Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Fort Lewis Soldier Says He'll Refuse To Go To Iraq
http://www.komotv.com/stories/43774.htm ^

Posted on 06/07/2006 12:48:06 PM PDT by Grendel9

SEATTLE - As thousands of Fort Lewis Army troops prepare to head back to Iraq, one of their officers is making a stand.

A lieutenant says he is going to refuse to go, saying it's an unjust war. Anti-war groups are rallying to his defense.

Lt. Ehren Watada of the Stryker Brigade writes, "I refuse to be silent any longer. I refuse to watch families torn apart, while the President tells us to ‘stay the course.’ I refuse to be party to an illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression.

"I wanted to be there for my fellow troops. But the best way was not to help drop artillery and cause more death and destruction. It is to help oppose this war and end it so that all soldiers can come home." - signed LT.

(Excerpt) Read more at komotv.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: army; desertion; ehrenwatada; fortlewis; ftlewis; iraq; levenworth; officer; watada
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-58 next last
He'll undoubtedly be stripped of his stripes, have his pay reduced, and set down at a desk doing menial paper work with absolutely NO security info passing before his eyes. If he was against the war in Iraq, how come he didn't speak up and cite the conscientious objector ploy? More than likely his background as an Hawaiian native with strong Liberal leanings taught him by his father had absolutely NOTHING to do with his stepping to the mic at this particular time!
1 posted on 06/07/2006 12:48:11 PM PDT by Grendel9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Grendel9

Two points. This traitor is an officer. Second, he will go to the brig in Quantico.


2 posted on 06/07/2006 12:49:32 PM PDT by ChinaThreat (s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9
Already posted here
3 posted on 06/07/2006 12:50:54 PM PDT by GrandEagle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9

Sorry. He will go to Levenworth. I thought he was a Marine.


4 posted on 06/07/2006 12:50:59 PM PDT by ChinaThreat (s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9

So just when did the LT decide this was an illegal and immoral war? Before or after he took an oath as an officer of the United States Army?


5 posted on 06/07/2006 12:51:13 PM PDT by Rummyfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9

Throw the UCMJ at the POS.


6 posted on 06/07/2006 12:51:54 PM PDT by FearlessFreep (Excuse me. But are those your legs or are you riding a chicken?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9

866. ART. 86. ABSENCE WITHOUT LEAVE
Any member of the armed forces who, without authority--
(1) fails to go to his appointed place of duty at the time prescribed;
(2) goes from that place; or
(3) absents himself or remains absent from his unit, organization, or place of duty at which he is required to be at the time prescribed; shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
887. ART. 87. MISSING MOVEMENT
Any person subject to this chapter who through neglect or design misses the movement of a ship, aircraft, or unit with which he is required in the course of duty to move shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
888. ART. 88. CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS
Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
889. ART. 89 DISRESPECT TOWARD SUPERIOR COMMISSIONED OFFICER
Any person subject to this chapter who behaves with disrespect toward his superior commissioned officer shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
809. ART. 90. ASSAULTING OR WILLFULLY DISOBEYING SUPERIOR COMMISSIONED OFFICER.
Any person subject to this chapter who--
(1) strikes his superior commissioned officer or draws or lifts up any weapon or offers any violence against him while he is in the execution of his officer; or
(2) willfully disobeys a lawful command of his superior commissioned officer;
shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, and if the offense is committed at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct.


7 posted on 06/07/2006 12:52:27 PM PDT by Vn_survivor_67-68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9
A lieutenant says he is going to refuse to go, saying it's an unjust war.

That's okay, we don't need or want him there anyways. How about a nice comfy 4x4 "office" instead?

8 posted on 06/07/2006 12:55:36 PM PDT by The Blitherer ("These are not dark days, these are great days." – W. S. Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9

This doesn't sit well with fellow soldiers.

"We're here to serve our country and fight and that's his job," said Private Nathan Hanson.

"It's his duty."

Anti-war protestors... are rushing to his aid.


9 posted on 06/07/2006 12:56:36 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9
Uncle Sam can call me, I'll take this punk's place!
10 posted on 06/07/2006 12:57:03 PM PDT by DTogo (I haven't left the GOP, the GOP left me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vn_survivor_67-68
willfully disobeys a lawful command of his superior commissioned officer
As I'm sure you are aware, there are times....
(This is not one of them though)
11 posted on 06/07/2006 12:59:15 PM PDT by GrandEagle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9

Tie him down next to a fire ant hill.


12 posted on 06/07/2006 1:01:33 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3rd Bn. 5th Marines, RVN 1969. - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GrandEagle

This pantywaiste doesn't deserve to be in uniform. It makes me sick. Too bad George Patton isn't alive.


13 posted on 06/07/2006 1:01:42 PM PDT by FearlessFreep (Excuse me. But are those your legs or are you riding a chicken?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9
Another coward hiding behind the anti-war protesters' skirts.
He's a disgrace.
14 posted on 06/07/2006 1:04:29 PM PDT by RMDupree (HHD: Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FearlessFreep
This pantywaiste doesn't deserve to be in uniform.
No disagreement here....
15 posted on 06/07/2006 1:06:52 PM PDT by GrandEagle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9

This coward joined the military in 2003 after graduating from Hawaii Pacific University. He was sent to OCS and has been collecting his paycheck all that time. His military obligation ends in December of 2006.
His anti-American attitude seems too well organized to be a simple case of "tail-between-the-legs". I understand he also has a website.
All this smells to high heaven. I believe he should receive a DD and get the max. punishment allowed by the UCMJ, and pay back all his military pay which he received dishonestly.
This kid is a coward, a cheat and a lier and doesn't deserve to wear the uniform of the United States military.


16 posted on 06/07/2006 1:08:19 PM PDT by caisson71
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9

Court martial?


17 posted on 06/07/2006 1:09:20 PM PDT by subterfuge (Call me a Jingoist, I don't care...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rummyfan
Do you think it has anything to do with the fact our government is now prosecuting soldiers for doing their jobs? Maybe he's seen how our troops are being vilified in the press and he doesn't want the same thing to happen to him. Either that or maybe he's afraid if he shoots an Iraqi he'll be brought home and tried for murder.
18 posted on 06/07/2006 1:10:15 PM PDT by MissEdie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Rummyfan

And isn't THAT the question of the day?!


19 posted on 06/07/2006 1:12:06 PM PDT by Grendel9 (u)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: MissEdie

I hope none of ya'll think I agree with what he's doing, I was just putting a couple of questions out there as to why he's trying to get out of doing his duty.


20 posted on 06/07/2006 1:12:07 PM PDT by MissEdie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-58 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson