US Officer Drops out of Iraq War

[rodeodance]

http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={C9B6D6CA-9B09-4E4A-B872-0CBEFE468FBC})&language=EN

US Officer Drops out of Iraq War

Washington, Jul 6 (Prensa Latina) The US Army presented charges against lieutenant Ehren Watada, who denied to take part in the Iraq war, in another case that could be considered high treason by the Pentagon.


Watada refused to report to his unit and said that the aggression sponsored by President George W. Bush against the Arab country is a moral mistake and violates US law.



The officer stressed that his duty as a military man is to defend the National Constitution, so he will defy illegal orders from the White House on that conflict, in which nearly 1,540 US soldiers have lost their lives.



According to sources from the military prosecutor's office, if 28-year-old Watada is found guilty, he could be sentenced to 10 years in prison and be dishonourably discharged from the armed forces.........

[napi21]

1. I respect his decision to listen to his beliefs, but the guy is going

to prison! Anyont in the ilitary knows you cannot disobey a direct order, and that's what an order to report for duty" is!

All he can hope for is a Dem Prez who might pardon him.

[NYC]

3. Lt. Calley was pardoned, or at least released very early.

Certainly, this person can be pardoned.

[ThsMchneKilsFascists]

5. there are worse things than prison IMO

such as being a pawn in a game of empire building for a supposed republic

[LeighAnn]

7. What about the Abu Ghraib kids?

Weren't they told they were supposed to have DISOBEYED orders that were illegal? I'm pretty sure that's what military personnel are supposed to do when ordered to do something they know is illegal, disobey that order.

[IndianaGreen]

10. At least he stands for the Constitution and not the Fuehrer!

Profiles in courage indeed!

[wicket]

20. "Anyont in the ilitary knows you cannot disobey a direct order"

Unless that person is George W. Bush, who refused a direct order to take a mandatory physical back in the early 70's.

[oasis]

32. Paul Hackett joined Norah O'Donnell on "Hardball" in condemning Watada's

actions. Hackett, the anti-Iraq war candidate, told Watada's father that Lt. Watabi should have reported for duty and served in Iraq.

I'll take Sherrod Brown over 20 Hacketts.

[NorthernSun]

2. If found innocent, Bush is in trouble

If the jury finds this guy innocent, then they are basically calling the Bush Junta war criminals.

[napi21]

6. He won't be found innocent. This trial is in a military court, and

under the laws of the UCMJ. He admits to disobeying a direct order. He CAN'T be found innocent!

[NorthernSun]

9. It is not a crime to defy an 'illegal' order.

Which is what the Iraq invasion was.

[0007]

30. Lying to congress is a bigger crime than disobeying a direct order, 'eh?

[saltpoint]

4. If there's an award for Titanium Cajones of the Year, I'd like to nominate

Lt. Watada.

He sounds like a hell of a sturdy soul.

[sampsonblk]

8. He has to accept the consequences

That's part of civil disobedience. Goes with the territory.

There is NO way to have an effective military if some service members decide to pick and choose which orders they will obey. If he had a sincere problem with this "war," the right time to protest was before he got his orders.

At this point, its reluctantly go to Iraq or reluctantly go to jail. And that's the way it should be.

[IndianaGreen]

11. So did Nelson Mandela when he opposed South African apartheid

and Jomo Kenyatta when he opposed British colonialism.

[Peace Patriot]

12. Tell me, Sampsonblk, what is an "effective military" FOR?

I've been thinking we should bust their budget by about 90%, to a true defensive posture--and I'm even wondering about that, defense. What is it FOR? To kill the invading Mexicans or Canadians? I guess, as long as there are nukes in the world--and as long as we are doing NOTHING to get rid of them--there is an argument for having missiles. But we don't need the military to defend against "terrorist" attacks. The USAF was worse than useless on 9/11. They couldn't even defend the Pentagon! In truth, the military is the worst tool for dealing with "terrorists." It just makes more "terrorists." So what is it FOR? Hm? Why have an "effective" military? For killing Iraqis and Iranians for their oil? What is the legitimate purpose of having a huge "effective" military machine, when no country in the world is of a mind to invade us, or is in any position to do so?

A huge military, with cadres of order-following cannon fodder--and the huge financial porkbarrel industry attached to it--CREATE unjust wars. It is a standing temptation to fascists, as we have seen. That little shit Bush can order it around, to his own venal purpose. That is ALL it is FOR, from what I can see at this point. Aggression.

So I have no problem at all with people disobeying this cowardly criminal's orders. None. It is patriotic act, as far as I'm concerned, and Lt. Ehren Watada should be given a Congressional Medal of Honor for it--and would, if we didn't have a goddamned Diebold Congress.

--------------------------

Throw Diebold, ES&S and ALL election theft machines into 'Boston Harbor' NOW!

