War in Iraq is everybody’s business

By Marlo Campbell

Aug. 28, 2008

At first blush, the U.S. war in Iraq and the politics that go along with it might seem removed from us here in Winnipeg — or at least, beyond our sphere of influence.

Not so, says Michael Welch.

The 41-year-old full-time peace activist recently staged small actions at the local offices of three Conservative MPs. Last week, he went on a 72-hour hunger strike in advance of a public gathering at the Manitoba Legislature.

Welch and other concerned citizens across Canada are trying to draw attention to the plight of American soldiers who have deserted from the U.S. military rather than participate in the Iraq war, which they say is illegal and immoral.

Known to their supporters as war resisters — considered cowards and traitors by others — these men and women have chosen to cross the border into Canada, where they’re now trying to stay.

It’s been a rough road for the 13 who have gone public with their stories. Returning home could mean courts-martial or even prison time (the U.S. military doesn’t look kindly on deserters). So far, Canadian courts have rejected their claims for asylum, leaving them in a state of legal limbo — awaiting the outcome of appeals while bracing for the very real possibility of deportation.

I’ve been following this issue since last March, when I had the opportunity to speak with Joshua Key, a war resister now living in Saskatchewan. Key grew up poor in Oklahoma, enlisted in the army in to support his young family and served in Iraq as a private for eight months before going AWOL in 2004. He’s since written a book, The Deserter’s Tale, in which he describes the human rights abuses he witnessed during his tour and the eight months he spent underground before crossing the border. It’s a powerful read, to say the least.

Welch told me he felt “motivated by conscience” to try and help Key and others like him stay in Canada, and recently, several significant developments have occurred that may help them do just that.

On June 3, a Parliamentary motion was passed in the House of Commons urging the Canadian government to halt all deportation orders and grant permanent residency to war resisters and their families. While non-binding, it was an encouraging sign. A month later, a federal judge ordered Canada’s Immigration and Refugee board to reconsider Key’s case, ruling he may very well have a legitimate claim.

Just last Wednesday, the day before he was scheduled to be deported, another war resister named Corey Glass was granted a stay of removal, which will allow him to remain in Canada until he’s exhausted all legal options.

This is where Winnipeggers come in, says Welch. He’s encouraging people to contact their MPs in support of war resisters, arguing that we have the power the effect real change.

“This is something that’s winnable,” he says. “As Winnipeggers, we want to be perceived as good, decent human beings. This is our chance to prove it.”

I agree. The Iraq war is not our war, but what happens on Canadian soil is very much our business, and it’s here that we can all play a role. Public opinion can be a powerful motivator — and if enough people speak out, our government just might listen.