It is estimated that at least 40,000 servicemen have deserted since the war started in Iraq. That is a lot of servicemen. Especially when you consider that only 50,000 were estimated to have deserted during Vietnam. It is hard to get an exact number though, many factors come into play when you "count" deserters one of which is noone wants to get to the truth.
Those who help war resisters say desertion is more prevalent than the military has admitted.
"They lied in Vietnam with the amount of opposition to the war and they’re lying now," said Eric Seitz, an attorney who represents Army Lt. Ehren Watada, the first commissioned officer to refuse deployment to the war in Iraq.
But, the 40K - that is the figure the Pentagon released. I am assuming it is the minimum, as the report is a year old.
Why is desertion so high?
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