U.S. soldier in London to avoid Iraq war (London Ontario Canada)

Sun Media ^ | Patrick Maloney

[Clive]

If he had any doubts upon arriving here, big news from back home likely erased them.

It was 5 p.m. Wednesday when Linjamin Mull, stepping off a bus in downtown London, ended a two-week journey that turned him from an American soldier to expatriate, just as the Iraq war controversy flared again in the U.S.

That same day, the U.S. government announced troop deployments to Iraq -- a war Mull refuses to join -- will be extended from 12 to 15 months.

"Most people don't have the courage to leave," said Mull, a New York City social worker and graduate of Southern Connecticut State University.

"It's a big difference if my country was attacked -- I was there for Sept. 11 . . . or Kosovo, (where you're) preventing ethnic cleansing. Then you have a purpose. (Iraq) is a form of American imperialism."

Mull, an articulate 31-year-old, recently went absent without leave from his

training at Virginia's Fort Houston.

He applied for refugee status in Toronto with the help of Canadian sympathizers, one of whom has opened her London home to him.

His opinions are similar to those of the estimated 13 other U.S. soldiers who have fled to Canada, risking imprisonment upon returning to the U.S. None of them has successfully applied for refugee status in Canada.

While Toronto is home to about 20 fleeing so-called war resisters, including soldiers and their families, Mull's arrival makes three the number now in London.

The city should expect a few more soon.

The nerve centre of Canada's War Resisters Support Campaign is Toronto, but organizers there say they've run out of available housing for arriving soldiers. So Ontario's other two most-active campaigns, in London and Ottawa, are expected to carry the load for the next two months.

"We've been getting quite a few new people in quick succession and that's overwhelming for us," said lead organizer Lee Zaslofsky, who came to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War.

The debate over sheltering U.S. fighters from Iraq is an oft-heated one in Canada. Even the language is charged: Sympathizers call such soldiers war resisters, while disapproving Canadians use the term deserters.

Mull's story makes him an especially polarizing figure in the debate.

While Canada opened its doors to Vietnam draft dodgers, critics today rightly note those troops were being drafted into military service. Soldiers like Mull are signing up voluntarily to fight.

He joined the U.S. army in 2005, well into the Iraq conflict and fully aware how it was unfolding, making his decision all the more informed.

But to sympathizers, war-resisting soldiers should not be forced into a war many consider illegal and pointless.

While Mull, ranked in the army as a specialist, admits he signed up, he notes his background left him few options.

He says his parents died violently nearly 20 years ago. Facing a crushing student debt and living in New York City on a social worker's meagre salary, he said he signed up not to fight, but out of financial need.

"What will make you heal from not having a family" is starting one of your own, he said. "I'm poor . . . how am I going to have a family? Gotta join the army.

"You're not getting a cross-section of our society (recruited into) the military -- it's poor people like myself. You never see (recruiters) on Fifth Avenue or in nice neighbourhoods."

Mull expects to stay here for a couple of months before returning to Toronto while his refugee application moves forward. Going to Iraq, however, isn't likely.

"Just imagine someone coming to your house . . . and tying you up and dragging you out. Live with that 20 years from now (when) history says you were wrong."

[Clive]

Seeks refuge: Linjamin Mull
has gone absent without leave
from the U.S. Army. He refuses
to join in the war in Iraq, calling it
"a form of American imperialism."
He arrived Wednesday in London.
(Susan Bradnam Sun Media)

This young gentleman ought to have done some research first.

Claims for refugee status by US deserters have not succeeded either at the tribunal level or at any stage of the appeal process.

I suggest to him that he should get someone to drive him to Fort Drum so that he can turn himself in.

I am sure that the people at the 10th Mountain will welcome him with open arms.

[Clive]

-

[zarf]

Follow the money. A new media poster boy for his leftist support groups.

Watch for his name to appear repeatedly in various outlets.

[TeenagedConservative]

“You never see (recruiters) on Fifth Avenue or in nice neighbourhoods.”

Except for those two recruits I saw on a street yesterday that happens to be called Fifth Avenue recruiting college students and middle-class kids.

[bw17]

How long before he converts to Islam and takes on the name Mohammed?

[dinoparty]

“It’s a big difference if my country was attacked — I was there for Sept. 11 . . . or Kosovo, (where you’re) preventing ethnic cleansing. Then you have a purpose. (Iraq) is a form of American imperialism.”

What an idiot. Guess he’s never heard about Uday or Qusei, or Saddam’s mass graves.

[JackRyanCIA]

A convert to Islam?

[rwgal]

He is stil a COWARD through and through....wants to suck the teat of democracy and have all the bennies, but none of the risks.

Meadow Muffin

[AmericaUnited]

"Most people don't have the courage to leave,"

WRONG! Most people HAVE the courage and that's why they DON'T leave.

