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| 7/13 |
| 2006/6/28-29 [Politics/Foreign/MiddleEast/Iraq] UID:43514 Activity:nil |
6/28 First commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1653999/posts
http://www.thankyoult.org
\_ I like the 2nd FR post:
> Three words:
>
> 1. Charge
> 2. Convict
> 3. SENTANCE
^
\_ 4. SPELL-CHECK
\_ 5. ???
6. Profit!
--The Underpants Gnomes
\_ http://www.jamesfaqs.com/Morans.jpg
America, fuck yeah. -John |
| 7/13 |
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| www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1653999/posts BurbankKarl A Fort Lewis-based officer who declared that he would not accompany his unit to Iraq followed his promise this morning. Ehren Watada was not present when his battalion, part of the 3rd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division, gathered at 5:13 am Instead, Watada remained within his headquarters building. Watada, who joined the Army in 2003, said he came believe the Iraq war was illegal and immoral, and he had a duty not to follow orders. No charges against Watada will be filed until the commander has had a chance to review all of the facts of the case and consult with military lawyers, according to a news release issued by the Army. Meanwhile, Watada has been ordered to remain on duty, with some limitations on his pass privileges, pending further instructions from his chain of command. The other soldiers in Watada's unit departed on schedule this morning, "honoring their obligation to the nation as thousands of soldiers have done before," according to the Army. About 4,000 Soldiers of Fort Lewis' 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division will serve a year tour of duty in Iraq. View Replies To: BurbankKarl This far into the WOT, I have to wonder how many liberals are joining the military for the sole purpose of refusing to serve and getting a little press coverage. View Replies To: BurbankKarl I'd like to see him stood up in front of a Brigade formation and have his commander do the opening scene from "Branded" on him, then escort him to the gate. View Replies To: BurbankKarl Those who refuse to support and defend a state have no claim to protection by that state. Killing an anarchist or a pacifist should not be defined as "murder" in a legalistic sense. The offense against the state, if any, should be "Using deadly weapons inside city limits," or "Creating a traffic hazard," or "Endangering bystanders," or other misdemeanor. View Replies To: furquhart This guy is definitely unusual. You don't suppose he has some sort of "secret" he thinks might get revealed in 24/7 military environment in Iraq? View Replies To: BurbankKarl We will be looking for him out here in Leavenworth. That transition from officer to inmate is going to come as a great shock to him. What is really going to hurt, is that under the new rules, once his military appeals are exhausted, he will be discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States and will be remanded to the Federal Prison System. The little white van will take him the several miles from the US Disciplinary Barracks to the US Federal Penitentary where he will get to meet his new best friend, Bubba. View Replies To: BurbankKarl How will you fare, sonny, how will you fare In the far-off winter night, When you sit by the fire in an old man's chair And your neighbours talk of the fight? Will you slink away, as it were from a blow, Your old head shamed and bent? Or say - I was not with the first to go, But I went, thank God, I went? Why do they call, sonny, why do they call For men who are brave and strong? Is it naught to you if your country fall, And Right is smashed by Wrong? Is it football still and the picture show, The pub and the betting odds, When your brothers stand to the tyrant's blow, And England's call is God's!" View Replies To: BurbankKarl Watada, who joined the Army in 2003, said he came believe the Iraq war was illegal and immoral, and he had a duty not to follow orders. Apparently, he thought that he joined the Salvation Army rather than the US Army. I sincerely hope that he will enjoy his new accommodations at Leathenworth following his court martial for insubordination, desertion, cowardice, etc... If convicted BCD and hard labor for duration of his EAOS {or whatever they call it now} then Fed pen. Many went in other wars and came back and walked away but at least they went. Those I can understand and have some sympathy for as every man has a breaking point. This man obligated himself willingly and hasn't even tried. Ehren Watada, 28, was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. Following his graduation from Hawaii Pacific University in 2003, Lt. He received no financial assistance for college or replaying loans from the Army. Watada was obligated to serve on active duty as an Army officer for a term of three years concluding on December 3, 2006. Watada was stationed in Korea during late 2004 to early 2005. In January 2006 he first asked for permission to resign his commission based on his understanding that the war in Iraq is illegal, and that any