Groups Rally In Support Of Soldier Refusing Deployment

[Robbien]

HONOLULU -- A total of nearly 200 people rallied Tuesday in Honolulu and Fort Lewis, Wash., in support of an Army officer who has refused deployment to Iraq.

The rallies were organized on behalf of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, 28, who has been confined to Fort Lewis since he refused to go with the rest of his Stryker brigade to Iraq last Thursday.

The Honolulu native said the war in Iraq is illegal. His request to be allowed to resign his commission was denied.

He has not sought conscientious-objector status, nor has he been charged with a military offense pending completion of an Army investigation into his conduct.

http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/9440968/detail.html

[halobeam]

1. recommended for those not afraid to speak truth to power.

[gratuitous]

2. There was a group of folks on the bridge yesterday

I took the #4 bus over the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland yesterday, and a group of veterans against the war had a big sheet banner supporting Lt. Watada displayed for the evening rush hour commuters.

[Canuckistanian]

3. What's his status?

Is he under house arrest? Confined to a desk duty? Is he free to leave his base?

[Big_Mike]

4. I have no argument with protest against the war, BUT

Do not enlist after 9/11 then volunteer for Officer Candidate School following the invasion of Iraq and then refuse to deploy. This man volunteered twice, and has stated he would have no problem with serving in Afganistan. He swore oaths at least twice to follow the lawful orders of those appointed over him. Like it or not, Congress authorized the deployment and the President ordered the deployment. He is not a staff officer, he is a platoon leader, responsible for soldiers assigned to him. Were he a staff officer, I would be much less concerned, uncaring even. He'd just be another lieutenant doing unimportant work. He, however, had been entrusted with responsibility for an Artillery Platoon and the soldiers making up that platoon. What he is doing is a disservice to those soldiers assigned to him; he is abandoning them.

This is a political ploy, pure and simple.

I understand that he tried to resign his commission. But why in the world join or get commissioned if you will not serve as ordered?

I would be standing up and supporting his right to go to Congress and make speeches around the country against the war, had he never joined. This, however, is simply a political stunt, writ large, upon the backs of those he was supposed to lead. He is supposed to be a leader. He is, in my humble opinion, a publicity seeking failure.

I do not foresee them really punishing him. But had one of my soldiers refused to deploy, the least he would be looking at would have been reduction in rank, restriction to the unit area, and loss of pay. Personally, I would favor them stripping him of his commission and charge him for the training costs associated with Officer Candidate School and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course. And restrict him to the barracks area until his unit returns from Iraq. But I admit anger tinges what my judgement would be.

Frankly, I find his stunt detestable and loathesome. There is a compact between leader and led, especially at that low a level, that one will support the other. His odious action has betrayed that trust.

Make political points as a civilian and I heartily support you. I admire Cindy Sheehan for her committment and her stand. I think that the true Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) are need both support and strong spokesmen and women. But notice those are VETERANS, mainly people who DID deploy and serve. I just wish this person had never enlisted in the first place.

[quickesst]

5. On the other hand...

A lot of veterans are supporting him, which means their is admiration for his stand among your peers. As with the rest of the country, you have to remember that the pretext for war was false, thereby making this an illegal action in itself. When first deployed he may have been in the same school of thought as with the majority of the country, and believed what he was doing was right. Since then, opinions and sentiments have changed dramatically. I believe any true court of law would deem this administration criminal, as well as their actions. That being said, it is the duty of any military person to refuse an unlawful order. You cannot have an unlawful war, and issue lawful orders. The very fact that the war is unlawful would negate any orders given under the guise of being lawful. Being ex-military myself, and also having a son in the Air Force, I can see and empathize with your feelings concerning his role as to the men under his command, but at some point, a stand has to be made, and if it is used for political purposes, ie, exposing a criminal government, and replacing it with a government of the people, I've got to support his decision. Of course, as with anyone not familiar with him, his career, and all the circumstances surrounding his case, I am only basing my decision of support on known facts, and a heavy dose of speculation. I believe we'll learn more, as the case continues. Just an opinion. Peace.
quickesst

[Big_Mike]

17. Please do not misunderstand me.

I do not see how the man walks, with balls that big. I always have and always will admire Moral Courage, of which he is displaying more than his fair share. I just think that you don't make political points off the backs of soldiers.

