Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Journalist concerned Army's case may threaten free press rights
SEATTLE (AP) _ A journalist listed as a potential Army witness in the case of an officer refusing to go to Iraq is concerned the military is threatening free speech.
Sarah Olson is also concerned the military is threatening free press rights as it builds its case against First Lieutenant Ehren Watada of Honolulu.
Olson is a radio producer and free-lance journalist in Oakland, California.
Watada's attorney -- Eric Seitz -- says Olson is one of two reporters listed as potential witnesses in the government's case against Watada.
He refused to deploy to Iraq in June with his Stryker unit, based at Fort Lewis, in Washington state.
Sarah Olson is also concerned the military is threatening free press rights as it builds its case against First Lieutenant Ehren Watada of Honolulu.
Olson is a radio producer and free-lance journalist in Oakland, California.
Watada's attorney -- Eric Seitz -- says Olson is one of two reporters listed as potential witnesses in the government's case against Watada.
He refused to deploy to Iraq in June with his Stryker unit, based at Fort Lewis, in Washington state.
More
http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=8795
A preliminary hearing in the case was tentatively scheduled for Aug. 17-18, Seitz said.
The journalists would likely be called in a court-martial to corroborate statements upon which some of the charges against Watada are based, said Seitz, who on met yesterday morning with military attorneys and was meeting with Watada in the afternoon.
In portions of interviews included in the charging documents, Watada said, "As I read about the level of deception the Bush administration used to initiate and process this war, I was shocked. I became ashamed of wearing the uniform."
But Seitz argues that such comments are not meant to vilify the president, or show disrespect or disloyalty. He said the comments are protected free speech, and because of that he was surprised Watada was charged with violations other than missing troop movement.
"I'm somewhat perplexed that the Army wants to get involved in this," he said.
Seitz said Watada was also misquoted in some comments attributed to him in the charges.
More
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=17143
Journalist: Objector’s case could impede free speech
By Melanthia Mitchell
Associated Press
SEATTLE — A journalist listed as a potential Army witness in the case of an officer refusing to go to Iraq is concerned the military is threatening free speech and free press rights as it builds its case against the soldier.
Sarah Olson, a radio producer and freelance journalist in Oakland, Calif., is one of two reporters listed as potential witnesses in the government’s case against 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, his attorney Eric Seitz said. The officer refused to deploy to Iraq on June 22 with his Stryker unit, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division based at Fort Lewis, about 50 miles south of Seattle.
A spokesman with Fort Lewis’ public affairs office contacted Olson twice to confirm information she published from her interview with Watada, Olson said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press.
That creates a conflict of interest, blurring the line between military prosecutors and the Army’s public affairs office, Olson said.
“It sends an implicit message saying ‘you should speak to us and cooperate with us and if you do maybe we’ll cooperate with you,”’ the journalist said.
More
http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1952527.php
http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=8795
A preliminary hearing in the case was tentatively scheduled for Aug. 17-18, Seitz said.
The journalists would likely be called in a court-martial to corroborate statements upon which some of the charges against Watada are based, said Seitz, who on met yesterday morning with military attorneys and was meeting with Watada in the afternoon.
In portions of interviews included in the charging documents, Watada said, "As I read about the level of deception the Bush administration used to initiate and process this war, I was shocked. I became ashamed of wearing the uniform."
But Seitz argues that such comments are not meant to vilify the president, or show disrespect or disloyalty. He said the comments are protected free speech, and because of that he was surprised Watada was charged with violations other than missing troop movement.
"I'm somewhat perplexed that the Army wants to get involved in this," he said.
Seitz said Watada was also misquoted in some comments attributed to him in the charges.
More
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=17143
Journalist: Objector’s case could impede free speech
By Melanthia Mitchell
Associated Press
SEATTLE — A journalist listed as a potential Army witness in the case of an officer refusing to go to Iraq is concerned the military is threatening free speech and free press rights as it builds its case against the soldier.
Sarah Olson, a radio producer and freelance journalist in Oakland, Calif., is one of two reporters listed as potential witnesses in the government’s case against 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, his attorney Eric Seitz said. The officer refused to deploy to Iraq on June 22 with his Stryker unit, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division based at Fort Lewis, about 50 miles south of Seattle.
A spokesman with Fort Lewis’ public affairs office contacted Olson twice to confirm information she published from her interview with Watada, Olson said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press.
That creates a conflict of interest, blurring the line between military prosecutors and the Army’s public affairs office, Olson said.
“It sends an implicit message saying ‘you should speak to us and cooperate with us and if you do maybe we’ll cooperate with you,”’ the journalist said.
More
http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1952527.php
Add Your Comments
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$135.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network