US soldier who deserted over Iraq is deported

Canada yesterday deported to the US the first American army deserter fleeing the Iraq war across the US-Canadian border.

Robin Long, 25, faces a possible court martial and jail, and even redeployment to Iraq.

He joined the army in 2003, after the invasion of Iraq, but became troubled by the war.

In 2005 he fled to Canada and applied for refugee status, because the US army wanted him to participate in what he called an "illegal war of aggression in Iraq."

On Monday, the Federal court of Canada Justice Anne Mactavish ruled that Long could not provide clear evidence that he would suffer irreparable harm if returned to the US.

The Canada border services agency confirmed Long's removal, but declined to give other details, citing privacy laws. Long's refugee claim had already been rejected and he could not appeal this latest court ruling.

Some 200 other US soldiers are in Canada, counting on its history of welcoming 50,000 Americans fleeing the Vietnam draft.

Last month, Canada's parliament urged the government to allow war resisters to remain.

However, opponents of granting refugee status to deserters argue that, unlike during the Vietnam war, the United States does not now have a military draft and members of its military are volunteers who know the potential risks.

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