Army moves to stop officer from speaking against illegal war
The Army is attempting to stop Lt. Ehren Watada from speaking out against the war. Lt. Watada went public on Wednesday, saying that he would refuse orders to deploy to Iraq. He is the first officer to do so. You can find out more at Thankyoult.org. Please support this courageous individual!
From his supporters website:
On Thursday, June 8, 2006 U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada’s commanding officer moved to prosecute Lt. Watada for protected speech. An official investigation into his public speech in opposition to the illegal war in Iraq is underway. Lt. Watada was read his rights and declined to make a statement without a lawyer present.
In response, Lt. Watada confirmed, “I have a legal and ethical obligation to speak out against, and refuse to fight, this patently illegal war in Iraq. This has not changed.”
Eric Seitz, lead attorney for Lt. Watada’s legal team, declared “It is obvious that the military is simply trying to keep him from speaking out in opposition to the unlawful war.”
On Wednesday, June 7th U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada became the first U.S. commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to the unlawful Iraq war and occupation. Standing before the national media at a Tacoma, Washington press conference, Lt. Watada outlined his duty to refuse the illegal order to deploy in support of an illegal war. A showdown with military is imminent as Lt. Watada’s Stryker brigade is scheduled to deploy from Fort Lewis, Washington for Iraq within days.
Steve Morse, director of the GI Rights Hotline, a non-governmental legal resource center for members of the military, explains “When soldiers join the military they swear to uphold our Constitution, they do not give up their basic right to freedom of speech.” According Mr. Morse, “Members of the military clearly have the right to say what they think and feel about the military, and even participate in peaceful demonstrations, as long as they are off-duty, out of uniform, off-base, and within the United States. This is outlined in Department of Defense Directive 1325.6″.
It is expected that the military is moving to stage a Commanding Officer’s Non-Judicial Punishment hearing (Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) in order to impose even further restrictions on Lt. Watada. The military will likely focus their investigation on vague UCMJ articles that bar “conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman” (Article 133) and “any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President (or any senior members of government)” (Article 88).