Looks like the Army wants to make an example out of this jerk and I hope they do.
From KOMO-TV NEWS:
FORT LEWIS - The Army filed three charges Wednesday, including conduct unbecoming an officer, against a lieutenant who refused to deploy to Iraq last month because he believes the war there is illegal.
Military lawyers calculated that 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. The other charges are missing movement and contempt toward officials.
What Watada doesn't get is that it is NOT the individual soldier that decides the legality of a conflict. Whether he thinks the fight is legal or not does not matter in the least. Once he is in theater, he can refuse to participate in an action such as killing innocent civilians for no cause. That is illegal and he has the not just a right, but a moral responsibility to object. But if he is ordered to fight other armed men, then it is a legal order and it is moral and legal responsibility to carry out his orders.
I'm no attorney, but it seems to this old NCO that Wa-tarded doesn't have much to stand on. As a retired, career NCO, I know that the laws of armed conflict are briefed to you often., When I was in the USAF, we got a yearly briefing on that and other topics such as the use of deadly force.
I hope he gets that DD. He deserves it.
VW
The soldier MAY, in some cases, debate the legality of a specific order, but not the right-or-wrongness of war or warfare. Enjoy Leavenworth, Mr. Watada!
Posted by: Mike | Wednesday, July 05, 2006 at 21:20
Gee VW, tell me how you really feel.
What I have the biggest problem is that the military is ALL VOLUNTEER. No one made this idiot sign up. Me thinks he got a case of the pansies.
Posted by: Jenn | Thursday, July 06, 2006 at 14:54