Army Deserter Seeks Asylum in Germany

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Army Deserter Seeks Asylum in Germany
February 03, 2009
Agence France-Presse

A deserter from the US army seeking asylum in Germany pleads his case Wednesday in a hearing that could have major political and legal ramifications.

Citing profound moral opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq, Andre Shepherd, 31, went AWOL from his base in southern Germany in spring 2007 and spent 19 months on the run before applying for asylum in November last year.

Shepherd, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, completed a five-month stint in Iraq between September 2004 and February 2005 where he serviced Apache helicopters as part of the 412th Aviation Support Battalion.

When ordered to redeploy to Iraq, he felt he could not continue to serve in what he said is a "completely illegal war" and will be the first US soldier to claim asylum in Germany in a landmark case.

"Wednesday is my chance to tell my side of the story," Shepherd told AFP on Monday.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/February-2009/army-deserter-seeks-asylum-in-germany.html?col=1186032310810