Two journalists on witness list for war objector's trial - Lt. Ehren Watada

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 7/11/06 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

Two journalists are on the Army's list of potential witnesses who may be called in the court-martial of an officer who refused to go to Iraq with his unit because he believes the war is illegal, one of his lawyers says.

One of the journalists is from California and the other is from Hawaii, said Eric Seitz of Honolulu, a defense lawyer for Lt. Ehren Watada, during in an appearance Monday at University Lutheran Church.

Watada, 28, of Honolulu, was charged last week with conduct unbecoming an officer, missing troop movement and contempt toward officials - in this case, President Bush - and could face nearly eight years in prison and a dishonorable discharge if convicted.

The journalists would likely be called to corroborate statements upon which some the charges against Watada are based, Seitz said.

Watada was misquoted in some comments attributed to him in the charges, the defense lawyer said.

For example, the Army accused him of saying, "How could I wear this horrible uniform now, knowing we invaded a country for a lie?" but his phrase was actually "this honorable uniform," Seitz asserted.

Watada was a member of the Army's first Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Fort Lewis, south of Tacoma, when he refused assignment with the unit to Iraq. He has since been reassigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, I Corps, and now works in an administrative position at the post.

[wideawake]

Either reporters will testify that he was accurately quoted, in which case this scumbag is going down, or the reporters will testify that the newspapers published lies as reportage.

No matter what happens, a bad guy loses.

[MizSterious]

The journalists have tape recordings of what he said. If so, that should prove it, either way.

[rlmorel]

WTF? How much of a "trial" can this be? He signed up and refuses to honor his end of the deal. Seems pretty cut and dried to me.

Throw him in prison, preferably one guarded by Marines.

[Rakkasan1]

Hakuna Watada ping

[MizSterious]

Should have been "might have" not "have."

[stuartcr]

They should have re-assigned him to Afghanistan like he requested, then all this would be done with, and no big dog and pony show.

[Ouderkirk]

Let him spend a few dozen years in the stockade at Ft. Leavenworth.

[NYleatherneck]

NUTS... I didn't have a choice of which third world sh*thole I was deployed to. Let him serve out his hitch making big rocks into little rocks.

Semper Fi,
NYleatherneck.

[stuartcr]

They can shoot him for all I care, I just don't like seeing this sort of thing happen, when it can easily be avoided. There must be a place in Afghanistan that's just as bad as where his unit went.

[sionnsar]

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.

Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[angelsonmyside]

Just curious, does anyone know how long he has been and if he has ever even been deployed.

[wideawake]

And as usual you post your little patriot-baiting comment.

How's your boyfriend Johnny Murtha doing?

[stuartcr]

???

[DTogo]

Here ya go Watada, do as your (braver) ancestors did:

[sionnsar]

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.

Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[sionnsar]

Oops.

[300winmag]

For example, the Army accused him of saying, "How could I wear this horrible uniform now, knowing we invaded a country for a lie?" but his phrase was actually "this honorable uniform," Seitz asserted.

Sorry, soon-to-be-ex-LT, but whether the word was "honorable" or "horrible", it's the "for a lie" bit that's still hanging over your head.

[Just Lori]

When you sign on the dotted line, you go where they send you.

[NormsRevenge]

Just curious, does anyone know how long he has been and if he has ever even been deployed.

--


I checked a bit, he hasn't been deployed that I could find, at least from a few articles and such.. others may have better intel than that available.

He is another looming "star for the Left" and their incessant march to fght the War on the US over the War in Iraq. He has folks working behind th scene, operating much as a Winter Soldier org. or such to gather support and get their word out.

Whether he will attain the luster of a Sheehan or Michael Moore is not likely, imo.

imo, His remaining purpose after his conviction and discharge will be to act as another pawn for the Anti-War crowd to bash the recent Supreme Court ruling and "illegal wiretapping programs".