[jazusamo]

"Most people don't have the courage to leave," said Mull

You are a coward, Mull. The overwhelming majority of our brave military have the courage to fight for the great country we live in and fulfill the obligation they voluntarily signed up for.

[rgboomers]

He has a college degree and claims there are no options for him in the USA? That’s why he had to enlist?

That’s ridiculous.

This man is just as likely to be avoiding the repayment of his student loans as fleeing the war.

[Clive]

"He joined the U.S. army in 2005, well into the Iraq conflict and fully aware how it was unfolding, making his decision all the more informed."

There is an old saying often said to messmates who complained about being posted to some place dangerous or uncomfortable when they were looking for a safe cushy billet.

"If you can't take a joke you shouldn't have enlisted."

[steveo]

Nice earring nancyboy

[DougSc]

Another Chickensh!t Liberal.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

I fergit.....whats that ear-ring in his right ear mean?

[fanfan]

Canada ping.

Please send me a FReepmail to get on or off this Canada ping list.

[fanfan]

I think it means he’s an idiot, but then us FReepers already knew that.

It is possible though, that he has a matching earing in his left ear, in which case he’s a girl, but I think we already knew that too.

[gcruse]

“Guess he’s never heard about Uday or Qusei, or Saddam’s mass graves.”

How about the starvation camps in North Korea? Yet, we aren’t invading that country.

[Schichtel]

This SCUMBAG should never be allowed back in the United States!

[strange1]

Nice earring nancyboy

I think somethings amiss here, I don't think earings on males while in uniform isn't authorized. This hair ball is a total phock up, good riddance.

[goldstategop]

Another traitor - I hope he is NEVER allowed back in this country.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

Stupid idiot. He wasn't drafted - he voluntarily chose to do military service. Another liberal who probably thought the U.S Army was a Meals On Wheels program and got disillusioned quickly.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Doe Eyes]

I fergit.....whats that ear-ring in his right ear mean?

Can't you just say you're a Homo and get out automatically?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Right ear=queer!

[FlingWingFlyer]

Mull, an articulate 31-year-old, recently went absent without leave from his training at Virginia's Fort Houston.

Virginia never told me that she had a "Fort Houston." Somebody isn't very "articulate" here.

[silverkor]

Virgina’s Fort Houston????? Maybe Ft Eustis.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“... he said he signed up not to fight, but out of financial need.”

The military is the first place I’d go for big bucks, with no chance of a fight. /s

[An Old NCO]

So let me see if I understand this. He has a college degree. He “enlisted”, he didn’t become an officer, he “enlisted”. Had he taken a commission his income would have been approx 3X that of an “enlisted” soldier. He “enlisted” in 2005 and a whole year and 2 months later he runs away to London? I wouldn’t prosecute him. I wouldn’t put him in jail. I would make him a man without a country. Let him never touch our soil again. He was a traitor before he ever joined and lied during his “enlistment”. I hope he dies a lonely person.

[bagman]

Thanks for that clarification. I had never heard of Ft Houston, VA, and I was about to clusty it. I think you’re right - it’s probably Ft Eustis. I am glad to see that journalism’s fine fact checkers (aka Morons) vetted this story.

[fanfan]

This SCUMBAG should never be allowed back in the United States!

No offense FRiend, but he's your scumbag.

We don't want him. We will send him back, so you can punish him as you see fit.

Deal?

[fanfan]

LOL!~

If you can’t take a joke, don’t join up!

[Celtic Conservative]

I fergit.....whats that ear-ring in his right ear mean?

Lefty = righty, righty = wrongy if I recall.

CC

[GMMAC]

"I hope he is NEVER allowed back in this country. "

Sorry, Canada's quota of foreign insect pests & vermin has been filled ... maybe try Sweden?

[Loyalist]

New York City social worker

Read no further.

[Army Air Corps]

I thought that same thing. Did he mean to say Fort Sam Houston? If so, it is a long damned way from Virginia. Who knows, maybe he doesn’t know geography and got Texas confused with Virginia.

[Army Air Corps]

I agree, you folks have had your fill of the hippy-dippy refuse of the US. Maybe we could send him to Mexico? Better yet, Venezuela!

[Army Air Corps]

Maybe we can just send him to Venezuela. Hugo the Red should welcome a social worker who detests the US.

[TADSLOS]

No such place as Fort Houston, VA. This guy could be another version of Jesse Macbeth for all we know. Anyone can buy a set of ACUs and sew a flag on it. Even if he was legit, he ain’t now. He’s no soldier, he’s at best a deserter and at worst an impostor generated by our enemies. Either way he’s a propaganda tool.

[dinoparty]

His supposed “reasoning” is that Kosovo was justified, but Iraq not, on humanitarian grounds. That is silliness.

[fanfan]

Good plan!

[NorthOf45]

We, meaning true Canadians, don’t want him here either.

[Madame Dufarge]

Pitcher, I think.