Army Lieutenant Becomes First Commissioned Officer to Refuse Deployment to Iraq

For the first time since the start of the war, a commissioned officer is refusing deployment to fight in Iraq. On Wednesday U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant Ehren Watada announced his intention to disobey what he says are illegal orders to deploy to Iraq. He was supposed to make his announcement at a news conference yesterday but military officials told Watada he could not attend because he was barred from speaking publicly about his case while on duty at the base.

Watada is a member of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd infantry Division based at Fort Lewis near Seattle, Washington. His unit is set to be deployed later this month. Lieutenant Watada faces court martial unless the Army allows him to resign or assigns him to duties not directly connected to the war.

On Wednesday, Lieutenant Watada issued a video recording explaining why he is refusing to fight.

* 1st Lieutenant Ehren Watada video statement. Courtesy of Ron Smith.

We are joined now on the line by Ehren Watada and his lawyer, Legrand Jones.

* 1st Lieutenant Ehren Watada, the first commissioned officer to refuse deployment to Iraq. He joins us on the line from Washington State.
* Legrand Jones, Washington State council for 1st Lt. Watanda.

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http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/06/08/1418206