40,000 US Troops Deserted
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Courtesy of: The Air Force Times
By Ana Radelat
Gannett News Agency
July 05, 2006

Since 2000, about 40,000 troops from all branches of the military have deserted, the Pentagon says. More than half served in the Army...

Those who help war resisters say desertion is more prevalent than the military has admitted.

"They lied in Vietnam with the amount of opposition to the war and they're lying now," said Eric Seitz, an attorney who represents Army Lt. Ehren Watada, the first commissioned officer to refuse deployment in Iraq.

Watada is under military custody in Fort Lewis, Wash., because he refused to Join his Stryker Brigade when it was sent to Iraq last month.

Watada said he doesn't object to the war but considers the conflict in Iraq illegal.

The Army has turned down his request to resign and plans to file charges against him.


Source:
http://airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1930387.php