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 George W. Bush's plan to boost U.S. troop strength in Iraq has ratcheted up interest among American soldiers about defecting to Canada, local sympathizers say. And one London woman hopes any who do come north will consider settling here. "If the people are here, they need financial support and emotional and social support," Beth Guthrie said. "We want to create a community of support for people who are resisting the war in Iraq." This weekend marks a key anniversary in the 1960s-era exodus of young American men to Canada to avoid serving in the Vietnam War. Thirty years ago tomorrow Jimmy Carter pardoned the draft dodgers. An estimated 50,000 came to Canada, of whom about half remain. Now, in a quiet echo of an earlier generation's anti-war sentiment, the War Resisters Support Campaign is noticing growing interest in Canada as a haven for U.S. soldiers otherwise destined for Iraq. The group that usually gets five inquiries a month has had "several dozen" calls from soldiers since Bush unveiled his plan this month to deploy an extra 20,000 troops to Iraq. "There are many soldiers who are looking for options," said Lee Zaslofsky, 62, who heads the Toronto-based group with more than 250 supporters nationwide offering temporary homes to defectors. Zaslofsky arrived in Canada 37 years ago today to avoid the Vietnam War. He estimates there are now about 100 Iraq deserters in Canada. Guthrie plans a Feb. 1 meeting at 7 p.m. at the Tolpuddle Housing Co-op in London to organize support among sympathizers if the number of resisters jumps significantly. "The majority of Canadians are known to want an end to the occupation in Iraq. This is one way we in London can move to that goal," she said. Zaslofsky said he knows of no Iraq deserter to successfully apply for refugee status, and some who returned have been sentenced to prison. "The strongest argument we can make is these are good guys
who feel betrayed by their president," he said.
And one London woman hopes any who do come north will consider settling here. "If the people are here, they need financial support and emotional and social support," Beth Guthrie said. "We want to create a community of support for people who are resisting the war in Iraq." This weekend marks a key anniversary in the 1960s-era exodus of young American men to Canada to avoid serving in the Vietnam War. (photo caption)
Iowa native and University of
Western Ontario student
Tim Richard, 24, fled the U.S.
for Canada to avoid military
service in Iraq. (Derek Ruttan, LFP) --- BY THE NUMBERS Iraq 135,000: U.S soldiers in Iraq 3,000+: U.S. soldiers killed Four: Years U.S. at war
Vietnam
8.2 million: U.S. Vietnam War vets 58,000: U.S. soldiers killed 16: Years U.S. at war 50,000: Estimated draft dodgers and
war resisters who came to Canada | 
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