Canada toys with deserter protections

This is always an interesting topic — the Canadian sentiment toward American deserters. It's near and dear to me, since I have a cousin who left the U.S. to avoid Vietnam service. He's done pretty well for himself in B.C. Every time I hear someone mention the town in which he settled, I ask if they know so-and-so. You'd be surprised how many answer yes.

So Canadians are still in this same mood of providing sanctuary to those who desert...

The bill, introduced by the Liberal Party's Gerard Kennedy, would allow other countries' military deserters to stay in Canada if their refusal to serve is based on sincere moral, political or religious objections.

Parliament has already voted twice to support war resisters, but those were non-binding motions.

Most war resisters in Canada are U.S. military personnel who have refused to participate in the Iraq War on the grounds that it's illegal and immoral.

There are thought to be about 200 American military deserters who have come to Canada to avoid service in Iraq.

Except it's more. After all, military service is now voluntary. Why would you want to give someone a chance to escape what they truly committed themselves to doing? It's pathetic.

Draft-dodgers? Not anymore. Just cowards.