Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada Continues to Criticize the War Despite His Upcoming Court-Martial
"Could it be that ... many people don't care about the illegality of this war?" Watada asked students and others who packed a hall at Seattle Central Community College. "It is my belief that the American people have relinquished their responsibility."
He also blamed elected officials.
Watada, 28, said initial reasons offered to justify the Iraq war -- the presence of weapons of mass destruction and Iraq's purported ties to terrorists -- turned out to be unsubstantiated.
"We have all been deceived," Watada told the audience. The "American people have the power to end this war."
posted by storiesinamerica @ 6:46 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
From a millblogger (retired submarine officer) post:
1st Lt. Ehren K. Watada says, through his lawyer, that he cannot "participate in a war that he cannot justify or support legally and morally". Many of us have probably thought about what we'd do if given what we felt was an illegal order -- we all got training when we first came into the military that we weren't obligated to follow such an order. I always figured I'd explain to the person who gave me the order why I felt it was illegal, and then take it up the chain of command if that was available. If worse came to worse, I'd probably get my Congressman involved. One action I wouldn't take, though, was holding a "coordinated news conference". His parents apparently support his decision; his father is fairly well-known in Hawaiian political circles.
Watada claims that the current war is illegal. Interestingly, he joined the Army in June 2003, after we had invaded Iraq (so the concept that he might have to go there shouldn't have come as a surprise to him); his obligation ends in December of this year. I'm interested to know where he gets the idea that our current occupation of Iraq is illegal; not only has Congress supported the continued action through appropriations, the United Nations Security Council specifically authorized (unanimously) the current coalition military operations in Iraq.
That, and more here on Lt. Watada...
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/005347.htm?print=1
And seeing how military families and their politics are a constant theme on this site, here's a statement from Military Families Voice of Victory (surely you've heard of them in the mainstream media)...
MILITARY FAMILIES REBUKE ARMY LT. WATADA FOR REFUSAL TO SERVE AND ALLIANCE WITH ANTI-AMERICAN GROUPS
(Washington) Rebecca Davis, Cofounder of Military Families Voice of
Victory (www.mfvov.org), issued the following statement today on the
announced plans by Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada to disobey orders to serve
in Iraq:
“On behalf of the members of Military Families Voice of Victory, and as
a mother of three sons who have served honorably in Iraq and
Afghanistan, I am demanding the Army prosecute Lt. Watada to the fullest
extent under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
“The refusal by Lt. Watada to obey lawful orders to serve in Iraq as
part of Operation Iraqi Freedom will surely encourage al Qaeda in Iraq
to continue terrorizing the Iraqi people and attacking U.S. and
coalition forces, and encourage al Qaeda and allied terrorist forces
around the globe to wage war against America and Western civilization.
“Lt. Watada has chosen to ally himself and accept financial aid from Not
in Our Name, a front group for the Revolutionary Communist Party. He has
also accepted aid from other anti-American organizations that have
expressed support and/or given material aid to terrorists in Iraq.
“Lt. Watada is not standing on principle, nor is his stand valiant. He
is a coward and a traitor. His actions will only serve to get his fellow
soldiers killed so that he can save himself and become famous.”
This is to Rebecca Davis. Leave the Lt. alone. This war is immoral and illegal. Iraq had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with 9/11. We had a disinterested President and the worst Security Advisor possible and the two let 9/11 happen. We pay them and the military to protect the citizens. They did not do it and then with total lies we invaded Iraq and with 2 billion dollars a week, have destroyed Iraq. What for. It's too bad the UN and the World Court doesn't give notice. I never voted for Bush because I think he's evil and he is evil to go and destroy Iraq. He is responisble for over 3000 troops and injuring 30,000 more and for the killing for over 100,000 Iraq citizens. Now he's planning on attacking Iran and hopefully your 3 sons get to serve again for an immoral and illegal military act. Did you call Bush to account for sending our troops to Iraq no armor
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