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Several refused to do a tour of service in wartorn Afghanistan
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/10/22/4595602-sun.html
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, NATIONAL BUREAU
The Edmonton Sun
OTTAWA -- The Canadian military has released several soldiers after they claimed conscientious objection to serving in wartorn Afghanistan, according to internal records from the National Defence department.
Documents obtained by Sun Media through Access to Information cite a handful of cases where regular or reserve members were ordered or voluntarily released from the Canadian Forces for refusing deployment.
"In the proud 120-year history of her expeditionary service, Canada has never had the luxury to afford her regular soldiers the option to pick and choose their missions," notes one report recommending a soldier's release.
"Duty, the first Canadian military value, has always been sacrosanct. No trade or service in the Canadian Forces can afford to take on a soldier less than 100% committed to duty; both the duty to the organization and the duty to those they serve beside."
In one case, a reservist was expelled "as soon as administratively possible" after refusing to deploy. The member had already received training to serve in theatre and imposed an "unnecessary burden" on the Forces, according to the heavily censored documents.
Other regular members were let go for breach of what is called the "universality of service" principle.
Naval Cadet Michael McWhinnie, spokesman for the chief of military personnel, said National Defence policy on voluntary release based on conscientious objection applies only to those who oppose war and armed conflict in general -- not those who oppose a particular mission, such as the one in Afghanistan.
Because service is voluntary, the policy applies only in rare cases where a member has an "epiphany" about war or bearing arms. Conscientious objection to a specific mission or national policy would not meet voluntary release criteria.
"You could say I love the military, I want to stay in, I'm just not going to Afghanistan, and the chain of command would probably look at you and say we don't want you in the military because you aren't capable of following lawful command," McWhinnie said.
"That's our distinction in black and white: If it's a lawful command, you're obliged to follow it."
The military considers a number of factors in determining suitability to deploy, but policy ultimately requires that every member "must be prepared to perform any lawful duty to defend Canada, its interests and its values, while contributing to international peace and security."
Steve Staples, director of the Rideau Institute, said some are enticed by flashy ads, the prospect of steady employment or the chance to help out fellow Canadians in emergencies. He believes the Canadian Forces should find other roles for those who don't want to fight in Afghanistan.
"They thought they were signing up to help Canada, not fight someone else's war in the Middle East," he said.
Scott Taylor, a former soldier who now publishes Esprit de Corps magazine, said some resist deployment because they aren't psychologically or physically ready for combat or because they get cold feet.
Many signed up to learn a trade or because they thought it would be an adventurous career path -- not to fight a war.
"There was a long time when unless you were in the infantry, you wouldn't be doing any front-line stuff where there might be some danger," he said. "So it was kind of like a lifetime of training for a war you never thought was going to happen."
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My question: how many soldiers is "several" exactly? Vague as usual.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/10/22/4595602-sun.html
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, NATIONAL BUREAU
The Edmonton Sun
OTTAWA -- The Canadian military has released several soldiers after they claimed conscientious objection to serving in wartorn Afghanistan, according to internal records from the National Defence department.
Documents obtained by Sun Media through Access to Information cite a handful of cases where regular or reserve members were ordered or voluntarily released from the Canadian Forces for refusing deployment.
"In the proud 120-year history of her expeditionary service, Canada has never had the luxury to afford her regular soldiers the option to pick and choose their missions," notes one report recommending a soldier's release.
"Duty, the first Canadian military value, has always been sacrosanct. No trade or service in the Canadian Forces can afford to take on a soldier less than 100% committed to duty; both the duty to the organization and the duty to those they serve beside."
In one case, a reservist was expelled "as soon as administratively possible" after refusing to deploy. The member had already received training to serve in theatre and imposed an "unnecessary burden" on the Forces, according to the heavily censored documents.
Other regular members were let go for breach of what is called the "universality of service" principle.
Naval Cadet Michael McWhinnie, spokesman for the chief of military personnel, said National Defence policy on voluntary release based on conscientious objection applies only to those who oppose war and armed conflict in general -- not those who oppose a particular mission, such as the one in Afghanistan.
Because service is voluntary, the policy applies only in rare cases where a member has an "epiphany" about war or bearing arms. Conscientious objection to a specific mission or national policy would not meet voluntary release criteria.
"You could say I love the military, I want to stay in, I'm just not going to Afghanistan, and the chain of command would probably look at you and say we don't want you in the military because you aren't capable of following lawful command," McWhinnie said.
"That's our distinction in black and white: If it's a lawful command, you're obliged to follow it."
The military considers a number of factors in determining suitability to deploy, but policy ultimately requires that every member "must be prepared to perform any lawful duty to defend Canada, its interests and its values, while contributing to international peace and security."
Steve Staples, director of the Rideau Institute, said some are enticed by flashy ads, the prospect of steady employment or the chance to help out fellow Canadians in emergencies. He believes the Canadian Forces should find other roles for those who don't want to fight in Afghanistan.
"They thought they were signing up to help Canada, not fight someone else's war in the Middle East," he said.
Scott Taylor, a former soldier who now publishes Esprit de Corps magazine, said some resist deployment because they aren't psychologically or physically ready for combat or because they get cold feet.
Many signed up to learn a trade or because they thought it would be an adventurous career path -- not to fight a war.
"There was a long time when unless you were in the infantry, you wouldn't be doing any front-line stuff where there might be some danger," he said. "So it was kind of like a lifetime of training for a war you never thought was going to happen."
_____________________________________________________________
My question: how many soldiers is "several" exactly? Vague as usual.
I guess the correct term ("released") is too innocuous. 
