New Haven Independent

Posted by: LF | February 6, 2007 9:46 AM

Lt. Watada has every right to deny deployment - this was is unreasonable. Send Cheney & Bush in his place

Posted by: Soldier1 | February 6, 2007 10:11 AM

This is pathetic. This guy swore an oath, not just to protect and defend, but to "obey the orders of those appointed over him". The legality of the war is determined by the government, not by the individual. He joined knowing this. This guy deserves to rot in prison, and then be kicked out on his butt. Whether you agree with the war or not, and there are many in uniform who do not, we have a duty to fight where we are sent, and not where we please. This is nothing more than cowardice. He had no problem collecting his fat officer's pay, and doing his job when it suited him. But now, rather than simply resigning his commission, he wants to grandstand. Hopefully the brass won't cave to the media, and this guy will be made an example of. He has dishonored himself, and his brothers and sisters in uniform!

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | February 6, 2007 10:32 AM

Watada is a real soldier!!!! Fighting for what is right. It takes more than courage. I hope he opened the door for many more to come. There are so many soldiers out there that are against this war that did not want to be the one, the first one... and now that Watada has made that great step maybe many more will stand with him. It is going to take a revolution to stop this.

500,000 people showed up to the march on January 27th in DC and it was hardly on the news.

Posted by: Garrett Boge | February 6, 2007 11:57 AM

Lt. Ehren Watada represents to me more integrity in the matter
of US involvement in Iraq than any of our public leaders. He
stands as a true American, on the convictions of his conscience
and on his reading of international law, American principles,
and moral responsibility. Our leaders thus far have averted if
not outright abdigated their responsibilities on this
disasterous war of agression against a soverign nation. The army should accept Lt. Watada's resignation, release him of all charges, and our leaders must begin acting from the same point
of moral conviction as he. Get out of Iraq NOW!

Posted by: greg | February 6, 2007 3:44 PM

Soldier1- Wake up! this guy is challenging the entire system, and has the countries votes[Nov. 06] behind him. Your flag waving is old school, just as "cut and run"didn't fly either."Fat Officers pay" sounds like sour grapes! couldnt make it as an officer? Cowardice is sitting at your computer complaining about folks with enough guts to stand for something. Enough of this crap about bros. and sis. in arms .You want to be a tough guy? RE-UP!Go over to the site of an Islamic civil war where we dont even know who is who? for what great honor are we exactly fighting for there? Even the President agrees its a mess there. So tough guy ,wave the flag all you want with your old,tired rheteric regarding war. This aint Korea,Vietnam, or even Gulf 1. Watada stands for something. Your tough guy garbage is old! Go over there , you are not too old to die, if you like!Stop complaining about folks who dont think archaic like you.

Posted by: nfjanette | February 6, 2007 9:06 PM

Obviously duty and honor mean nothing to some commentators in the context of the commitment Lt. Watada made to this country when he accepted the terms of being a soldier in the armed forces. Lt. Watada has every right to protest political policy as a private citizen; he has no right to protest political policy as an officer while serving his role in the US Army.

I actually support both a mandatory military service policy (to ensure the children of the leadership must serve, including in combat) as well as a mandatory "war tax" whenever our country goes to war. Then, perhaps we'll see if the political will of the leaders and citizens of the country truly support such actions.

But, make no mistake about it, the break in discipline of an officer in the armed forces can not, and will not be tolerated. Once you're in, you're in for the duration, with all of the duties and responsibilities - not just to yourself and your own political beliefs, but to your fellow members and the country you swore to defend.

Posted by: Smittie | February 6, 2007 9:53 PM

Lt Watada first tried to resign his commission. His resignation was refused. So, he volunteered to go to Afghanistan instead of Iraq. That too was denied.

Lt. Watada has determined that the war is illegal. Is Lt Watada a lawyer? Does Lt. Watada understand the full extent of ALL the laws that apply to this very complicated situation? Has Lt. Watada investigated all of the legal implications of the war? To assume he has is a huge assumption. I seriously doubt that one man could complete that task working on it in his spare time. In any case, he does not have the authority to make such decisions and declarations.

Most importantly, no military can stand such behavior. The military can ill afford to have members picking and choosing which missions they will do and which missions they will not. Whoever is assigned to take Lt Watada's position as the unit deploys now has an extra pile of problems to sort through and deal with. Deployment is arduous enough without the headaches of prima donna behavior such as Lt Watada's.

Lt Watada will have his 15 minutes of fame, his opportunity to make his statement. Lt Watada's unit will pay the price for Lt Watada's moment of glory. I hope that they are able to get past the distraction of Lt Watada, stay focused, complete their mission and return home at the end of their tour.

Smittie

Posted by: CMSN | February 7, 2007 12:05 PM

The "war" has produced nothing but further bloodshed and resentment on both sides. As always violence leads to more violence, hatred leads to more hatred.

Lt. Watada appears to be following his conscience, a commendable act. He may go to prison but his soul will be free.

