Hell no, he won’t go: We received a press release today from www.ThankYouLt.org about First Lieutenant Ehren K. Watada, who refused orders today to deploy to Iraq with Stryker Brigade. He reported to duty at 2 a.m. at Ft Lewis, Wash., and refused orders to move to the adjacent McChord Air Force Base to prepare to fly to Iraq. Watada was ordered to remain on site pending further orders from his commanding officer and cannot make or receive phone calls or have any communications with anyone off-base.
The press release says that Watada is the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq. He faces possible court-martial for disobeying orders and he intends to defend himself based on the illegality of the Iraq war and occupation. Lt. Watada, age 28, was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii where he enlisted in the Army and was obligated to serve on active duty as an Army officer for a term of three years ending Dec. 3, 2006.
Visit www.ThankYouLt.org to see photos of Watada and his parents and a video message from Watada, and to read messages of support. If you find his story compelling and want to show your support, you can sign a petition here.
As an old cold war vet from the Korean Conflict who quit the Army on ETS rather than go to “Nam”, an earlier “ILLEGAL AND IMMORAL WAR” from which our rulers have obviously learned nothing, I am supporting this MOST HONORABLE YOUNG MAN with what little money I can scrape up and by signing this petition.
I can only hope that all who read this will do the same!