List of Iraq War resisters

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Jeremy Hinzman first American Iraq war deserter to seek refugee status in Canada.

Some soldiers of the coalition forces have refused to participate in the Iraq War. The following is a list of the more notable military personnel who have refused to participate in the Iraq War, broadly categorized by the reasons they themselves give.

Objectors who moved to Canada

Background of Iraq War resister

Some deserters chose Canada as the place of refuge in part of the closeness of the US-Canada Border, entry to Canada is easy and because of the prior decision by the Canadian Cabinet, when headed by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, to allow draft dodgers into Canada without prosecution during the Vietnam War.

Legal and political

Pursuant to the Treaty between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America on Mutual Legal assistance in Criminal Matters, US authorities can request Canadian authorities to identify, locate, and take into custody of US nationals who have committed crime that carries a possible sentence of more than a year^[1] and subsequently be extradited back to US, pursuant to Extradition Treaty Between the United States of America and Canada.^[2] However, the government of the United States must promise those extradited will not receive death penalty, in accordance with the ruling of United States v. Burns from the Supreme Court of Canada.

Because the possibilities that deserters have been issued with arrest warrant back in the United States and pursuant to those two agreements above, they are liable for arrest in Canada unless they legalize their status. This can be done by pursuing a refugee claim, about which the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) will hold a hearing and determine the validity of the claim. If refused, the claimant can appeal to the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and finally the Supreme Court of Canada, if leave is granted.

However, if the refugee claim is refused and subsequent appeals do not overturn the decision made by IRB, the claimant must leave Canada within 30 days under a removal order.^[3] If the claimant does not leave Canada within 30 days or failed to confirm departure details with Canada Border Services Agency, it automatically becomes a deportation order, enforceable by any peace officer in Canada.^[4]

Objectors who remain in Canada

List from these references:^[5][6] and public information sourced from List of Resister Profiles at "Courage to Resist" website^[7] which gives evidence that these military personnel are refusing to participate in the Iraq war.

Justin Colby Dan Felushko (has dual citizenship with the U.S. and Canada) Patrick Hart Brandon Hughey (refugee status declined by IRB) Peter Jemley[8] Ryan Johnson – Johnson states that he went AWOL in 2004 because he felt misled by recruiters and he considers the war illegal.[9][10] Christian Kjar Dale Landry[11] Kevin Lee Brad McCall Phil McDowell

Joshua Randall (able to acquire permanent residence through spousal sponsorship) David Sanders[12] Kyle Snyder James Stepp Dean Walcott Rodney Watson – On Aug. 5, 2009 he was ordered out of Canada by Aug. 10, 2009, but this was delayed to Aug. 19, 2009.[13] It was again delayed to September 11, 2009. In light of this order of deportation, he appealed to the First United Church in Vancouver for Right of asylum. His request was granted and he entered that church on September 18, 2009.[14][15] Chuck Wiley

Objectors granted stay of deportation pending further decisions

• Corey Glass – On July 9, 2008, the Toronto Star reported that Corey Glass "is [now] permitted to remain in Canada until the Federal Court makes a decision on ... cases for judicial review."^[16] He was transferred to the IRR where he remains under Army jurisdiction until they discharge him.
• Jeremy Hinzman
• Matt Lowell (October 27, 2008^[17] and January 6, 2009^[18])
• Kimberly Rivera – On Aug. 11, 2009, she was granted a new "Pre Removal Risk Assessment" hearing with a new officer.^[19]

Objectors granted new IRB panel to reconsider applications for permanent refugee status

("IRB" is Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada)

• Joshua Key – On July 4, 2008, Joshua Key won a Federal Court (Canada) appeal thus forcing the Refugee board to re-examine his claim.^{[20][21][22][23][24]} Joshua Key will have a new hearing in front of the Immigration and Refugee Board. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's July 4, 2008 coverage of the story said that there is now a possibility that he "could qualify as a refugee."^[25] On June 3, 2009, Key had a new hearing in front of the[Immigration and Refugee Board.^{[26][27][28][29]}

