Joe Glenton – the British lance corporal who refuses to return to Afghanistan on grounds of conscience (see PN 2513) – has had two charges of disobeying a lawful command dropped. Glenton, who handed himself in after two years absent without official leave, still faces one charge of desertion, and will face a court martial on 2 November.
US resisters
At least three US soldiers are currently in jail for war resistance.
Cliff Cornell travelled to Canada in 2005 to resist deployment to Iraq, stating: “I don’t want to be killing innocent people.” He was deported back to the US in February.
Tony Anderson was sentenced to 14 months for resisting deployment to Iraq. At his trial he stated: “I know in my heart that it is wrong to wilfully hurt or kill another human being. I simply cannot do it.”
Travis Bishop is currently serving a 12-month sentence for refusing to serve in Afghanistan, and has been declared a “prisoner of conscience” by Amnesty International.