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Departments War First commissioned officer to refuse deployment to unlawful Iraq war officially charged by U.S. Army Lt. Watada's lawyer, Eric Seitz, said this morning: "We expected the missing movement charge, but we are somewhat astounded by the contempt and conduct unbecoming charges. These additional charges open up the substance of Lt. Watada's statements for review and raise important First Amendment issues. We are delighted that the Army has given us the opportunity to litigate these questions." Most previous prosecutions of Article 88 took place during the Civil War and World War I, and the last known prosecution was in 1965 (Howe vs. U.S.). Lt. Howe was protesting the Vietnam War. Supporters of Lt. Watada across the country are being called on to again show their support, and planning for a comprehensive educational and action campaign is underway. Puget Sound groups will hold a rally at 5:00pm tomorrow, July 6, at the Interstate 5, Exit 119 overpass adjacent to Ft. Lewis. Last week, on June 27, people in over 30 cities rallied in support of the National Day of Action to Stand Up with Lt. Watada. Lt. Watada first attempted to resign quietly in protest over the illegality of the Iraq war and occupation in January 2006. In a videotaped statement on June 7, Lt. Watada declared: "It is my duty as a commissioned officer of the United States Army to speak out against grave injustices." On June 22, Lt. Watada became the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment orders when he refused to board an Iraq bound plan with the 3rd Stryker Brigade. "It is my conclusion as an officer of the Armed Forces that the war in Iraq is not only morally wrong but a horrible breach of American law. As the order to take part in a illegal act is ultimately unlawful as well, I must, as an officer of honor and integrity refuse that order," explained Lt. Watada. Lt. Watada joins a growing number of high ranking military officers, West Point graduates and current and former members of the armed services who have expressed their opposition to the actions of the United States in Iraq. People available for comment include: Eric Seitz, attorney for Lt. Ehren Watada; Bob Watada and Carolyn Ho, Lt. Ehren Watada's parents; Judy Linehan, of Military Families Speak Out, is the mother of a soldier who deployed to Iraq with Lt. Ehren Watada's Stryker Brigade in their first mission to Iraq. --- Press Contacts: Cindy Sousa (206) 734-5040, David Solnit (510) 967-7377 |
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Rules of engagement If they vote for war, occupy 'em! The Baker Boys: stay half the course. Iraq Study Group or Saudi Protection League? Permanent bases and temporary presidents Found: Saddam's weapon of mass destruction Honesty in Iraq Malachi burns himself alive for peace: More links To the victors belongs impunity: of incorrigible transgressors, tacit complicity, and Lady Justice’s conspicuous absence The plan Bush is looking for Oneonta Rumsfeld and Saddam: partners in crimes against humanity A few corpses past 'whatever' Breaking the silence of the night Let humanity's mutiny begin! So Osama walks into this bar, see? AWOL Sergeant to turn himself in today resisting illegal Iraq war The best thing in the world for big oil Pentagon calling up military reservists who are ill Wounded to the soul Class action for wounded Iraq war veterans and family members Command rape Hadji girl First commissioned officer to refuse deployment to unlawful Iraq war officially charged by U.S. Army Despite it being the worst military blunder in U.S history, the GOP sees Iraq war as campaign opportunity. Am I missing something? Rove outlines Busheviks' Iraq strategy to win midterms: lie again about Dems being weak on terrorism Unreported: The Zarqawi invitation Let's stay in Iraq until it's peaceful or we're sane, whichever comes first More -- lots more Why the ‘War Resisters Support Campaign’ in Canada is important to the U.S. anti-war movement Corporate Media symptom number 13: Play along, get along. Gold Star mother urges Americans to sign the voters pledge no more pro-war candidates, no more wars of choice 43,000 reasons not to attack Iran Cindy Sheehan's new book: Dear President Bush Atheists for Peace Lobbying Hitler's legislature for peace The war looks different from inside Congress Congressional hearing on Iraq planned State Department memo: '16 Words' were false America’s "noble" cause: preserving its right to murder, exploit, torture, and impoverish with impunity Bush's "New Kind of Democracy" for Iraq Justice -- not war -- in the Philippines protests Iraq war at military recruitment center Columbus, Ohio March 18th protest footage Homeland dreamland War protesters gather for anniversary Antiwar activists arrested at House Appropriations Committee meeting Three years on Get this: U.S. troops believe in Bush's Iraq fiasco as much as Cindy Sheehan Torture, and a little matter of genocide Death in U.S. custody There are lives in the balance Winter of our discontent: 34-day fast February 15 to March 20 at U.S. Capitol to end the Iraq war How you -- yes you -- can end the war Hole in the future Phony UN airplanes to provoke war Prosecutor probing Niger forgeries, possible conspiracy in CIA leak Today in Iraq for perspective, commentary and news Active-duty military support for Bush and the Iraq war dropping Greed and gall: asking Iraq to pay for its occupation Top ten anti-war news stories of 2005 and the underreported stories of the year Read War Articles by Year: |
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