Canadian officials visit U.S. war deserter

[unhappycamper]

Canadian officials visit U.S. war deserter
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Mar 16, 2009 9:49:45 EDT

SAN DIEGO — Two Canadian Parliament members on Sunday visited a U.S. Army deserter being held in a brig in San Diego after unsuccessfully trying to seek refuge in Canada.

Robin Long, 25, of Boise, Idaho, fled to Canada in 2005 to avoid serving in Iraq, but was deported last summer after losing a court battle to stay in that country. Long became the first American resister to the Iraq war to be removed by Canadian authorities.

Parliamentarians Olivia Chow and Borys Wrzesnewskyj traveled to the Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar in San Diego, where Long was serving a 15-month sentence after pleading guilty last August to a reduced charge of desertion.

During the 45-minute meeting, the government officials were not allowed to take notes or record the interview. Chow said Long appeared in good spirits and did not complain, but told them that he missed his young son in Canada.

“My heart sank, it was very heavy,” Chow said after the meeting. “I was angry that Canada deported him.”


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_deserter_visited_031609/%2e