and try to say that this guy is lying? You know, the ones who constantly chant "Support the Troops!", until one of the troops decides to speak out against the atrocities being committed daily?

    Huck? Pointbreak? Brocktoon? BraveSirRubin? Come on, we're counting on ya! :)
     
    EllisDTripp, Dec 8, 2004
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  7. soulrebel51

    soulrebel51 i's a folkie.

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    They're killing unarmed civilians... I would never have imagined such a thing!

    :rolleyes:

    Bastards.

    I hope he gets granted asylum. Anyone who wishes otherwise is a heartless warmonger who doesn't deserve to live.
     
    soulrebel51, Dec 8, 2004
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  9. Sera Michele

    Sera Michele Senior Member

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    I hope canada gives it to him.
     
    Sera Michele, Dec 8, 2004
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  11. gertie

    gertie Senior Member

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    never imagined? i wish i could live in that dream world. civilians always die in war, and more often than not they are sought out for fun, entertainment, or the need to feel "manly."

     
    gertie, Dec 8, 2004
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  13. soulrebel51

    soulrebel51 i's a folkie.

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    haha... you must have missed my :rolleyes: smily.
     
    soulrebel51, Dec 8, 2004
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  15. gertie

    gertie Senior Member

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    opps.

     
    gertie, Dec 8, 2004
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  17. airforcedrew

    airforcedrew Banned

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    "U.S. Army Pfc. Jeremy Hinzman, 26, is calling on the Immigration and Refugee Board to grant him, his wife and 2-year-old son refugee status in Canada, claiming he would face persecution if forced to return to the United States.

    He fled Fort Bragg, N.C., to Canada weeks before his 82nd Airborne Division was due to be deployed to Iraq. He had served three years in the Army, but had applied for conscientious objector status before his unit was sent to Afghanistan in 2002.

    Hinzman's case comes just as Ottawa is attempting to improve relations with Washington, which soured dramatically after Canada refused to send troops to Iraq."

    This is the only one who I believe shouldn't be granted asylum. It sounds like he is just trying to get out of his obligation of deployment. It doesn't matter if you think the war is right or wrong, but he signed the dotted line. I personally am against the war, but I know im going to be deployed to the desert in this up and coming year. I understand that I have the right to refuse orders if they sound unjust also. If they are unjust, then I will report them to the whistle blower hotline.

    Sure some civilians may be killed, but it is being made out that every soldier over there is murdering babies and torching kittens. It happens, there are thousands of troops over there. Every bunch has its fuck ups.

    I also question the reliability of these claims.
     
    airforcedrew, Dec 8, 2004
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  19. element7

    element7 Random fool

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    Can one call the whistle blower hotline and report the Commander in Chief?
     
    element7, Dec 8, 2004
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  21. soulrebel51

    soulrebel51 i's a folkie.

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    What else is new.. :rolleyes:
     
    soulrebel51, Dec 9, 2004
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  23. Co0kiezGurl

    Co0kiezGurl Banned

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    what, you don't think people exaggerate? Lie? That media nips and tucks at stories to "sex" them up?

    It could be true, but so could any of what i just said.

    We know people who've been over in Iraq. Good people, who've never said anything like what is being claimed in this article. Could be a difference in their units, or it could be lies. No one knows for sure.
     
    Co0kiezGurl, Dec 9, 2004
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  25. airforcedrew

    airforcedrew Banned

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    Could also be an excuse to desert their fellow soldiers, and get out of their contract. Sometimes war brings out the worse in people. After know people who have lied to get out of having to pull normal duty (in tampa florida) I wouldn't put it past anyone to lie to get out of duty in iraq.
     
    airforcedrew, Dec 10, 2004
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  27. element7

    element7 Random fool

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    ^lol. So true even during peacetime. Alot of kids join the military seeking a quick solution, college, 'adventure', only to suddenly find themself in a very disciplined environment. Not what they expected. Hell after the first week of boot all kinds of things come up, suddenly people become gay, they've done drugs, their grandmother is dying. Usually though if they try to get out during boot they let em' go. Little tougher once they complete it though and actually get an assignment. As it stands I think that anyone who signs up right now or even signed up with full knowledge of the war in Iraq should stay. Sounds mean but if they stay that means someone else who sees it for what it is doesn't have to go.

    As far as individuals who were enlisted prior to the discoveries of truth, who want out or refuse to go based on it being an illegal war of aggression. More power to them. Then there's a basic accomodation in the UCMJ towards combat soldiers. Essentially anyone in the military, regardless of what branch or what their job classification is, can have a gun put in their hands and be shipped off to the frontlines upon being ordered to do so. Wartime is very different than peacetime. I could see more people who joined specifically towards a non-combat job getting pulled and shipped off as we see the rate of recruitment drop. As far as the atrocious behavior, it can and does happen. It falls back to the true motivations behind this war as well as the paradoxical paradigm of 'justified killing' that is required of the soldier.
     
    element7, Dec 10, 2004
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  29. soulrebel51

    soulrebel51 i's a folkie.

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    Corporate media has also not reported anything like this, which leads me to believe that it's more true than not.
     
    soulrebel51, Dec 10, 2004
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  31. UrsusKind

    UrsusKind U like Chris Farley?

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    OK so is this guy a marine or a soldier??? I'm asking cause I grew up on Fort Brag and am now 5 minutes from it in Fayetteville, NC. I'm saying how can an ex marine be stationed at an army base sounds like the fact checkers need to chew this one up. As an anti war type i hope it is true though
     
    UrsusKind, Dec 10, 2004
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  33. Co0kiezGurl

    Co0kiezGurl Banned

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    haha, why? every media has it's agenda.

    Besides...I have heard it on regular media. I heard it on the radio before this was even posted.
     
    Co0kiezGurl, Dec 10, 2004
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  35. skip

    skip Founder Administrator

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    European media is reporting that 5,500 US soldiers have deserted their posts since the Iraq war!

    Has this been reported in the US media???
     
    skip, Dec 11, 2004
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  37. soulrebel51

    soulrebel51 i's a folkie.

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    Nope, I haven't heard of this at all....

    But US media also really went overboard with the Jennifer Lynch story, Europe didn't fall for it.... hmm I wonder what could be true... :rolleyes: :p
     
    soulrebel51, Dec 11, 2004
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  39. skip

    skip Founder Administrator

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    skip, Dec 11, 2004
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