Guardsman loses ‘backdoor draft’ fight

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday rejected a request by an Oregon National Guardsman to halt his deployment to Afghanistan.

Emiliano Santiago, 27, an electronics technician and a helicopter refueler who has been living in Pasco, fought plans to ship him out because his eight-year service agreement expired last year. His lawyers say Santiago is the victim of a “backdoor draft.”

Santiago has been sent to Fort Sill, in Lawton, Okla., in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan, said Santiago’s attorney, Steven Goldberg in Portland.

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor denied Santiago’s request to block his being sent overseas.

No U.S. federal appeals court has sided with similarly situated military personnel fighting their deployments.