What's the maximum penalty in the US for the military offence of a soldier going absent in order to avoid being sent to a war ? The UK is just about to up our penalty for it to life imprisonment. Better than shooting the man at dawn, no doubt, but we only did that in WWI and then only for failing to report back during the war or for cowardice or neglect 'in the face of the enemy' e.g throwing down a rifle or abandoning a post. The current offence is to deal with those serving who decide, for whatever reason, to avoid going to a war which on the point of starting or has just started. Can't imagine what failure would merit 'life' but Parliament thinks this maximum is necessary.
