Conduct Charges Might Help Watada's Defense

Army prosecutors might have unwittingly aided the defense of the Fort Lewis officer they're trying for his refusal to deploy to Iraq. Attorneys for 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, in their effort to win his acquittal, want his jury to hear from experts next month that the war violated US and international law. During a four-hour pre-trial hearing Thursday, one of Watada's attorneys, Eric Seitz, requested that the judge hold an evidentiary hearing about allowing that defense. The judge, Lt. Col. John Head, told prosecutors that he was not inclined to grant the evidentiary hearing, but "they opened the door for him allowing it by prosecuting his statements."

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Why I Object to Testifying Against Lt. Watada

Sarah Olson, www.dissidentvoice.org

In May of 2006, I conducted an interview with Ehren Watada while working as a freelance journalist. Watada is a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army and is the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse orders to deploy to Iraq. In the interview, Lieutenant Watada asserted that he had a duty as an officer to evaluate the legality of his orders and conduct himself accordingly. He said that he could not participate in the Iraq War because it was "manifestly illegal" and that his participation would make him a party to war crimes. In June, Lieutenant Watada made national headlines when he refused to deploy to Iraq (...) The US Army has cobbled together portions of my interview with Lieutenant Watada and these statements comprise the foundation of one charge of conduct unbecoming an officer. To substantiate this alleged crime, the Army has subpoenaed me to testify on behalf of their prosecution. ..

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