AWOL

No, that's not a reference to my own failure to post to the weblog for the past couple of days. You don't really expect that kind of self-criticism from such a clearly opinionated source, do you?

It's a reference to this story from the Village Voice, which describes two US Army personnel who have headed for Canada rather than be deployed to Iraq, and will face a Canadian immigration inquiry board in the near future.

I must say that I have less sympathy for them now, in these days of voluntary, professional military service, than I would if the draft were still in effect. They weren't forced into the military; they chose to enter it, knowing full well that violence and danger are inherent parts of military service. Jeffry House, their attorney, apparently plans to argue that they deserted the Army and seek refuge in Canada because their assignment to Iraq would violate international law:

Essentially, House will be putting the war itself on trial by contending that the U.S. wants to send these young men to jail—or worse—for choosing to comply with international law. "Rather than do something unthinkable or horrible as soldiers," House says, "they came to Canada. That's a huge step."

I do find it curious that one of them apparently signed up before reaching the legal age of majority, since the article reports that his father had to sign the enlistment papers. This of course raises the question, to me, of whether said papers can represent a binding agreement, but of course I Am Not A Lawyer.