The United States of America is a nation founded by deserters. The people that put their signatures on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution deserted the tyranny of the old British Crown. I'm sure they were called cowards and people of low moral fiber by the members of their home country for many years. This is how it has been and will always be. Any time a person stands up for his belief against a majority, he/she will encounter opposition. This is expected and the former US soldiers brave enough to desert should pay it no mind. It is the coward that continues doing what he's told without regard to conscience, that continues killing who he's told to kill arbitrarily, and that never challenges the powers that be for fear of exile.

Many of these former US Soldiers signed a contract in good conscience expecting the same level of moral fiber and state of conscience from those that drafted the contract. They expected that when the end of their service term arrived, that they would be let free as they were led to believe. They expected those that drafted the contract to be good to their word, to their legacy, and to all the things right and free that they were brought to believe in. When they found out that was not the case, they had every right to leave. You must understand, these former US Soldiers did not break their contract. They left because their contract was broken by the powers that be. A contract only has weight if it is upheld by both parties. If one ceases to uphold it, then it becomes null and void and the other party is free from any further obligation. At this point, if these former US soldiers are pursued by authorities, it can no longer be considered pursuit for desertion. It then becomes pursuit by a tyrannical government to maintain an immoral control and dismantle freedom. This is the same pursuit for which those men that founded the United States of America fought against. If one really wishes to be a patriot to the founding principles of the US and to honor those men that died defending us against the old British Crown, then today we must fight the same tyranny as well. And just as that tyranny came from our founding father's home government over 200 years ago, so does it come from our home government today.

Fighting for freedom does not mean doing what you're told or reciting superfluous patriotic preambles instilled within us since nursery school. It means to fight for what's right without respect of persons, organizations, or governments.

Let's reverse the situation for a moment. Suppose an equal number of cowards or desereters were to abandon their commitment, their oath, and their Canadian homeland and relocate in the United States because they didn't agree with the policies of their government after they voluntary enlisted into military service. What would happen? Would Canada say, "Poor souls, we forgive them, and will take them back with open arms and if they return soon - all pay and allowances will be reinstated with back pay." OR maybe the MP might have their pictures and go looking for them. Especially those with access to classified information or knowledge of classified material? I am quite sure Canada wouldn't say, "All is forgiven - you have amnesty - and have a good time". I am quite sure Canada would have to do something because the next time someone had guard duty, or had to deploy on a ship for 6 months, or peel potatoes, or had a headache and decided that I CAN GO WHEN I WANT BECAUSE CANADA DOES NOTHING AND WILL LET US GO WHEN WE WANT. I wonder how strong their national defense would be? I would be willing to bet that without authority, control, rules & regulations, and national pride - Canada might be speaking 100% Russian or Spanish. I just wonder what Canada would say.......................................................

Not only the the MPs but most of the Candadians support those soldiers who are coming into Canada, As a Canadian I support them whole heartedly in their noble decision to leave, not only that it is an illegal war they are not even doing what they claim , they are getting Iraqi's to fight with one another, create chaos and instabilty under the pretext of helping them , if they were really trying to help the population in Iraq that could be a bit of justification , I salute them and I want them to feel welcome in Canada and not even feel guilty for being courageous and noble .Prime minister in Canada behaves like an inferior friend of bush and he can do anything to please Bush and he should not be allowed to go against the majority in Canada

If an Italian soldier from Mussolini's army abandoned his force and deserted would he be wrong? If a member of the Wehrmacht in 1940 deserted during the invasion of France, should he be punished for his actions? If a Soviet soldier deserted during the 1956 Hungarian Uprising, would he be considered a traitor? If U.S. armed forces deserted during the illegal U.S. invasion of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia who could blame them for desertion?

All this should be considered before rushing to judgment of U.S. deserters. After all Canada welcomed Benedict Arnold the deserter in 1780 and afforded him asylum. So why should any U.S. deserter be treated any different? A soldier in any army, when ordered to commit murder of civilians should have the right to refuse and desert immediately. That is whay is called common sense, and I hope that present Harper regime in Canada has common sense enough to know right from wrong.

The present war in Afghanistan and Iraq are both illegal and must not be encouraged.

The retired military person is showing ignorance in his comments. These young men and women are not robots and have the right to change their minds. You can't tell us as Americans we have all of these freedoms and then threaten us with jail when we attempt to exercise them, that is rediculous. In order to put my life on the line for something I have to believe in it intensely or love it tremendously. If I am tricked or not given all of the facts, that makes it impossible for me to make an informed decision and I am being cheated of that right. I have seen some of the trickery and deception as well as halp and partial truths that are told in order to get a signature and another recruit. I think it is disturbing that America can pardon criminals but will treat these young men and women as if they are worse. Isn't it better that they know this is how they feel and do something about it before they are sent on the ront lines of a was and have others depending on them to kill or be killed? The question the American government should be asking is if they should force people to be in the military that do not feel they have it in them or respect the fact that they know their capabilities and let them bow out so as not to allow someone to suffer by forcing them into a situation they do not think they can handle. What a country, murderers get loose on technicalities but these men and women are criminals for changing their minds once they are fully aware of their situation. Warms my heart to see how other countries are told how welcome their people are in America when some Americans are not even given the benefit of the doubt.

You took an oath to support and defend...... and during your tour of duty you are assigned KP duty. If you don't want to do it will you run to Canada? You didn't sign up for KP duty but it goes with the job. You took an oath. Rotational MP duty. You didn't sign up for it but it goes with the job. You took an oath. Each man must draw his own line in the sand and that line represents integrity, loyalty, dedication, honor, pride, and patriotism. Employers as well as Nations know and understand the integrity of a person by his history and that determines if future generations and relatives will use words like unreliable, unemployed, deserter, and coward. If I were Canada, I wouldn't want you - you are not a man of your word - you can't be trusted. Draw the line - go home! Be a Man!