order to participate would be an illegal order. He did not apply for a conscientious objector discharge and does not intend to do so, as he is not opposed to all wars, but believes this war in Iraq is illegal. After his initial request and a later formal application to resign were denied by the Army, Lt. Watada informed his superiors that he will refuse to deploy with his unit when it is scheduled to leave Ft. Ehren Watada stood before the national media and announced his intent to refuse any order to participate in the Iraq war. Watada faces possible court-martial charges unless the Army allows him to resign his commission or assigns him to duties that are not directly connected to the Iraq war. Watada's commanding officer informed him that an investigation was underway into possible violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice based on his protected speech in opposition to the illegal war. His father Bob Watada of Hawaii Kai is the former Executive Director of the State Campaign Spending Commission of Hawaii. His mother Carolyn Ho of Kaneohe, Hawaii is a high school guidance counselor. Both parents have expressed their support for their son's actions. View Replies To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran Heinlein was a giant. In one of his books, he proposed that a citizen should be allowed one vote, if a landowner an additional vote and if a veteran, a third vote. View Replies To: BurbankKarl No charges against Watada will be filed until the commander has had a chance to review all of the facts of the case and consult with military lawyers, according to a news release issued by the Army. Given the fact that he told them in advance he would refuse, why didn't his commander review the facts in advance and take action at 5:14 AM? And what makes this POS think he is qualified to determine the legality of this war? View Replies To: cripplecreek >>I think this guy signed up knowing that he would refuse. There was a post on FR that said his father is a big time DEM in Hawaii. If that is true, do you think he is pulling this to boost his up-coming political career? View Replies To: tioga I remember when my son was being shipped to Iraq 2 years ago, three guys in his unit were caught with drugs during a drug test. They were sent and two were chaptered out when they returned. The third got his act together over there and won a few commendations along the way. View Replies To: quikdrw do you think he is pulling this to boost his up-coming political career? He can claim heroism for having joined in the first place and the far left will consider him heroic for having refused. He just cut out the dangerous part of actually being around any dangerous enemies. View Replies To: WesternPacific I say ship him over, if he refuses to do his job then you put him in the brig. I am sure the accommodations there are not like desk duty state side. It seems he thought he would have "easy" deployments based on "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" He probably still believes he will get off easy because of who he is. What insane MSM sources are they letting through to the soldiers? last Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works. |
| www.thankyoult.org I refuse to be party to an illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression. My oath of office is to protect and defend America's laws and its people. By refusing unlawful orders for an illegal war, I fulfill that oath today." com (June 27, 2006) - Today, June 27th, is the National Day of Action in support of US Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, who, on June 22, refused an order to deploy with his unit to Iraq. "illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression. My oath of office is to protect and defend America's laws and its people. By refusing unlawful orders for an illegal war, I fulfill that oath." Image From highway overpasses to downtown vigils, supporters across the Pacific Northwest from Portland to the Canadian border have been gearing up for the National Day of Action to Stand Up with Lt. Ehren Watada fulfills pledge to refuse illegal Iraq deployment; Under confinement without charge Image Fort Lewis, Washington (June 22, 2006) - US Army First Lieutenant Ehren K Watada reported to duty at 2:00 am early this morning, Thursday, June 22nd and refused orders to move to the adjacent McChord Air Force Base to prepare to fly to Iraq. Watada believes that the war and occupation in Iraq are illegal, and thus participation in the war is also illegal. At this time he has been restricted to base and has been ordered to have no communication with non-military personnel. He is part of a Stryker brigade unit that deployed today to Iraq. Despite an unflinching commitment to his men and to democratic ideals, he chose not to accompany his men. His decision came through much soul-searching and through research and consultation with experts across disciplines, inside and outside of the military and the government. Ehren Watada for standing up for international, US and military law by refusing to deploy to Iraq in support of