FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 6, 2006
CONTACT:The Backbone Campaign
Bill Moyer, Executive Director (206) 408-8058
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Reporting for a Higher Duty: Lt. Ehren Watada Presented Spine Award Tacoma, WA: The Army wants to send Lt. Ehren Watada to prison for refusing to fight in what is increasingly recognized as an illegal war and occupation of Iraq, foisted on Americans with lies. The Backbone Campaign and the Washington Progressive Caucus want to applaud his act of conscience and did so by presenting him with a Spine Award.
Watada, the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq, has become a public relations nightmare for an administration which is finding it more and more difficult to justify its actions in Iraq. The Army, in response to the media attention generated by Watada’s act, has added charges to the original charge of missing troop movements which now include “Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and Gentleman” based on statements of belief Watada made at the Veterans for Peace national convention in Seattle this August.
The recommendation for court martial issued by Investigating Officer Lt. Col. Mark Keith explicitly stated that it was Lt. Watada’s message that warrants the additional charge, making this a First Amendment issue. Of the eight years in prison that Lt. Watada faces if convicted in a court martial, only two will be for the missing in troop movement charge. The other six will be for exercising his First Amendment rights to free speech.
The Spine Award was presented to Lt. Watada "In gratitude for his profound courage, reporting for a higher duty, to country, Constitution and humanity," (from plaque text). His father Bob Watada outlined the intersecting duties Ehren is responding to in a recent article in The Source Weekly
http://www.tsweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=404&Itemid=66The combination of his oath to protect and defend the Constitution against enemies foreign and domestic, the Uniform Code of Military Justice to disobey unlawful orders, and lesson of Nuremburg that "just taking orders" is no excuse provide the justification for his difficult decision.
"Taking a stand like this, with full knowledge of the potential personal price he may pay, is an example of the heroism. We would like to see such bravery from all those who take such oaths, including the members of Congress who just approved another $70 billion dollars for our counter-productive illegal fiasco in Iraq," said Bill Moyer, Executive Director of the Backbone Campaign who made the presentation with Larry Kalb of the Washington Progressive Caucus.
The Backbone Campaign and the Washington Progressive Caucus are not alone in their approbation of Watada’s stance. The case has generated a wide support for Watada ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the Iraq Veterans against the War organization. The Thank You Lt. Ehren Watada
http://www.thankyoult.org/ website lists over 150 organizations which have weighed in with their endorsements.
Perhaps one of the most eloquent voices of support is that of his mother, Carolyn Ho, who is quoted on the above website:
“My son’s decision to refrain from deploying to Iraq comes through much soul searching. It is an act of patriotism. It is a statement to all Americans, to men and women in uniform, that they need not remain silent out of fear, that that they have the power to turn the tide of history: to stop the destruction of a country and the killing of untold numbers of innocent men, women, and children. It is a message that states unequivocally that blindly following orders is no longer an option. My son, Lt. Watada’s stance is clear. He will stay the course. I urge you to join him in this effort.”
What is the Backbone Campaign? The Backbone Campaign is a grassroots effort to embolden citizens and elected officials to stand up for progressive values, by providing creative tools that expand political dialogue and citizen involvement. The Backbone symbolizes an interlocking agenda, a coalition, and the personal courage necessary to fight for a future worthy of our children.
The three ongoing components of our movement-building effort are to collaboratively articulate a progressive agenda, identify and empower progressive leadership, and compel greater accountability and courage (hence, "backbone") from those who claim to represent us.
We strive to do this with creativity and imagination. The Spine Award is one aspect of this work. Past recipients include Cindy Sheehan, Amy Goodman, Ray McGovern, Medea Benjamin and others.
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email: info {at} backbonecampaign.org
phone: 206-408-8058
web:
http://www.backbonecampaign.org
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