"Conscience is the root of all true courage; if a man would be brave let him obey his conscience". - James Freeman Clarke

Posted by: Irishboy | February 7, 2007 12:09 PM

SOLDIER1, I would agree with you except for one fact that isn't reported here; he did resign. He offered to serve in Afghanistan; he offered to serve 6 months in prison; he didn't file as a conscientious objector because he would fight a legal war. I don't think this is such a cut-and-dried case as the military would like us to believe. They're throwing the book at him to prove a point, and if you've followed the trial you'd know that Judge Head has given preferential treatment to government witnesses over Watada.
If you don't like the guy, fine- I can appreciate that considering where you're coming from. But it does sound like he tried to follow his conscience. An officer is expected to think for themselves as well, and it is one's duty to question an illegal order.

Posted by: Sten Drescher | February 7, 2007 12:20 PM

I might be able to respect Lt Watada had he been in the military prior to the start of the war in Iraq. He was not - he entered Officer Candidate School after the war in Iraq began. He volunteered knowing full well that the war was on, and that he might be sent there. He refusal now to serve demonstrates a complete lack of integrity.

Posted by: Dwatson | February 7, 2007 12:24 PM

Lt. Watada swore an oath to obey any LAWFUL orders from his superior officers.

He is correct that this war is an illegal and immoral abomination. A legal degree is not neccesary to understand this.

The just following orders defense does not and should not hold in this situation.

Lt. Watada is a true American hero.

Posted by: trevor | February 7, 2007 12:34 PM

All those criticizing Watada, former soldiers included, have NO UNDERSTANDING of their General Standing Orders or the Constitution you are sworn to uphold. If you did, you'd know it's every soldier's duty to REFUSE ILLEGAL ORDERS. Saying "yes sir" and murdering civilians is no act of courage, it's an act of moral depravity. Ehren Watada has done an about-face on silent acquiescence. He's stood up for what's right.

Posted by: Steve | February 7, 2007 12:34 PM

While at West Point, I spent hours in classes designed to teach an officer's responsibilities to stand up to "illegal orders". Scenarios ran the gamut from the obvious to very, very gray. The greyest scenarios dealt with HOW one fights a battle, never whether or not one fights in the first place. An order to fight where and when directed is not and never will be an "illegal order".

He should and likely will go to jail.

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | February 7, 2007 3:10 PM

He is a decorated soldier a career military man! This is not some weekend warrior changing his mind.

We have 3000 U.S. soldiers and hundreds of their allies dead. Not to mention the civilian workers and the people that live there. For what? why did we go to war 4 years ago? Hmmm do we remember? If we did not think that there were weapons of mass disrcution would we even be doing this?

Watada is not the only one. About 8,000 have deserted. Which watada did not do he is still a soldier. A great leader is a leader that will put himself at risk for his men. And in my eyes this is what Watada is doing. He can go to jail for 4 years lose his career all for a belief.

ok I am cut and pasteing this shame on me :)

“The U.S. has not fulfilled its responsibilities as an occupying power under the 1907 Hague Convention and 1950 Geneva Conventions”, maintaining that the U.S. policy makers intentionally planned and executed the bombing Iraqi civil infrastructure and that the use of indiscriminate weapons, such as cluster bombs and white phosphorus, is common. The panel found that responsibility lies with the command structure, rather than individual soldiers, that puts enlisted personnel at risk of violating human rights.

here is a link to CITIZENS’ HEARING ON THE LEGALITY OF U.S. ACTIONS IN IRAQ
it is 64 pages so far

http://www.wartribunal.org/

Posted by: Curtis Sommer | February 7, 2007 10:49 PM

Bin Laden was in Afghanistan when he ordered the Saudi Arabian and Egyptian al-Qaeda terrorists to hijack and crash the American passenger jets. Not in Iraq!
He is beholden to uphold the Constitution of the United States and not to obey illegal orders.
George Bush lied, told half truths, and manipulated intelligence and evidence in order to get us into Iraq. Now the Bush Administration(Cheny), Bush Family(Uncle Buck, Brother Neill), Bush Friends, and Bush Political Donors and Cronies are raking in tens and hundreds of billions of American Taxpayer dollars, in oil and wartime contracts, graft and corruption, and outright stealing, off the backs of 3100 dead American Soldiers and 800 dead Mercenaries.
Who and how many in the Bush Administration and THEIR advisors have financial holdings in any companies making profits in Iraq? Who and how many Republicans or Democrats have financial holdings in any companies making profits in Iraq?
For the Republican Mushrooms.. To which news conglomerates and their pundits and reporters, and how much of the billions of American Taxpayer dollars are being spent by the Bush Administration for propaganda purposes, by the "Ministry of Propaganda"?
The "Liar in Chief" has divided this country as his administration guts, usurps and craps on the United States Constitution and the United States Citizens. While he, his family and cronies pig out at the American Taxpayer Trough and sells out our country to China.

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | February 9, 2007 10:11 AM

Eric Seitz on Watada court martial mistrial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN08jdUmPGk