Lt. Ehren Watada goes on trial soon. Thirteen days from today, Feb 5, a court martial trial will commence that will make history. While its a compelling story, its received little attention here on Daily Kos. Please recommend, this story needs some exposure.
For the first time ever an American military commissioned officer will be put on trial for refusing deployment to war on the grounds the orders he’s being asked to fulfill are illegal, they will contribute to the commission of a war crime. Lt. Watada has agreed to accept deployment to Afghanistan, just not Iraq. So this has nothing to do with cowardice, it has to do with conscience. But that’s not good enough for the powers that be. How dare a mere Lieutenant question the legality of a President’s orders?
From the standpoint of the White House and the Pentagon, he must be crushed. Follow the flip:
The Scooter Libby trial is receiving major attention here, but this one should too. Lt. Watada has had the courage to put the issues squarely on the line.
Based on the same principles on which WW II Germans and others have been convicted, even executed, Lt. Watada argues that accepting deployment to Iraq, even to a desk job, would make him party to an illegal war, and to participation in a war crime. For that he is facing trial at Fort Lewis WA, with 6 years of imprisonment the potential outcome.
Potentially, Lt. Watada could serve more brig time for refusing to deploy than Lt. William Calley did for his role in the My Lai massacre, wherein 504 Vietnamese civilians aged 1-82 were shot dead in cold blood. Though many Americans participated, only Lt. William Calley as the unit commander was ever prosecuted. Calley was convicted and sentenced to life, but in the end he served 3 ½ years of house arrest. Today he allegedly runs a jewelry store in Columbus GA, outside of Fort Benning. Higher ups who were arguably complicit were left unscathed (Abu Gharib come to mind?).
This should be cause for reflection for all Americans. What really do we stand for? The fate of Ehren Watada may give us a clue.
Last year we lost Hugh Thompson who said NO that awful day in 1968 and stopped the killing before it went further. Today its Lt. Watada saying NO.
Some of you may have heard last night’s Fresh Air interview of Lt. Watada and his attorney Eric Seitz on NPR with Terry Gross. I did and that’s what causes me to write this diary. Its worth checking out.
I urge Kossaks to track this one closely and do what you can to put the issue in the spotlight.