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1 posted on 02/07/2007 9:24:29 AM PST by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo

The Left's Definition Of A 'Hero'
By Michelle Malkin
February 7, 2007

http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/mmalkin/2007/mm_02071.shtml



Some of Watada's hometown neighbors are sick of his intellectual disingenuousness. Writing in Watada's hometown newspaper, the Honolulu Advertiser, retired Col. Thomas D. Farrell, who served as an Army intelligence officer in Iraq in 2005-2006, retorted:

"How can anyone seriously claim that our military involvement in Iraq is illegal when both Congress and the U.N. have taken the steps to authorize it, and allow it to continue to this day? Lt. Watada argues that he has the right to make his own personal assessment, notwithstanding whatever Congress and the U.N. may do. If he's right, why not make our personal assessments about how fast is safe to drive, or how much tax is our fair share? The answer is obvious: Anarchy would prevail, and the rule of law -- the basis of all real freedom -- would cease to exist."

The only thing illegal here is Watada's willful refusal to obey orders. Watada is just the latest in a line of losers abandoning their men, their mission and the rule of law. The left calls this "dissent." The rest of us call it what it is: Desertion.


2 posted on 02/07/2007 9:29:43 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran ("Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto")
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To: jazusamo
Watada has to act out the dictates of his own conscience...he also has to be responsible for those acts. By going public and making the specifric statemnts that he made, he did disgrace the US and its military and is deserving of a dishonorable discharge and punitive actions.

Our soldiers are not in Iraq whole sale slaughtering Iraqi civilians. To say such paints Wataba for what he is, an individual taken in by the most anti-American left-leaning, enemy abetting moon-bats possible. Such an individual has no place commanding any of our soldiers...anywhere. Drum him out hard, make an example of him.

Truth is, things would have been much better for the soldiers going into harms way, and for Watada, if he had not gone public in such a way. But, he felt compelled to do so and now he has to live with consequences of those actions.

3 posted on 02/07/2007 9:33:26 AM PST by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: jazusamo

Sounds like a clear cut Article 87 and 88:

87: 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.


88: 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.


4 posted on 02/07/2007 9:33:54 AM PST by ElectricStrawberry
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To: jazusamo
The wholesale slaughter and mistreatment of Iraqis

Huh?

6 posted on 02/07/2007 9:34:46 AM PST by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com†|Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: jazusamo
By January 2006, Watada had shared his doubts with his commanders, seeking to resign, or even to serve in Afghanistan.

Call me crazy, but couldn't the Army have saved itself a lot of grief, and sent him to Afghanistan?

It's not as if there isn't very hot war still simmering there. So it's not as if he's "getting out of combat".

7 posted on 02/07/2007 9:36:46 AM PST by wizecrakker (Trying to behave)
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To: jazusamo

The MSM desperately wants this to be about the war and not about military discipline.


11 posted on 02/07/2007 9:41:58 AM PST by Ben Mugged (Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.)
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To: jazusamo

Civil disobedience?

How the hell can the behavior of a member of the Armed Services, who is subject to the UCMJ, be described as civil disobedience?


19 posted on 02/07/2007 9:54:00 AM PST by ExpatGator (Extending logic since 1961.)
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To: jazusamo
Watada's behavior has NOTHING to do with his CONSCIENCE or his belief that the IRAQ War is "ILLEGAL".

IMHO he either PLANNED this from the beginning [he joined after IRAQ started and after he graduated from college] OR he is a coward!!

21 posted on 02/07/2007 9:59:42 AM PST by PISANO
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To: jazusamo
But Watada explained his actions this way in a video released to the media on June 7...

Mark my words. This POS will be running for congress as a Dem in the next cycle.

33 posted on 02/07/2007 10:19:35 AM PST by Last Dakotan
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To: jazusamo
"At most, he engaged in an act or form of civil disobedience,"

Oh please.

He is an officer in the US Army, not a civilian standing on a street corner holding a sign.

35 posted on 02/07/2007 10:25:12 AM PST by jess35
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To: jazusamo

Those who refuse to support and defend a state have no claim to protection by that state.
Killing an anarchist or a pacifist should not be defined as "murder" in a legalistic sense.
The offense against the state, if any, should be "Using deadly weapons inside city limits," or "Creating a traffic hazard," or "Endangering bystanders," or other misdemeanor.

LAZARUS LONG


41 posted on 02/07/2007 10:44:28 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran ("Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto")
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To: jazusamo
Watada, do the right thing and regain your lost honor.


45 posted on 02/07/2007 1:54:04 PM PST by Dr.Deth
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To: jazusamo

Bruce Antonia is a square guy who I've served with before. I've no doubt he laid this all out for Watada. You can lead the horse to water... This must have been a distractor to the Battaliion getting ready to deploy. AND, somr poor guy had to take Watada's place. It's just wrong.
Regards,


46 posted on 02/07/2007 8:15:11 PM PST by Thunder 6
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To: jazusamo
But he quickly added that the responsibility falls with the chain of command to determine legality. If the chain says, "No, this is not illegal, then I would expect that officer to obey," Antonia said.

With that statement several generals try to neglect their liability at the Nuernberg Trials.
Every soldier has his own liability to reject illegal commands. If his opinion is right a judge has to decide. Therefore it's essential for the process to determine if the order was legal.

Has an US soldier no right to deny an order e.g. to kill civilians?
50 posted on 02/08/2007 3:33:38 AM PST by MHalblaub ("Easy my friends, when it comes to the point it is only a drawing made by a non believing Dane...")
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