Objectors deported from Canada or left because of deportation order

Objectors who had applied for legal refugee status

• Robin Long – On July 16, 2008, the Toronto Star reported that Long "was ordered out of [Canada] last week after he failed to comply with bail conditions imposed when he missed an immigration hearing last year. He was deported yesterday."^[30]
• Chris Teske – January 23, 2009, Teske was the first war resister to be forced out of Canada who applied for legal refugee status, did not "fail to comply with bail conditions" (as Robin Long did), and yet was still issued a deportation order.^[31]
• Clifford Cornell – In January 2009, Cornell experienced some legal events.^[32][33] On Feb. 4, 2009 Cornell "was arrested on Wednesday after crossing the border from Canada into Washington State." ^[34] On February 23, 2009, Cornell was charged with the crime of desertion with the intent to "avoid hazardous duty and shirk important service"^[35][36] On April 29, 2009, Clifford was convicted of "desertion" and sentenced to one year in prison."^[37][38]

Objectors who had not applied for legal refugee status

• Daniel Sandate – Deported at Niagara Falls, Canada on July 16, 2008,^[39] after having been in Canada for over 2 years. He was later court-martialed at Ft. Carson and given an 8-month prison sentence.^[40][41] Sandate released a written statement in prison about his opposition to the war in Iraq.^[42] He was released on January 20, 2009, at Ft. Sill, OK, and spoke publicly about his experience at a press conference in Oklahoma City on January 22, 2009.^[43][44]
• James Ashley – On Dec. 23, 2008, the Toronto Star reported the following:"A 28-year-old man accused of deserting the U.S. army has been caught by Canadian police and turned over to U.S. authorities in Michigan. James Ashley was returned to the United States on Monday at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron. U.S. Customs spokesman Ron Smith says it's not clear if police caught Ashley at the bridge or elsewhere in Ontario. Smith says there's an arrest warrant for Ashley out of Fort Riley, Kansas."^[45] It is unclear whether or not Ashley had intended to legalize his status by pursuing a refugee claim with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, or whether he had yet to do so. (See Immigration and Refugee Protection Act)

Objectors who willingly returned to the US without deportation order

• Darrell Anderson – Fled to Canada after 7 months in Iraq.^[46] Returned to US without court-martial^[47]
• James Burmeister – Returned to US, turned himself in to authorities, was convicted of desertion July 16, 2008, and was sentenced to 9 months in prison.^[48] He was released Oct. 28, 2008, after three months and 10 days in prison.^[49]

Objectors claiming the war is illegal

• Ben Griffin – British SAS soldier who believes the war in Iraq is illegal and that the government lied about the wars conduct.^[50] He was allowed to leave the army with no charges filed against him.^[51]
• Malcolm Kendall-Smith – A British unit medical officer for the RAF who refused to deploy on the belief that the war was unlawful.^[52][53] He was charged with and convicted of 5 counts of refusing a lawful order.^[54][55] The judge in his case rejected the defense that the war was illegal, saying that the UK armed forces had full justification under United Nations resolutions to be in Iraq at the time of the charges and that a crime of aggression could not be carried out by such a junior officer.^[56]
• Wilfredo Torres^[57]
• Ehren Watada

Conscientious objectors

For purposes of this list, the determination of conscientious objection is made by the individual, not a government. It is frequently the case that individuals and governments disagree on the status.

