First off, even if the mission was not sanctioned before, the UN has now given the United States the responsibility to rebuild Iraq. I want to see them finish that job, instead of leaving behind anarchy for the Iraqi people.
I agree that the mission has been a cock-up from the start and there was overt political interference. And I agree it was a strategic blunder. I work in the office and know the staff that advised Chretien that there were no WMD in Iraq. I would never question the competence and judgement of these folks. It is fairly clear, when one sees the evidence how close the call was....people forget that he actually used WMD against the Kurds, the Iranians and the Shia. Heck, even the French thought he had some, they just didnt want to go to war and risk their oil contracts. Canadian military officers (moi aussi) just operate in different ways and owing to our interactions with the UN, just trusted the inspection process more. But it was still a gamble at the end of the day.
It is also clear that the Bush administration was determined to go to war right from the start. And that they politicized the Operational Planning Process, a real sore point amongst most US military officers I know. All my US contacts can't wait to see the Bush administration leave office. My one colleague took an exchange posting to Canada because she didnt agree with serving in Iraq. And when graduating classes of the service academies are leaving wholesale after their obligatory service, you know something is truly wrong.
All that being said. What's done is done. What should the world do now? Leave these people...just because GB messed up? Mot are you that willing to throw the Iraqi people under the bus just so your anti-western rhetoric comes true and you can say "Oh look how bad the Americans are."
I grew up in the Middle East. I have seen the highs and lows of these people. I don't want to see them suffer any more. Ask any Arab, as much as they resent the US, they want to see the job finished. They want a strong and united Iraq to emerge from this....not a weak state under the thumb of Iran.
As for these deserters, there is a case to be made if they participated in the original invasion if one believes that it was illegal. Even then they could have requested non-combat service, or to serve in Afghanistan. I can't see any reasonable commander refusing that request if made properly. They chose to run. That too, when the mission had changed from the invasion to peace-making/rebuilding with express UN Security Council consent. They abandoned their fellow soldiers and the Iraqi people when they were needed the most.
And why Canada? Why not Mexico? Last I heard the Mexicans are nice welcoming people who are only hours away from the bases in California and the southern US. These people have deliberately chosen Canada because we are a convenient first world refuge whose laws they thought they could manipulate. Thankfully, the courts saw their efforts for what they were....attempts to politically manipulate our laws. What these deserters want is no different than the Bush administration breaking various US laws in the states because its politically convenient.
I will repeat again. This is not in Canada's interest. It does not concern us. Nor should it. Accepting draft dodgers and refusing to participate in Iraq is one thing. Accepting deserters would send the message that Canada is seeking to actively undermine the foreign policy of our best friend and neighbour. Friends can disagree, but they shouldn't work to undermine each other. We will have some incredible challenges to deal with, when the next administration comes to power (ie Arctic sovereignty, trade issues, energy exports, etc.). I don't think its good to start off, by slapping the Americans in the face with an overt political decision. People who advocate such policies, so go out to BC and chat with the lumber mill workers or talk to our workers in the steel sector...I am fairly sure, they don't want to be sacrificed to compensate for the bone-headed decisions of a few American youth.
