Fort Lewis Soldier Says He'll Refuse To Go To Iraq
June 6, 2006 By Keith Eldridge
An Army lieutenant based at Ft. Lewis has such serious objections [Maddie: See below for Lt Ehren watada's "serious" objections] to the war in Iraq, and is refusing to deploy, the soldier's lawyer said. Soldier Says He'll Refuse To Go To Iraq
SEATTLE - As thousands of Fort Lewis Army troops prepare to head back to Iraq, one of their officers is making a stand. A lieutenant says he is going to refuse to go, saying it's an unjust war [Maddie: "Just War" principles include: 1) defense against wrongful attack, 2) retaking something wrongly taken, or 3) punishment of evil. Even if you don't agree that Iraq was at least complicit in 9/11, Anyone at all familiar with circumstances surrounding Sadam Hussein's reign of terror, must acknowledge that the current War on Terror satisfies the third prinicpal]. Anti-war groups are rallying to his defense. [Duh!]
Lt. Ehren Watada of the Stryker Brigade writes, "I refuse to be silent any longer. I refuse to watch families torn apart, while the President tells us to ‘stay the course.’ I refuse to be party to an illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression." [Maddie: Emphasis mine. Apparently, Lt. Ehren Watada does not consider the insurgency rebellion that has claimed hundreds of the lives of his "fellow troops" as deserving of aggression. Or, Lt. Watada intends to imply that the War on Terror applies to non-combatant Iraqi civilians. Lt. Watada has been ill-informed as to who exactly his "fellow troops" are fighting against.]
I wanted to be there for my fellow troops. But the best way was not to help drop artillery and cause more death and destruction. It is to help oppose this war and end it so that all soldiers can come home." - signed LT. [Maddie: Unfortunately, what Lt. Watada fails to understand is that bringing his "fellow troops" home will cause precisly what he says he wants to avoid, "More Death and Destruction." Take a lesson from the suppression of the Kurds in the 1990s.]
His name had been kept a secret until now, but Lt. Watada's father confirms that his son is taking this bold step and told the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper that he's proud of his son.
Fort Lewis says since the lieutenant hasn't done anything official yet, there's no violation. But should he decide to go ahead with this, he could be charged with 'desertion' or more likely with 'missing the movement' of his unit. [Maddie: Is execution still an option for punishing deserters in time of War? Just asking.]
It's happened before with a sergeant who refused to go. Sgt. Kevin Benderman was sentenced to 15 months for refusing to go to Iraq. [Maddie: Wow, light sentence. See question above.]
Lt. Watada asked for reassignment and tried resigning his commission, but the Army refused. His attorney tells us from Hawaii that Watada is not against all wars, just this one. [Maddie: Well, well, well. Is Lt. Watada only against wars in which he would have to fight?]
"I've been doing this for nearly 40 years and I'm somewhat astounded that in the context of a war that is becoming increasing unpopular that they are relatively unsophisticated in addressing these issues," said attorney Eric Seitz from Hawaii.
This doesn't sit well with fellow soldiers.
"We're here to serve our country and fight and that's his job," said Private Nathan Hanson. "It's his duty."
Anti-war protestors, many of which demonstrated at the Port of Olympia recently, are rushing to his aid. They have put up a Web site believing he's the first commissioned officer to refuse to go. [Maddie: Ironically, the anti-war protestors are "rushing to the aid" of someone who is refusing to "rush to the aid" of his fellow troops, and the Iraqi people.]
The lieutenant says he'll make his intentions official Wednesday at noon and that's when his defense team will kick into gear.
For More Information:
www.thankyouLT.org
For an excellent essay on the "justice" of the current war on terror. Please visit: http://www.cpjustice.org/stories/storyReader$595.
