"It Was My Duty To Refuse To Go To Iraq" (Watada)

[Hissyspit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/22/wusarmy22.xml

It was my duty to refuse to go to Iraq, says first American army officer facing court martial
By Alex Massie in Washington
Last Updated: 2:07am GMT 22/11/2006

The first American army officer to face court-martial for refusing to serve in Iraq said yesterday that it was his duty to recognise and refuse "illegal" orders.

Lt Ehren Watada, 28, faces four charges of conduct unbecoming an officer for his refusal to join his unit in Iraq in the summer. Speaking ahead of a pre-trial hearing, the conscientious objector pledged that he would "fight with everything I have for my freedom and that of all Americans. I will face imprisonment to stand up for my beliefs."

If he had gone to Iraq, his service would have been due to end next month. Instead, if convicted, he could face six years in prison.

He claimed that his refusal to follow orders had been justified by "a surge in popular resistance to the war as evidenced by the recent elections" and complained that "the army seems intent on making an example of me".

"No one else is speaking up for the troops dying every day," he said.

MORE

[whirlygigspin]

1. I love a man in uniform

[Karenina]

18. Eye candy and SO MUCH MORE!!!

...

[Peace Patriot]

2. This is who I want for President! n/t

[uppityperson]

3. k&r

[Disturbed]

4. The Invasion of Iraq was declared to be Illegal.

This man of courage is correct. He should be commended but instead he is on trial. Maybe John Kerry, Charles Rangle, Chuck Hagal, Murtha, Clark and other promenent Vets should speak out on his behalf?

[roody]

7. Now THAT would show some leadership!!

[Tom Joad]

16. Most of those would be implicating themselves since they supported

the initial call to war. And now they want the war "better managed" and they sure as hell would not step up to the plate to help this brave young man, who i had the privilege to meet.

[nofurylike]

5. R'ed and now, Kick! this man is a great Hero! thank you for

posting this, Hissyspit.

i don't know how to handle this. we can not let this war go on! and this man can not be the one to pay for it, when he is the one with the amazing courage to stand up!

it has got to stop.


peace.....

[Hissyspit]

6. .

[NOLADEM]

8. Absolutely right...And all soldiers who deploy are breaking the law

They are participating in an illegal war. They have every opportunity to know it is illegal. They have a legal obligation to refuse illegal orders and most are not. So, all deployed soldiers are criminals in a way.

If you know a soldier, tell them that they are not safe just because they are following orders. This man is right. You have an obligation to refuse illegal orders.

I hope more soldiers read about this and act appropriately. It would be damn difficult to fight a war with no soldiers, and that would be great. I dream of our soldiers rejecting the Chimp and embracing America's core values.

Wake up soldiers. You are being led like lemmings at a cliff.

[Karenina]

9. K&R

:kick:

[JacksonWest]

10. I wonder what sort of penalty he'll get.

This trial is not receiving a lot of attention in the msm, which bodes well for him. Of course, the logic that "a surge in popular resistance to the war as evidenced by the recent elections" is counter-intuitive to a conscious objection to war. Going with a crowd is not a defense-or at least not a good one. He also objected to going long before the election. He should just stick with "illegal war" or the simpler "I don't want to kill people who pose America no threat in order to enrich people that threaten America"

[Donald Ian Rankin]

14. The latter is *not* a justification; the former is.

If he were to base his case on "this war is immoral" then he should be jailed, I think; the law has to be fairly clear on that point.

"This war is illegal" is the reason he shouldn't be sent to prison, but alas I don't see much chance of this happening.

An army relies on its soldiers following orders, except when those orders are illegal.

[Dystopian]

11. K&R........

I had the honor of hearing his father, Bob Watada, speak in MA during his 'Putting the War on Trial Tour'...he traveled with VFP board members....a book was passed around for all to write a message to Lt. Watada.....very inspiring.....
This was an experience I'll never forget....
Lt. Ehren Watada is a man of courage....a true patriot.

peace~

www.ThankYouLt.org

[understandinglife]

12. Lt Watada clearly understands the Nuremberg Charter, Article 8

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/imt/proc/imtconst.htm

This should be on the DU homepage.

Recommended.

[malmapus]

13. Had the honor of meeting him and shaking his hand at a rally outside Ft. Lewis

This vet stands behind him 110%!

[Dystopian]

15. Thank you Lt. Ehren Watada

:kick:


peace~

[Hissyspit]

17. .