Iraq war resister Kimberly Rivera ordered deported to U.S.

[Rerun]

In 2007, after serving 3 months in Iraq, Kimberley Rivera, deserted the US Army and sought refuge in Canada while on leave. Should she have to go or should she be allowed to stay?


http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...eported-to-u-s

The first female U.S. war resister to flee to Canada has been ordered to leave the country.

American soldier Kimberly Rivera, who served in the Iraq War before arriving here with her family in 2007, received a written decision Thursday saying she will be removed from Canada to the U.S. and must leave by Sept. 20.

Her husband suffers from a disability and he’s going to have four kids on his hands …

Note: Two of her children were born in Canada after she arrived in 2007.


Here's some background info on why she came to Canada..

That evening over a take-out dinner, Kim's kindergartner, Christian, suddenly puts down his pizza to announce, "My mommy was a soldier. She had to make a choice: Go home or die." Kim freezes midbite, her eyes widening. Christian prattles on. "She chose to come home to her family. She didn't want to die. Her job was guarding the gate. Now someone else does it."

Read more: Soldier Going AWOL - Soldier at War - Marie Claire

[undercoverbrother]

kick her out, in fact let me know her address and I will pick her up and drop her at the border

[YYC in LAX]

I'm sure many illegal immigrants have sad stories. If she's here illegally, then she should go. Also, she signed up voluntarily for the army and abandoned them. She broke the law and should face trial, I would think.

[Hemi-Cuda]

i hate it when the inevitable Vietnam comparisons come up with these stories. one is deserting their country because they're being forced to fight a war they want no part in (understandable). the other is deserting after they willingly signed up but didn't like the orders that were given. if you don't want to be told to go kill someone in a foreign country, then don't join the military

[You Need a Thneed]

The assumed punishment in the US seems unneccesary.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

The assumed punishment in the US seems unneccesary.

abandoning fellow soldiers fighting and dying on the battlefield after you pledged your service for X number of years is a big deal

[Nage Waza]

Regardless of the circumstances regarding desertion, if she has a husband whose disability prevents him from managing his kids, should this soldier's time be better spent for the country managing their own children?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

The assumed punishment in the US seems unneccesary.

To assume she will recieve punishment seems unneccesary, or the punishment she might get seems unneccesary?

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

Regardless of the circumstances regarding desertion, if she has a husband whose disability prevents him from managing his kids, should this soldier's time be better spent for the country managing their own children?

Should have thought of that before signing on with the military. Too bad so sad.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

To assume she will recieve punishment seems unneccesary, or the punishment she might get seems unneccesary?

The punishment she might receive seems unneccesary. I have no issue with there being a punishment.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

The punishment she might receive seems unneccesary. I have no issue with there being a punishment.

It seems fine to me. The issue of AWOL and discipline in the military is huge. If this is not "iron fisted" then slowly more people will leave, they will start to come and go as they wish. Often the fear of punishment is the only deterrent.

[You Need a Thneed]

I'm just saying that, for this one instance, it's probably better for society to spare her 18 months of jail.

[NuclearPizzaMan]

She should have known she would be plunged into a pointless war when she signed up!

[Bertuzzied]

You sign up to be in the army of a warring nation. You better believe you are going to be placed in unnecessary wars!

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I'm just saying that, for this one instance, it's probably better for society to spare her 18 months of jail.

So she should go free, just walk away. Sorry, while that sounds good and all it's just not practical. Listen if her husband is in such a sorry state, then perhaps they should not have had 2 kids while on the lam. Let's not forget her job was gate security, while stressful, she was by no means at the sharp end.

I have to disagree, she had no problem taking the military's money while she was sitting on her microsuede couch, that her $8000 siging bonus bought....

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

It seems fine to me. The issue of AWOL and discipline in the military is huge. If this is not "iron fisted" then slowly more people will leave, they will start to come and go as they wish. Often the fear of punishment is the only deterrent.

I agree. There cannot be dissent in the ranks. You don't abandon your post.

[Bertuzzied]

I'm still trying to figure out how George Bush avoided war crimes by invading Iraq?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I'm just saying that, for this one instance, it's probably better for society to spare her 18 months of jail.

I would suspect that the damage done to a single family is far less significant than the risk of further desertions - both for the Americans having soldiers disappear and Canada having to deal with more claims.

She voluntarily signed up. She knew that being a soldier meant the possibility of fighting in a war. She knew the punishment for desertion. She made the conscious decision to desert anyway. Send her back and let her suffer the consequences of her actions.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

So she should go free, just walk away. Sorry, while that sounds good and all it's just not practical. Listen if her husband is in such a sorry state, then perhaps they should not have had 2 kids while on the lam. Let's not forget her job was gate security, while stressful, she was by no means at the sharp end.

I have to disagree, she had no problem taking the military's money while she was sitting on her microsuede couch, that her $8000 siging bonus bought....

I didn't say she should just go free.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I didn't say she should just go free.

Fair enough.

Then what do you think would be appropraite punishment?