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TechnoratiVictory for Ehren Watada
This country sets aside two days to honor military service. On Veterans Day we celebrate the living; on Memorial Day we remember the dead.
I'd like to propose a third national holiday: Active Duty day. A day to celebrate those who refuse to leave their conscience at home. A day to cherish those who elevate this nation's morals by refusing to participate in illegal acts.
Leading this year's Active Conscience-on-Duty Day parade should be First Lt. Ehren Watada, the first commissioned officer to refuse deployment to Iraq.
"To me," Watada told a court earlier this year, leading soldiers into battle in Iraq "means to participate in a war that I believe to be illegal."
Last Thursday a civilian judge handed Watada a victory against those in the military who would like to see him silenced, convicted and locked up.
In June 2006, Watada gained international attention when he publicly denounced the Iraq war as an illegal occupation and then refused to deploy with his Fort Lewis Stryker Brigade.
This February, his court-martial ended in a mistrial, after which his attorneys claimed that Fifth Amendment constitutional protections protected him from a second round in court.
On November 8, Judge Benjamin Settle agreed: "The same Fifth Amendment protections are in place for military service members as are afforded to civilians ... . To hold otherwise would ignore the many sacrifices that American soldiers have made throughout history to protect these sacred rights," he wrote.
In issuing a preliminary injunction, the Judge concluded that "it is likely" that Watada will succeed in his claims that a second court-martial would violate constitutional protections against being tried twice for the same crimes.
But Army officials aren't giving up. In a statement, they said they will file briefs in U.S. District Court to try to prevent the injunction from becoming permanent.
Now is the time for all moral men and women in uniform to stand up -- not just behind Lt. Watada, but at his side. So far, not one other officer has followed in the lieutenant's footsteps.
According to the Army more than 10,000 soldiers have deserted since the Iraq invasion started. Every year, the number of deserters has gone up. Official statistics say 3,196 went AWOL last year, compared to 2,543 the year before. Based on the calls they received, groups like Iraq Veterans Against the War put the real numbers at ten times that.
Desert if you must, but better yet, come out. Activate your Conscience on Duty and I bet I won't be the only one to hoot and holler and organize a parade.
For more on Lt.Watada's case go to Thank you Lt. Ehren Watada.
Laura Flanders is the host of RadioNation and the author of Blue Grit: True Democrats Take Back Politics from the Politicians, out now from The Penguin Press.
© 2007 The Nation
21 Comments so far
Show AllJohnR asks if anyone has seen this story in the MSM. It has received fairly wide coverage in Washington State but seemingly not elsewhere. Thus it takes on the appearance of a local issue. It is anything but that!
I always thought if Bush brings back the draft. I would give my Grandson (he is 24) the money to flee to Canada or elsewhere. Either that or encourage him not to sign up for the draft. Most of my life I have supported the US wars and the military. I could see the need for most of them. But, when a President blatantly invades a country who is no threat to the US. Deliberately lies to the American people about the need for war. That is going way to far. I don't see this war as anything but 'Bush's War of Choice'! As far as I am concerned when he sends one of his daughter's he can take my Grandson and not until! I will be there to fight him every step of the way. I hope that Lt. Watanda gets out of it! I wish him all the luck in the world! But, I fear they are trying to make an example out of him. If they don't very likely other's will follow until they have chaos in the military. The war is growing unpopular even in the military. All the lies that Bush told have been disproved a thousand times over. The only people still believe them are the hard core 'fringe lunatics' on the right. So it's time to bring it to an end.
Has anyone seen this story mentioned in the MSM? Everything I know about it I learned from Democracy Now! and common dreams. I don't think civil disobedience en masse will occur with the militarists effectively controlling the fourth estate.
Lt. Watada is an exemplary human being. I wish him all the best.
MeAlsoToo; There is a Defense-Fund. Click onto the "Thank you Lt Ehren Watada' web site on Laura's article above.
When the vast majority of Americans cure themselves of political somnolence, they will understand that the 'greatest contract' in the United States, The Constitution and the Bill of Rights, has been rejected by the Government, as well as thumbing their noses at international laws and the Geneva Convention.
Aside from the Hollywood version of WW2, our military is on par with Japan and Germany of that era. I know this sounds outrageous to some, but like 'Joe Friday' used to say; "just the facts, M'am". We torture people, and have we already forgottten the sado-masochist sexual fun that a 'few bad apples' had with innocent Iraqi people in Abu Ghraib prison? The list goes on and Common Dreams readers and writers know what I'm refering to. We now condone torture.
The United States of America has changed for the worse these past seven years and is continuing on a downward path of destruction as Japan and Germany did during the 30's and early 40's.
We are slowly reaping our 'collective karma' or 'reaping what we have sown' these past seven years.
Lt. Ehren Watada is a TRUE AMERICAN HERO!
Here is a hero.
I don't have any real heroes in this world, but a military man who has the courage and honor to stand up for the truth and risk his life in the process by refusing to serve in an illegal war is definitely at the top of my list.
Too early, by far, to declare real 'Victory'...what transpired to-date is just lip-service to an excellent/Moral-Defense. The government will NOT back-down on this-one, and will continue to grind-down this Defendant for years and years...
[Is there a Defense-Fund?]
