AFGHAN HOUNDING

As the situation in Afghanistan escalates, with mounting casualties on both sides, court martial proceedings have begun against a British soldier who refused to fight a second tour of duty in protest against the war.

Joe Glenton went AWOL in 2007 but handed himself in to the authorities earlier this year. During a preliminary hearing on Monday (3rd), Glenton’s lawyer told the court that he planned to fight the desertion charges, using in his defence expert testimony questioning the legality of the war. Glenton faces up to two years in prison if he is convicted. 

Last week Glenton delivered a letter to Gordon Brown in which he condemned the war and the actions of the government. “The war in Afghanistan is not reducing the terrorist risk, far from improving Afghan lives it is bringing death and devastation to their country,” Glenton wrote. “...the courage and tenacity of my fellow soldiers has become a tool of American foreign policy.”

While the military is prosecuting Glenton for refusing to participate in the destruction of a country, the government is now looking into refusing citizenship to any prospective Brits who choose to protest against it. In the latest citizenship scheme, people applying for British passport could face penalties or even a refusal for anything that could be constituted an “active disregard for British values” which the Home Office have refused to deny could include protesting against a war that recent polls suggest a majority of Brits are against. 

* See http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1400/1/