US army officer refuses deployment to Iraq

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A young US army officer could face court martial after refusing to obey orders to prepare for deployment to Iraq, claiming the war is illegal, his supporters said.

Lieutenant Ehren Watada, 28, was confined to his base of Fort Lewis, in the northwest state of Washington, and restricted from communications with anyone outside but his lawyer, according to people in Watada's support committee.

They said he was the first US military officer to refuse orders to go to Iraq.

Watada's mother Carolyn Ho called his refusal an "act of patriotism."

"As an officer, he believes it is his duty to disobey illegal orders," she told AFP, adding that they had argued over his decision and that he was influenced by questions about the US government's reasons for invading Iraq.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060623/ts_alt_afp/usiraqmilitarydissent;_ylt=Ala2tBdcEnqH4OXC.J0ILSY DW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBhZDJjOXUyBHNlYwNtdm5ld3M-

He should be court marshaled, convicted, reduced in rank to E-1, sent to the stockade and then dishonorably discharged.

Protest without consequences is not really proitest at all.

You can bet there's a court martial being prepared with his name all over it. That young officer might be offered a discharge in lieu of trial - typically a Bad Conduct Discharge (one level above a Dishonorable), but I suspect he'll not accept that.

He should be court marshaled, convicted, reduced in rank to E-1, sent to the stockade and then dishonorably discharged.

Protest without consequences is not really proitest at all.

Perhaps the consequence is he gets to grow old, have kids, see his grandchildren growup instead of having his guts spread across some dirt road in Iraq. I'm sure that was his motivation. In which case he should have never joined the army in the first place.

http://www.coxandforkum.com/archives/06.06.22.SoldiersBurden-X.gif

since bush and his cronies have been proven to have lied about the reasons for going to war in iraq , he has full right to believe the war and order is illegal.
all soldiers have a right to refuse an order if they feel it is wrong.

he should have never joined the army in the first place.

absolutely correct

Too many join for the benefits and are not willing to take the responsibilities that go with those benefits.

Court marshal the bastard and have done with it. Then make him pay back all the money that was spent on training him and any other cost associated with his enlistment.

We'll not recoup anything already spent on him. He's still on active duty, and still being paid. Until such time that he's discharged - one way or another - he's on the government payroll.

Then let him be reduced in rank to Enlisted Man E-1 with forfiture of pay and allowances and placed in the stockade.

since bush and his cronies have been proven to have lied about the reasons for going to war in iraq , he has full right to believe the war and order is illegal.
all soldiers have a right to refuse an order if they feel it is wrong.

tell that to John "I commited war crimes" Kerry

Army Charges Officer Who Refused Iraq Duty

Fort Lewis (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/05/AR2006070501290.html), Washington - An Army lieutenant who said he refused to deploy to Iraq because he believes the war there is illegal was charged Wednesday with three counts.
According to calculations by military lawyers, 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, 28, could face nearly eight years in prison and a dishonorable discharge if convicted, said his attorney, Eric Seitz of Honolulu. Watada is charged with conduct unbecoming an officer, missing movement and contempt toward officials.
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It goes almost without saying that this young LT will be found guilty. The best he can hope for is a discharge in lieu of court martial. Even if found not guilty, his military career is over.

On July 5, U.S. Army First Lt. Ehren K. Watada was formally charged with three articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice: two counts of contempt towards officials (Article 88) - specifically President G. W. Bush, three counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman (Article 133), and one count of missing movement (Article 87). If convicted of all six charges by a general court-martial, Lt. Watada could be sentenced to over seven years in a military prison.
http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesigns.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=1

Ok so now for the good part of this mess. The court is declaring that soilders are not able to refuse this war on grounds that it has been illegal and immoral from the start. Therefore that places the responsiblity for the way the war has been conducted squarely on the shoulders of the higher ups. This ruling sets a precident for war crimes convictions should justice ever be served...

Too many join for the benefits and are not willing to take the responsibilities that go with those benefits.
Court marshal the bastard and have done with it. Then make him pay back all the money that was spent on training him and any other cost associated with his enlistment.

Didn't I say this before in another post just recently and some of you raised some hell over it?
College education, a steady job, all the health insurance needed, etc. etc.

Put his ass in Leavenworth. Simple as that. He deserves no better.