Yes Colin Powell is a sorry lot and he sold his soul but I don't think the race distinction plays there. However, the fact that Watada is Japanese American may have significance -- especially considering that he's from Hawaii. The internment camp experience is still very relevant, as is the exemplary memory of the 442nd regimental. I think Japanese Americans serving in the military are motivated to set an example.
When I first became aware of this case I thought it could be a water-shed event. Word gets back to the troops they can just say no ... wouldn't it be just wonderful if half those going AWOL would instead have the courage to do the same thing?
First Lt. Watada just gave them the way. If we make it past the bush/cheney regime and can survive the damage they've done they will build a shrine to this man.
Am I still the only person who recognizes that the 2 commissioned officers who have stood up to the slime in the WH and 5 sided looney bin have both been Japanese/Americans???? Is this not indicative of something wrong in our "American" culture? Look, for example what a former Army Chief of Staff did when the chips were down--yes--Colin Powell who sold his soul to the white devils in the WH and, you Pentagon, what a fucking wimp he turned into--too bad the lads didn't frag his black sorry ass in VN land. He deserved it then and deserves it now.
Lt. Watada is a rare, deeply courageous individual. Whistleblowers, Paul Wellstone, Jeanette Rankin who was the only member of Congress to vote no to two world wars, the great peacemakers throughout history -- have also been rare individuals who, similar to Watada, refused to forsake vital principles. Thank goodness for individuals with true strength of character, excellent role models who walk the walk, teach volumes by personal example.
Still, with respect, Ms. Flanders would have been wiser to research her subject first. In the context of military law, it's unlikely that she is aware of what she's really asking military personnel to do or risk.
Nor am I in agreement with Ms. Flanders' viewpoint about asking others to take the risk. If Ms. Flanders, or any of us, is unwilling to risk standing up to power, we have no business asking others to do so. If, as an example, Ms. Flanders had a deep conviction about the immorality of the Iraq occupation but was personally unwilling to support this conviction with action -- such as withholding payment of her federal income taxes -- then it's out of line to ask others to take such risks with their choices and lives.
It's easy to tell other people to be strong and courageous. It's not so easy to be courageous yourself.
whatfools, that victory may begin on December 5, 2007 in the Supreme Court. Attorneys at the CCR are representing two GITMO prisoner's, Al Odah v US and Boumediene v Bush about the good ol' habeas corpus and the WE do NOT TORTURE, one of 2.2 trillion lies that 'person' told us.
Lt. Watada is certainly a hero, the 60's and Vietnam, whole 'nother story as they say, so the poor were drafted and eventually fragged the MF'ers that sent them in without any way to get back out alive, That was their way, do not discount it so cheaply.
Lt. Watada is the 'Audi Murphy' of the officer corps in the entire US armed forces in the twenty first century. He is, to my knowledge, the only commisioned officer to do the right thing by refusing to take part in an illegal action of crimes against humanity in Iraq. The moral high ground and commitment to the truth displayed by this brave young gentleman should be an inspiration for anyone on active duty.
It's much easier to be a non-thinker, going along with the program, than to be a THINKER with a heart and a conscience and do the RIGHT THING by NOT following orders for an unjust war of aggression against an unarmed country and take part in the Iraqi Holocaust.
As a combat veteran of our 'other' unnecessary war against people who did us no harm ( Vietnam ), I salute Ehren Watada! May other officers and enlisted men and women follow him.
Isn't it interesting that Bush, who supported the Vietnam war along with his hawkish family, dodged the draft then deserted from the Air National Guard (a felony) and evaded legal sanctions, while a young officer who objected to an illegal war on principle is hounded and threatened with imprisonment.
Why desert when you can serve, get your discharge and join Blackwater for $650+/day instead of your measly 25Gs/yr. Plus you're not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and you can set out bait and hunt people freely. We can only imagine what their fresh organs will fetch in the transplant market.
It is interesting, that he epitomizes the kind of officer/soldier that we would like to believe we produce. A man of principle, morality, and courage. Yet, when Bush says support our troops, he only means the cannon fodder type.
No wonder the government has turned increasingly to mercenaries.
Laura Flanders is correct when she states that more officers have to start displaying the same courage that Watada has shown by speaking out not when they have retired or left the military but when they are still a part of the armed forces. As the powerful documentary Sir! No Sir! noted, officers did speak out against the Vietnam War at or near military bases both at home and abroad while that conflict was still raging. It is time for those in the military today to emulate the example of those in Sir! No Sir! and Lt. Watada by speaking out and saying NO to the war machine of the United States, especially when they are still a part of being in the military. Unlike the generals who had retired before they finally came forward to protest what Bush and Cheney have done in Iraq, speaking out while still in uniform [which is what Navy Lt. Nurse Susan Schnall did by wearing her uniform at an anti-war rally in San Francisco during the Vietnam War]will have a much greater impact than speaking out after one has left the military.
A personal victory for Lt. Watada. But also a victory for the government. By avoiding a further court appearance, the military will no longer have to concern itself with defending against his accusations regarding an illegal war - accusations which probably would have been detailed and well substantiated.
When might we have Victory for Habeas Corpus?
mais oui, c'est victor moral.
yes, victory.