• Agustin Aguayo (Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience^[58])
• Kevin Benderman – Served one tour in Iraq then applied for conscientious objector status before his second tour.^[59] He was acquitted of desertion and found guilty of missing a troop movement. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, demoted to private and given a dishonorable discharge.^[60][61]
• Former Army interrogator Ricky Clousing^[62][63]
• Diedra Cobb^[64]
• Aidan Delgado – He applied for conscientious objector status in April 2003, which the Army eventually recognized, and he was honorably discharged in April 2004.
• Stephen Funk
• Katherine Jashinski
• Camilo Mejía
• Pablo Paredes – A Navy sailor who refused to board the USS Bonhomme Richard as it deployed to the Persian Gulf on December 6, 2004. A court martial found him guilty of absence without leave.^[65][66]
• Kimberly Rivera
• Josh Stieber – Blogger and co-author of "Letter to Iraq"^[67]

In June 2013, Josh Stieber and numerous celebrities appeared in a video showing support for Bradley Manning.^[68][69]

• Abdullah William Webster (USA Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience^[70])^[71]
• Mark Wilkerson

Other

A-H Michael Blake Ivan Brobeck Peter Brown Thomas Buanomo James Burmeister[72] Jonathan Arkis Cobb Chris Capps Eugen Cherry James Circello Travis Clark Pedro Fortunato "Kelso" Joshua Despain Jessica Faustner Brad Gaskins Chris Gorman Abdul Henderson Derek Hess Clifton Hicks Kevin Hicks

I-N Eleonai 'Eli' Israel Terri Johnson Ghanim Khalil[73] Mohisin Khan Joel Klemkewicz Vincent LaVolpa Blake Lemoine John Brian Lyman Christopher Magaoay Devon Marsh Corey Martin Jimmy Massey Melanie McPherson Matt Mishler Linjamin Mull

O-Z Perry O'Brian Ralph Padula Korey Rowe André Shepherd Ross Spears Michael Sudbury Suzanne Swift[74] Ronnie Tallman Harvey Tharp Marc Train Jose Vasquez Hart Viges Carl Webb[75] Jason Webb Mark Wilkerson Robert Zabala

Punishments given to Iraq War resisters

Name	Country	Date Convicted	Convicted of	Sentence	Actual Prison Time
Stephen Funk	United States	Sep. 6, 2003	Unauthorized absence	6 months	6 months
Camilo Mejia	United States	May 21, 2004	Desertion	12 months	9 months
Abdullah William Webster[76] (Amnesty International “Prisoner of Conscience”[77])	United States	Jun. 3, 2004	Failing to obey commands from superior and missing brigade’s movements	14 months	11 months
Kevin Benderman	United States	Jul. 2005	Missing movement by design, Desertion with intent to avoid hazardous duty	15 months	13 months
Malcolm Kendall-Smith	United Kingdom	Apr. 13, 2006	Refusal to obey a legal order	8 months plus fine, etc.	2 months plus other penalties
Agustin Aguayo (Amnesty International "Prisoner of Conscience"[78])	United States	Mar. 6, 2007	Desertion		7 months
Ryan Jackson[79]	United States	May 30, 2008	Desertion	100 days
***James Burmeister [48] (Returned to the US without being given a deportation order.)	United States	Jul. 16, 2008	Desertion	9 months	3 months and 10 days[80]
***Robin Long[81] (Applied for legal status; given a deportation order.)	United States	Aug. 22, 2008	Desertion with the intent to stay away permanently	15 months	12 months[82]
Tony Anderson[83]	United States	Nov. 17, 2008	Desertion	14 months
***Daniel Sandate (imprisonment began July 16, 2008; ended January 20, 2009) [40][41][42][43][44][84] (Did not apply for legal status; was deported.)	United States	Nov. 17, 2008	Desertion	8 months	6 months
***Clifford Cornell[37][38] (Applied for legal status; given a deportation order.)	United States	Apr. 29, 2009	Desertion	one year, later reduced to 11 months[85][86]	11 months (Released Jan. 16, 2010)[85][87]

"***" – Was in Canada as an Iraq war resister

See also

General 2003 Invasion of Iraq Canada and Iraq War Resisters Nuremberg Defense Opposition to the Iraq War Post–September 11 anti-war movement Protests against the Iraq war The Right to Refuse to Kill