[Kolesar]

16. "To defend the interests of the United States"

I saw the cold war with Iran starting while I was an officer candidate in college in 1979. The purpose of the military became clear to me then. We were not militarized to stop the red menace. We were militarized to control the resources of the planet. And damn, we were not going to conserve or limit our energy use for the sake of Earth. My father wanted me to drop the military career and he soon persuaded me. Thanks, Dad, I miss you a lot.

[sampsonblk]

17. We are on the same page, mostly

I agree with you on standing down, and probably the war also. No argument from me.

But once this Lt accepted the money and swore his oath, then he must do his duty. Otherwise, we have no military, regardless of how you feel about its present size. By your argument, Bush is within his right to disregard some of the laws made by Congress if he disagrees with them. I say not. Once Bush was accepted that office, he lost the right to pick and choose which of the laws he will observe and which ones he will not. Same for this officer. And HE knows it.

[atreides1]

19. My take

"But once this Lt accepted the money and swore his oath, then he must do his duty."

Actually he swore the oath before any money was exchanged, that's generally how it's done. And from what I understand he paid for his own college education as well.

Then by your reasoning, the Germans and the Japanese were just doing their duty. That being the case
why were they tried for "doing their duty"?



Enlistment Oath

In the Armed Forces EXCEPT the National Guard (Army or Air)

I, ___________________________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Now if you read the oath, you will see that he swore allegiance to the Constitution, not to Bush. Now I know that he also swears to obey the orders of the President, but doesn't his allegiance to the Constitution take precedence?

And if Bush has violated his oath to the Constitution then the military should be doing it's duty to support and defend the Constitution, not by attacking a sovereign nation that did not attack us, but by making the civilian government abide by the Constitution, which the civilian government has also
sworn allegiance to.


The difference between Bush and this young officer is that Bush has no conscious, and to me that puts them miles apart.

[KKKarl is an idiot]

23. Constitution

Well with Bush you have a person who disregards the Constitution on several issue. Phone records, phone tapping etc.

This is the oath the president takes when he enters office:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of
President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

President Bush has not defended the constitution he has run over it, over & over again. So if this guy is brought to trial over not obeying the President should we not impeach President Bush. After all we went after people at the top with the Enron & MCI scandal. I believe the leader of any group of people should be held to a higher standard.

[DRoseDARs]

13. "Just a number" strikes again: Article has "1,540" dead instead of "2,540"

Slip of the finger or poor fact-checking? I choose the former rather than the later, but it's sloppy and ignorant either way.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Maybe it's intentionally deceptive. If called on it, the author can always

claim "simple mistake" later. Or go completely, "forgetful," along with all the knowing looks, smirks, and eye rolling, like a Republican under questioning after a vile crime.

[truthisfreedom]

15. there oughta be a law.

[sweetheart]

18. "Turn on, tune in, drop out" eof

[MasonJar]

21. I noticed that number immediately. Just a number and 1000 lives.

I think that we should start a "You have my back Watada" campaign on DU. He is doing his duty, upholding the Constitution of the United States, which is more than you can say for the cabal and its Congressional "overlook" cadre. This man is a hero; this is a mean and greedy bunch of sociopaths and sycophants...and its time they were called on their dismantling of our constitution.

[cantstandbush]

22. The issue is the illegality of the Iraq invasion. Iraq never attacked us.

If our courts were honest and true, it would be Bush on trial and not this young man.

[XForce]

24. Waking Up to the Truth

It appears that lieutenant Ehren Watada woke up to the truth, and for that, I support his decisions regarding his military role.

[malmapus]

25. Honored to have met him last night

There was a small rally outside Ft. Lewis last night and the good LT was there. I was wearing a very faded beret that hadn't been worn out since I ETS'd.

But yeah, great guy...gets my support 110%

Need more guys like him to stand up against this illegal action in Iraq.

Was mildly surprised at the reaction we were getting from troops leaving Ft. Lewis (the rally was just outside the gate). Bunch of thumbs up or nods, did get a few fingers (guess those guys must really enjoy that extra combat pay).


http://www.geocities.com.nyud.net:8090/jpyron/907797532_l.jpg

[yorkiemommie1]

26. did you meet his mother?

she was a good friend of mine in hs.

[malmapus]

27. She was there too!

I didn't get a chance to speak with her, but she was walking up and down the bridge and chatting with some folks who were there :)

[yorkiemommie1]

29. i haven't seen her since hs

& didn't learn that Ehren is her son until the class reunion emails came to me. It just floors me the direction that our lives take. I sent a note to her through her atty. ( looked him up online ).

they have a long, tough road ahead of them and from the lttes in the Honolulu Advertiser, a pretty hostile hometown environment.

I'm glad you were able to be there!

[bdamomma]

28. I admire any of those soldiers who are coming forward to show there

disapproval and discontent for this illegal war. Slowly some of them are realizing we are occupying a country, not fighting a war. We invaded their country for bush greediest needs oil.

[WhiteTara]

31. umm, isn't the death tally wrong?

1540? If that info is wrong, what else is?

[Voltaire99]

33. He hasn't tortured, raped, or killed anyone.

This man has to go to jail!