While countless other US service members have refused to participate in the illegal US invasion of Iraq, 1st Lieutennant Ehren Watada is noted for being the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse to deploy to this shameful US debacle zone.
His first hearing in the legal proceedings surrounding the related charges that he now faces as a result of his principled position on the Iraq war, will take place tomorrow, August 17.
From his website:
www.thankyoult.org
(Ft. Lewis, Washington) - On August 17th, U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren K. Watada, the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq, will appear before a military court, for the first hearing of a case that raises core Constitutional issues about the legality of the Iraq war, freedom of speech, and the limits of presidential power.
Lt. Watada gave an excellent speech last Saturday night, at the Veterans for Peace National Convention in Seattle, Washington.
Here is an excerpt from his speech:
"Today, I speak with you about a radical idea. It is one born from the very concept of the American soldier (or service member). It became instrumental in ending the Vietnam War - but it has been long since forgotten. The idea is this: that to stop an illegal and unjust war, the soldiers can choose to stop fighting it.
"Now it is not an easy task for the soldier. For he or she must be aware that they are being used for ill-gain. They must hold themselves responsible for individual action. They must remember duty to the Constitution and the people supersedes the ideologies of their leadership. The soldier must be willing to face ostracism by their peers, worry over the survival of their families, and of course the loss of personal freedom. They must know that resisting an authoritarian government at home is equally important to fighting a foreign aggressor on the battlefield. Finally, those wearing the uniform must know beyond any shadow of a doubt that by refusing immoral and illegal orders they will be supported by the people not with mere words but by action."
For the full text of the speech, go to:
 http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesigns.org/content/view/172/
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Will courageous US soldiers like Watada be the key to finally ending the illegal US war of aggression against Iraq?
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the church-state system must go.....who will stand up and crush Bush and his herd of turdles.