Links relevant to those claiming refugee status in Canada Canadian immigration and refugee law Canadian nationality law Citizenship and Immigration Canada Immigration to Canada Jeffry House – attorney focusing on immigration issues Permanent resident Temporary resident US Customs and Border Protection

References

1. Treaty between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America on Mutual Legal assistance in Criminal Matters
2. Extradition Treaty Between the United States of America and Canada
3. The refugee system: Refugee claims in Canada – after applying
4. Government of Canada (2002). You Asked about ... immigration and citizenship. Queen's Printer for Canada. p. 66. ISBN 0-662-66679-8.
5. War Resisters Support Campaign webpage|http://www.resisters.ca/resisters_stories.html
6. Now (newspaper) January 8–14, 2009, pg 6
7. "Courage to Resist"
8. Shephard, Michelle (September 6, 2008). "U.S. deserter feared torture orders". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
9. May, Meredith. San Francisco Chronicle, August 26, 2006
10. Brown, Richard. "AWOL in Canada: Man [Ryan Johnson] is convinced he made the right decision, but others disagree" KXLY4 (Spokane, Wash.) report on Johnson, April 27, 2007
11. Newspaper
12. Vince Beiser (August 26, 2004). "Just Deserters?". LA Weekly. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
14. Camille Bains (October 19, 2099). "US war resister first to take sanctuary in Canada after being ordered deported". Canadian Press. Retrieved 2009-11-10. Check date values in: |date= (help)
15. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (October 19, 2009). "War resister takes refuge in Vancouver church". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
16. Kyonka, Nick (July 9, 2008). "War resister's deportation on hold". The Star (Toronto).
17. London war resister Lowell gets stay on deportation – LondonTopic.ca
18. we move to canada: war resister update: matt lowell, kim rivera
19. "U.S. war deserter given another stay of removal". CBC News. August 11, 2009.
20. Perkel, Colin (July 4, 2008). "U.S. deserter wins appeal". The Star (Toronto).
21. "U.S. deserter wins appeal".
25. "U.S. deserter could qualify as refugee: court". CBC News. 2008-07-04.
26. Byrne, Ciara (June 3, 2009). "War deserter Joshua Key says he will be treated unfairly if sent back to U.S.". The Canadian Press, and Metro International (Vancouver). Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
27. laura k (wmtc blog) (June 5, 2009). "joshua key irb hearing, part one". Retrieved 2009-06-07.
28. Serba, Andrew (June 3, 2009). "Hazing, persecution cited in U.S army deserter’s bid to stay in Canada". NewsFIX (Toronto Community News). Retrieved 2009-06-07.
29. Joshua Key being interviewed on June 2, 2009, by Janette Luu, the host for CANOE Live, a local TV program on Sun TV in Toronto, Ontario, Canada Video on YouTube
30. Kyonka, Nick (2008-07-16). "Other war resisters undaunted by expulsion". Toronto Star.
31. Lazurak, Suzanne (January 23, 2009). "Let deserters stay, activists urge". The Vancouver Province. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
32. Bellaart, Darrell (January 24, 2009). "U.S. army deserter gives up his fight to stay in Canada". Canwest News Service / Vancouver Sun. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
34. "Gabriola war-resister arrested at border in Washington". Nanaimo Daily News. February 5, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
35. [Coastal Courier "Soldier charged with desertion" |http://www.coastalcourier.com/news/article/11930/]
36. Bynum, Russ (February 26, 2009). "U.S. soldier charged with desertion after returning from Canada". The Associated Press (also Sun News Canada). Retrieved 3 March 2009.
37. "U.S. war deserter, who lived in B.C., sentenced". Montreal Gazette, Nanaimo Daily News. April 28, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
39. Corsaro, Kevin (July 16, 2008). "CBP Officers Arrest Suspect in New York Wanted for Military Desertion". USA Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Retrieved January 27, 2009.
40. Courage to Resist – Mentally ill soldier sentenced to 8 months in stockade
41. Daniel Sandate | War Resisters' International
43. blue oklahoma:: OKC peace community welcomes war resister Daniel Sandate
44. Dean, Bryon (Jan 25, 2009). "Oklahoma soldier's choice offers a lesson". NewsOK, powered by The Oklahoman. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