June 6, 2006 By Keith Eldridge
An Army lieutenant based at Ft. Lewis has such serious objections [Maddie: See below for Lt Ehren watada's "serious" objections] to the war in Iraq, and is refusing to deploy, the soldier's lawyer said. Soldier Says He'll Refuse To Go To Iraq
SEATTLE - As thousands of Fort Lewis Army troops prepare to head back to Iraq, one of their officers is making a stand. A lieutenant says he is going to refuse to go, saying it's an unjust war [Maddie: "Just War" principles include: 1) defense against wrongful attack, 2) retaking something wrongly taken, or 3) punishment of evil. Even if you don't agree that Iraq was at least complicit in 9/11, Anyone at all familiar with circumstances surrounding Sadam Hussein's reign of terror, must acknowledge that the current War on Terror satisfies the third prinicpal]. Anti-war groups are rallying to his defense. [Duh!]
Lt. Ehren Watada of the Stryker Brigade writes, "I refuse to be silent any longer. I refuse to watch families torn apart, while the President tells us to ‘stay the course.’ I refuse to be party to an illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression." [Maddie: Emphasis mine. Apparently, Lt. Ehren Watada does not consider the insurgency rebellion that has claimed hundreds of the lives of his "fellow troops" as deserving of aggression. Or, Lt. Watada intends to imply that the War on Terror applies to non-combatant Iraqi civilians. Lt. Watada has been ill-informed as to who exactly his "fellow troops" are fighting against.]
I wanted to be there for my fellow troops. But the best way was not to help drop artillery and cause more death and destruction. It is to help oppose this war and end it so that all soldiers can come home." - signed LT. [Maddie: Unfortunately, what Lt. Watada fails to understand is that bringing his "fellow troops" home will cause precisly what he says he wants to avoid, "More Death and Destruction." Take a lesson from the suppression of the Kurds in the 1990s.]
His name had been kept a secret until now, but Lt. Watada's father confirms that his son is taking this bold step and told the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper that he's proud of his son.
Fort Lewis says since the lieutenant hasn't done anything official yet, there's no violation. But should he decide to go ahead with this, he could be charged with 'desertion' or more likely with 'missing the movement' of his unit. [Maddie: Is execution still an option for punishing deserters in time of War? Just asking.]
It's happened before with a sergeant who refused to go. Sgt. Kevin Benderman was sentenced to 15 months for refusing to go to Iraq. [Maddie: Wow, light sentence. See question above.]
Lt. Watada asked for reassignment and tried resigning his commission, but the Army refused. His attorney tells us from Hawaii that Watada is not against all wars, just this one. [Maddie: Well, well, well. Is Lt. Watada only against wars in which he would have to fight?]
"I've been doing this for nearly 40 years and I'm somewhat astounded that in the context of a war that is becoming increasing unpopular that they are relatively unsophisticated in addressing these issues," said attorney Eric Seitz from Hawaii.
This doesn't sit well with fellow soldiers.
"We're here to serve our country and fight and that's his job," said Private Nathan Hanson. "It's his duty."
Anti-war protestors, many of which demonstrated at the Port of Olympia recently, are rushing to his aid. They have put up a Web site believing he's the first commissioned officer to refuse to go. [Maddie: Ironically, the anti-war protestors are "rushing to the aid" of someone who is refusing to "rush to the aid" of his fellow troops, and the Iraqi people.]
The lieutenant says he'll make his intentions official Wednesday at noon and that's when his defense team will kick into gear.
For More Information:
www.thankyouLT.org
For an excellent essay on the "justice" of the current war on terror. Please visit: http://www.cpjustice.org/stories/storyReader$595.
posted by Madeline | 10:49 AM
3 Comments:
Our Military justice system will absolutely take care of the coward.
I sequel to a Clint Eastwood spagetti western is appropiate here... Hang 'em High too... Ok that was reaching, but I'm just not as clever as some hot tempered Gals I know :)
Thanks Gawfer; Do you know the answer to my question? Is a firing squad possible, here, or is it just wishful thinking on my part :)
Never being in the military myself I won't comment on his cowardice. He enlisted to serve his country or to pay for college. Either way he had to know that a war was possible when he went in.
To bail when the time comes, shows a lack of character and someone we wouldn't want leading our young soldiers in battle. I think he might have saved some GOOD kids lives by not going.
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