Pablo Paredes Faces Court Martial For Refusing to Fight in Iraq

The US military has announced another court-martial of a service member for refusing to go to Iraq. Petty Officer 3rd Class Pablo Paredes is a weapons control technician who joined the Navy in 2000. In December, he refused to board the USS Bonhomme Richard as it left for a six-month tour in the Pacific and Indian oceans. At the time, he said he hoped his protest might inspire other sailors, soldiers and Marines to refuse to take part in the war. On Friday, the Navy announced that Paredes will face a special court-martial, the military equivalent of a civilian misdemeanor trial. The charges against him include absence without leave and missing movement. The 23-year-old from the Bronx, New York, faces a maximum of one year in jail, a forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank and a bad-conduct discharge if he's convicted. No date for a court-martial has been set. Paredes has applied for contentious objector status and a decision is expected next week. A Navy chaplain who met with Paredes in January wrote that it was "morally imperative" that his request be granted. When we last spoke to him, he was underground. Pablo Paredes joins us on the line now from San Diego.

* Pablo Paredes, sailor in the US Navy who was classified as a "fugitive deserter" by the military for refusing orders to board a ship heading to Iraq last December. On Friday, the Navy announced it was bringing charges against him.

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