AP: Fort Lewis war objector faces new charge

[Eugene]

Posted on Sat, Sep. 16, 2006

Fort Lewis war objector faces new charge
Associated Press

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - The Army added another charge against a lieutenant
who refused to serve in Iraq because he believes the war is illegal,
but did not say if the case will proceed to a court martial.

The new charge is based on Lt. Ehren Watada's remarks to the national
convention of Veterans for Peace, held in Seattle last month, Army
spokesman Joe Piek said Friday.

At the veterans gathering, Watada said that "to stop an illegal and
unjust war, soldiers can choose to stop fighting it," according
to a support group, Friends and Family of Lt. Watada.

Watada, 28, of Honolulu, Hawaii, refused to deploy on June 22 with his
Fort Lewis-based unit. He already was charged with missing troop movement,
conduct unbecoming an officer and contempt toward officials, including
using "contemptuous words" against President Bush in media interviews.

Conviction on all charges could bring a maximum of eight years in prison,
Piek said.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/15532161.htm

[countmyvote4real]

1. I support our troops, but this one is very special. n/t

[gratuitous]

2. That's an odd story

It mentions what Mr. Watada said to the Veterans for Peace, but doesn't specify what new charge has been brought against him for saying that "to stop an illegal and unjust war, soldiers can choose to stop fighting it." That appears to be a true statement, non-specific to any situation. Is it now against military law to say things that someone somewhere in the military command doesn't like? What if someone says "Green beans are vomitrocious," and some genius general really likes green beans? Is it off to the stockade for the luckless dogface?

Because I'm sure that with all the honor and dignity just oozing out from all over today's military, there's no way this could be just piling on of charges so as to make an example of Mr. Watada, and use him as a warning to anyone else in uniform thinking that they're aiding and abetting a colossal criminal enterprise. Nope, couldn't be that at all.

[leesa]

3. I thought that odd too. What was the new charge?

[The Sushi Bandit]

4. I thought he was from Maui??