Free Republic

The start of a court-martial for a Fort Lewis officer who refused to deploy to Iraq last year has been moved from July 23 to Oct. 9, a spokesman at the Army post said Monday morning. Both the government and the defense for Lt. Ehren Watada requested that the date be pushed back, and the military judge agreed, according to Joseph Piek, the Fort Lewis spokesman. The October date, if it stands, would put Watada back in court at about the same time his Stryker brigade -- the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division -- is scheduled to return from Iraq...

SEATTLE -- The Army's court of appeals issued a partial stay Friday in the planned second trial for a Fort Lewis soldier who refused to go to Iraq and spoke out against the Bush administration. The decision by the Army Court of Criminal Appeals in Arlington, Va., means the July 23 court-martial for 1st Lt. Ehren Watada could be on hold until the court reviews arguments from both sides. The order allows for all pretrial hearings to continue, including one scheduled for June 5 at Fort Lewis, south of Tacoma. "Assembly of the court-martial and all proceedings ordinarily following assembly...