My sole disagreement is the abandonment of his troops. Like I said, were he a Battalion or Brigade level staff stooge, I would have no problem with his acts. I simply dislike a leader abandoning his men. If he was determined to not serve in Iraq, he should have requested relief from Plt Ldr duties and taken a staff job. They completed a great deal of training to prepare for deployment, and substituting a new leader at the last moment weakens the unit.

My $.02.

[BrotherBuzz]

7. Unlike enlisted men, officers don't swear allegiance to the ...

President of the United States or officers appointed over them. The Constitution is their compass

"I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God." (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.)

[pfitz59]

14. Officers don't swear to obey orders!

The LT cannot be courts-martialed for disobeying orders. He can be discharged, but not courts martialed! HOWEVER, I do hope the Army tries something so the whole Iraq question can be PUBLICIZED.

[pfitz59]

15. Enlisted men do swear....

"to obey the orders of the Preident of the US and the officers appointed over me"

[BrotherBuzz]

19. He can be court martialed...

and I'm guessing that is the swiftest way we can determine if he was disobeying an illegal order.

[malmapus]

10. He's done a tour there already

As far as I can see, him making this stand in looking after his subordinates in a way. It has to start somewhere of officers and enlistees making their stand against this administration that has just used and abused them thus far for no apparent gain other than lining their own pockets.

Anyone who has done their time there and come back knowing what a fucked up mess this is, defiantly has the first hand knowledge to know that this is an illegal war and an order to go back there to continue it would also be illegal.


EDIT: Hell after 9/11 I was duped too, I was <-> close to re-enlisting when we were going to Afgan. Only when the sabre rattling with Iraq got going that I began to question this administration. So I can't really fault anyone who began their military service after 9/11.

If they signed in when we were already dedicated to IR then yeah, they f**ked up big time and should have used that brain in their head.

[Critters2]

18. Congress voted to allow the president to start a war

The Constitution does not allow for such a thing. This is an unconstitutional war, and this officer took an oath to uphold the Constitution. He's doing what his oath requires.

[Joe Chi Minh]

6. Saw a wonderful programme on BBC TV last night about the

Vietnam anti-war movement in the US. There were some great interviews too, as well as a brief hair-raising clip of young Vietnamese males hung upside down, being tortured by GIs.

They even had underground presses in the field in Vietnam, turning out satirical magazines! Somehow wide circulation of them didn't seem to be a problem! But the main thing that came across, apart from the fascinating variety and scope of the protests was the high spirits that permeated the whole thing.

There was one hilarious clip of a regular non-hippy kind of guy, in his thirties, I'd think, almost whining, "... But do they have to have their hair like this guy's? Can't they look normal?" And the camera turned to his left to show a young man with a lot of curly hair sticking out in all directions! Absolutely hilarious. But there was so much going on.

[ohiosmith]

8. Good for him. We need more in the military that are willing to refuse

to participate in this illegal and immoral war.

[malmapus]

9. Went to one outside Ft. Lewis yesterday

I got there a little late (project at work crapping out on me and deadline) but wife and daughter arrived at 4:10 and saw more of the speakers and the good LT's parents.

LOT of veterans there, they seemed to of closed off that gate to the base as well because it's usually VERY busy when I'm leaving work (I work very close to the base), but nigh a car leaving yesterday.

Had a nice turn out too, and wow all the support from I-5..almost constant horns blowing while going under the bridge. Just had like 4 "F*ck you", "you're going to hell" and what not.

Had a small counter demonstation off the bridge of flag waving freepers who couldn't even break into the National Anthem (well they tried but it kinda died off when they got to that shady middle area after "O' Say Can you See").

Wife took pictures, they can be seen on her Shutterfly album:


http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BZN2rJuybNey

Yeah, mostly pics of my girls there =D

My almost three year old daughter recieved a bit of attention with her sign and yelling "WAR STINKS!"

[yorkiemommie1]

11. lt. watada's mom was one of my best friends in hs

and she was never a showy type of person. quiet, sincere and good.

[Nambe]

12. Gracie Rocks!

I´m an ex-pat living in Mexico since the ´04 election but we do miss the people demonstrating for sanity in the US.

[samsingh]

13. i fully support this soldier.

[The Sushi Bandit]

16. He is a Maui boy

We are proud of him!!