45. "Accused U.S. deserter turned over at border". Toronto Star. December 23, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
46. Mascolo, Georg; von Ilsemann, Siegesmund US Military Personnel Growing Critical of the War in Iraq, Spiegel Online, January 17, 2005
47. "Soldier who fled to Canada released by U.S. military". CBC News. October 6, 2006.
48. Kyonka, Nick (July 17, 2008). "American army deserter given nine months in jail". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
49. Courage to Resist – James Burmeister
50. Rayment, Sean (Mar 12, 2006). "SAS soldier quits Army in disgust at 'illegal' American tactics in Iraq". London: The telegraph UK. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
51. Rayment, Sean (Mar 12, 2006). "'I didn't join the British Army to conduct American foreign policy'". London: The Telegraph UK. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
52. Leppard, David (October 16, 2005). "RAF officer faces jail over ‘illegal war’". The Sunday Times (UK), October 16, 2005 (London). Retrieved October 17, 2005.
53. Halfpenny, Martin (March 15, 2006). "RAF doctor faces court martial over stand on Iraq". The Independent, March 15, 2006 (London). Retrieved March 19, 2006.
54. "Jail for Iraq refusal RAF doctor". BBC. April 13, 2006. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
55. "RAF doctor jailed over Iraq refusal". London: The Guardian UK. April 13, 2006. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
56. "RAF doctor must face Iraq court martial". London: Daily Mail Online. March 22, 2006. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
57. Wilfredo Torres (November 11, 2002). "Statement of Pvt. Wilfredo Torres". Vietnam Veterans Against The War. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
58. USA: Prisoner of conscience: Agustín Aguayo (m) | Amnesty International
59. Zucchino, David (February 7, 2005). "Breaking Ranks to Shun War". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
60. "Soldier Who Refused Iraq Duty Is Sentenced". The Los Angeles Times. July 29, 2005. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
61. "Military Service in the United States of America: Issues of Conscience and Human Rights". War resisters' international. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
62. "Ricky Clousing". Seattle Draft and Military Counseling Center. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
63. Laurie Goodstein (October 13, 2006). "A Soldier Hoped to Do Good, but Was Changed by War". New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
64. Diedra Cobb (May 26, 2003). "A Military Resister's Words on Memorial Day". Vietnam Veterans Against The War. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
65. Rogers, Rick (December 7, 2004). "Sailor opposed to Iraq war refuses to board ship". Signonsandiego.com. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
66. Weill-Greenberg, Elizabeth (March 4, 2005). "Saving Paredes". Commondreams.org. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
67. About « Contagious Love Experiment
68. http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/celebrity-bradley-manning-video-93041.html#ixzz2WgfpNmys
69. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UFFkcCh-pCc
70. USA: Prisoner of conscience: Abdullah William Webster | Amnesty International
71. Support Sue and Abdullah Webster punished for refusing to kill in Iraq
72. Kyonka, Nick (July 17, 2008). "American army deserter given nine months in jail". The Star (Toronto).
73. "Army Reservist Ghanim Khalil, Announces that He'll Refuse to Deploy". Citizen Soldier. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
74. The Women’s War, New York Times, March 18, 2007
75. Lee Nichols (August 6, 2004). "Naked City". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
81. Kyonka, Nick (August 23, 2008). "Iraq war resister sentenced to 15 months". The Star (Toronto).
82. Perry, Tony (July 9, 2009). "Army deserter freed from brig in San Diego after serving 12 months". L.A. Times. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
85. Darrell Bellart (December 22, 2009). "Army deserter's sentence cut with aid of Canadian support". Nanaimo Daily News. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
87. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (January 16, 2010). "War deserter released from U.S. prison". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2010-01-18.

External links

• "We move to Canada" Blog (Canada)
• Canada Border Services Agency