US Army Officer Up For Court Martial

[MalahatTwo7]

This may have popped up somewhere else, but anyhow....

My only question is: In the current age of volunteer military service in most Western countries, USA in particular, WHAT WAS THIS GUY doing in the Armed Services to begin with?

Court-Martial Looms For War Objector

POSTED: 8:30 pm EST February 4, 2007

SEATTLE -- The court-martial for an Army officer who refused to go to Iraq is set for Monday in Fort Lewis, Wash., south of Seattle.

First Lt. Ehren Watada, who was denied a chance to debate the legality of the Iraq war in court, is hoping to at least minimize the amount of time he could serve if convicted.

The 28-year-old faces four years in prison if convicted on one count of missing movement and two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer. He had refused to ship out with his unit, the Third Brigade, Second Infantry Division.

Watada has spoken out against U.S. military involvement in Iraq, calling it morally wrong and a breach of American law.

Anti-war activists consider Watada a hero, but the Army accuses him of betraying his fellow soldiers.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.

[lvwrench]

If you signed the dotted line and raised your hand then you are committed to following orders. If you did not like the war then you should not have joined the military. I would not want this guy leading me.

[doughesson]

They call them "orders"for a reason.You do not have to like them but you do have to carry them out even so.
There is a process to get orders changed but involving the press or outright refusing orders that no one else has a problem with obeying isn't the way to go about doing it.
I didn't like some of the orders I received in the Navy,but carried them out.The reason I didn't re-up had top do with a petty officer who I knew was not unique to the service.
No matter what I felt about the guy,I did what I was told and just counted the day til my EAOS date came up.

[Jasper 45]

You are in the military to preserve democracy, not practice it. The guy should spend some time in Leavenworth breaking rocks. This guy is also an embarrassment and disgrace to the uniform.

[ChicagoFF]

Of course he should have the choice of where to serve. Either Ft Lewis, WA or Ft. Leavenworth KS.

[pete892]

Object, but then follow orders

I served before the volunteer days but as a young lieut. I was taught to object and state your case. Once a decision was reached you supported it as if it were your own.

I used to argue with the boss a lot, but when he made a decision, I supported it. That's what I stuck my hand in the air for and AGREED to do.

The military's mission is to "close with and capture or kill the enemy". If you don't agree with that, then don't join. You have the option in today's world.
He will be convicted and do time.

Pete

[MalahatTwo7]

Lawyer: War Objector Will Take Stand

POSTED: 10:44 pm EST February 6, 2007

FORT LEWIS, Wash -- The first U.S. military officer to be court-martialed for refusing to go to Iraq will testify on his own behalf.

Army Lt. Ehren Watada of Honolulu will appear before a military panel of officers at Fort Lewis in Washington.

An Army captain who's known Watada for about two years has been brought back from service in Iraq to testify as a character witness.

The military judge ruled Monday that Watada's attorney could not debate the legality of the Iraq war in court. Watada has said the war is illegal and based on lies. He also accuses the Army of war crimes.

Army prosecutors have argued that Watada's behavior is dangerous to the mission and morale of soldiers serving in Iraq.

He's charged with conduct unbecoming an officer. If convicted, he could be sentenced to four years in prison, and dishonorably discharged. In 2005, Army Sgt. Kevin Benderman, an enlisted man, served 13 months in prison and was given a dishonorable discharge after refusing to go to Iraq.

Watada joined the Army in March 2003, the same time U.S. forces invaded Iraq.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[doughesson]

Lawyer: War Objector Will Take Stand
The military judge ruled Monday that Watada's attorney could not debate the legality of the Iraq war in court. Watada has said the war is illegal and based on lies. He also accuses the Army of war crimes.

Army prosecutors have argued that Watada's behavior is dangerous to the mission and morale of soldiers serving in Iraq.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Maybe Cindy Sheehan,Hanoi Jane Fonda or that Washington Post hack that called US troops mercenaries will give this guy a job or a cot in the garage after this is done.He seems to be quoting them just like the Veterans for Peace people did during Viet Nam.Most of them hadn't ever been in the military or were never assigned to Viet Nam.
For sure he won't ever get a promotion if he avoids getting booted from the Army.

[BFDNJFF]

I say let them all go live with Hugo Chavez !

[LtTim556]

I do not agree with the war nor the so called reason we invaded Iraq. True Saddam was a terrible person for sure. However, I do believe that this guy is wrong for disobeying his orders no matter how he feels about the war. He is in the military and that is one of the jobs people in the military are trained to do. If he feels that war crimes are being commited then it is his duty to prevent them from happening and to report them. He can not do that by not going. We are there now and if we pull out it will be worse than before, we are stuck for now. We must support those who are over there even if you don't agree with the reason we are there.

[doughesson]

Tim,we could be laying seige to Baghdad until the insurgents stacked arms and started waving white flags.Or even flatten every neighborhood where troops took fire and wonded from.
But that wouldn't help the cause of securing peace and freedom from those that just want an entire country to cower before them.
I'm not saying I know exactly what to do here but we are NOT doing wrong by getting Hussein out out power and keeping his cronies from retaking it.
I do not see why this officer is trying to use the double jeopardy rule to get out of another trial.That is only for murder,not disobeying lawful orders.
Besides,show me in the Uniform Code of Military Justice where there is anything about a service member only being at risk of trial for the same offense only one time.I don't think it's in there.
I served from 1984 to 1988 under the UCMJ and never understood one of my parents' neighbors gripes about when he was in and the system changed from Rocks and Shoals to the "coddling you boys get nowadays".I'm thinking that I do now.

[tfdping1018]

Orders are orders. Thats all there is to it.

[ThNozzleman]

I'm not saying I know exactly what to do here but we are NOT doing wrong by getting Hussein out out power and keeping his cronies from retaking it.

Starting wars for regime change is illegal. World history will ultimately judge the invasion of Iraq (and the "Bush Doctrine" in general) as deceitful, immoral, illegal, and needless.

[MalahatTwo7]

Starting wars for regime change is illegal. World history will ultimately judge the invasion of Iraq (and the "Bush Doctrine" in general) as deceitful, immoral, illegal, and needless.

Hmmm no. I doubt it. Everyone knows that "History" is written by the Victors..... I have yet to read anything in any book that would paint the United States in such a light - and that comes from a Canadian soldier who has an interest in world history - more than just the history of my own country.

[lvwrench]

What I find interesting is that History is there to teach us and for us to learn about and presumably not make the same mistakes over. The trouble is that History just keeps repeating itself.