the ongoing illegal war and occupation. Image From the preemptive invasion based on deception, to the deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians and nearly 2,500 US troops, to the infamous Abu Ghraib torture cells and the recent Haditha massacre, no more evidence is required of how very wrong this war is. In light of these facts, we appreciate your decision to now follow your conscience. We salute your true leadership in these dark times, and believe that we can all learn something from your courage. Image My brother is a true American hero that has the honor, courage and conviction to stand up for what is right. Why is collateral damage acceptable when it doesn't happen in our streets or our backyard? War must be just, and as the most powerful nation in the world we need to set the example of what is right . Please help stop the war and embrace those like my brother that reach down into their souls to fight for unselfish beliefs. Ehren Watada has picked up the public endorsement of a retired Army colonel and diplomat who also contends the war there is illegal. Speaking at University Lutheran Church in Seattle, retired Col. Ann Wright said Monday night that the artillery-targeting officer has the right to disobey "illegal orders." Image (June 7, 2006) - Family, Friends, Members of the Religious Community, Members of the Press, and my fellow Americans--thank you for coming today. I am a First Lieutenant in the US Army and I have served for 3 years. It is my duty as a commissioned officer of the United States Army to speak out against grave injustices. My moral and legal obligation is to the Constitution and not those who would issue unlawful orders. I stand before you today because it is my job to serve and protect those soldiers, the American people, and innocent Iraqis with no voice. Image First Officer Announces Refusal to Deploy to Iraq By Sarah Olson, June 7, 2006 On Wednesday, June 7 Lt. Ehren Watada became the first officer to refuse to deploy to Iraq, setting the stage for what could be the biggest movement of GI resistance since the Vietnam War. He faces a court-martial, up to two years in prison for missing movement by design, a dishonorable discharge, and other possible charges. He says speaking against an illegal and immoral war is worth all of this and more. Journalist Sarah Olson spoke with Watada in late May about his reasons for joining the military, and why he wants out. Ehren Watada refused to board a bus to accompany his Army unit to Iraq, he courageously became the first active duty US officer to disobey an order to serve in a war which he and many other active duty, retired, and reserve military personnel have characterized as illegal and immoral. Watada from speaking against illegal war PRESS ADVISORY (June 9, 2006) - On Thursday, June 8, 2006 US Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada's commanding officer moved to prosecute Lt. An official investigation into his public speech in opposition to the illegal war in Iraq is underway. Watada was read his rights and declined to make a statement without a lawyer present. Watada rejects illegal war at Tacoma, Washington press conference On Wednesday, June 7th US Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada became the first commissioned officer to refuse deployment to the unlawful Iraq war and occupation. He announced his duty to disobey the illegal order to deploy to Iraq in coordinated press conferences in Tacoma, Washington and Honolulu, Hawaii via a video taped messaged due to a direct military order not to attend the pre-scheduled Tacoma press conference. Watada's lawyer hold press meeting at Hawaii State Capitol June 7, 2006 (Honolulu, Hawaii) - More than 50 supporters filled the Senate Conference room in Hawaii's State Capitol this moring, each holding signs reading "Thank you, 1^st Lt. Large banners - "Support GI Resisters" and US Out of Iraq" - lined the room. There were professors and students, Vietnam veterans, Iraq war veterans and veterans from World War 2, anti-war activists and clergymen, Hawaiian sovereignty activists and even some state government employees who ducked into the room to offer their support. Watada The following is background material supporting Lt. Watada's decision not to participate in the illegal war and occupation of Iraq. This is far from an exhaustive list of resources and is not an official representation of Lt. Watada's words or his attorneys and thus he is not responsible for any opinions. This is supportive material on the illegality of the war. Ehren Watada, 28, was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. Following his graduation from Hawaii Pacific University in 2003, Lt. He received no financial assistance for college or replaying loans from the Army. When soldiers refuse to fight: Is the US Army trying to silence Lt. June 14, 2006 US Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada says, "I've come to believe this is an illegal and an immoral war, and the order to have us deploy to Iraq is unlawful. I won't follow this order and I won't participate in something I believe is wrong." |