Last Thursday the Supreme Court of Canada rejected appeals of two U.S. Army deserters whose petitions for refugee status before Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board were denied in 2005.  Unless something happens in the political arena they'll likely be deported, and then face court martials for desertion.  Here's some interesting facts on Army desertions recently published by the AP/CBS News:

• --Desertion among Army soldiers has reached its highest rate since 1980.
• --There's been an 80 percent increase in Army desertions since the Iraq war began in 2003.
• --There's been a 42 percent increase in desertions since last year.
• --About nine in every 1000 soldiers deserted in fiscal year 2007.
• --4,698 soldiers deserted this year, while 3,301 deserted last year.
• --Marine and Navy desertions declined over the last fiscal year.
• --About 20 soldiers have applied for refugee status in Canada.
• --It's estimated as many as 200 deserters are hiding in Canada waiting to see how Thursday's case played out.

In Thursday's case the two soldiers involved were Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey, who both left the Army in 2004 after learning their units were headed to Iraq.  At the time, Hinzman told the Washington Post:

"Some people have put us as cowards, others have put us as victims...I would say neither is true. I chose to do this. I feel I exhausted all the options I had."

As expected this case is taking a heavy political tone.  Some Canadians argue the Supreme Courts decision is a form of cow-towing to the U.S. administration.  From an editorial in the Toronto Star:

If Canada's federal government had the inclination to face down Washington just a bit, both men – who almost certainly qualify for permanent resident status – would be welcomed, not as refugees but as landed immigrants. That's how Canada treated U.S. draft dodgers and deserters from the Vietnam War. And it worked out fine.

A Canadian minister of parliament had this to say about the soldiers' case:

The Supreme Court ruled...Canadians want a refugee system that helps true refugees.

According to the Washington Post, estimates of how many soldiers moved to Canada to avoid Vietnam service range from 30,000 to 90,000.