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Lt. Watada pre-trial hearing succeeds in putting Iraq war on trial
TACOMA, WA (August 17, 2006) – Following the military pre-trial hearing of Lt. Ehren Watada’s refusal to deploy in support of the illegal Iraq war and occupation, supporters gathered at a Tacoma community center for a briefing on the days events. Lt. Watada, his lawyer Eric Seitz, and defense witnesses Denis Halliday, Col. Ann Wright (ret.), and Prof. Francis Boyle gave an overview of the day's events that featured a military courtroom debate on the legality of the Iraq War.
TACOMA, WA (August 17, 2006) – Following the day-long Article 32 military pre-trial hearing of Lt. Ehren Watada’s refusal to deploy in support of the illegal Iraq war and occupation, supporters gathered at a Tacoma community center for a briefing on the days events.
Following a standing ovation from supporters, Lt. Watada explained his willingness to go to jail for the truth if needed. Lt. Watada’s civilian attorney, Eric Seitz of Honolulu explained that the defense does not seek to put the war on trial - it’s the military’s prosecution of Lt. Watada that requires them to do so. “We appreciated the opportunity to lay the groundwork to prove that the war in Iraq is illegal and that Lt. Watada, coming to this conclusion after much research, was duty bound to refuse to participate,” said Mr. Seitz. “This case is really about the duty of individual soldiers to look at the facts and fulfill their obligation to national and international law,” he said.
All three defense witnesses gave an overview of their earlier testimony to Army Lieutenant Colonel Keith, the military hearing officer in the cramped Fort Lewis courtroom. Despite frequent objections from the prosecution, LTC Keith allowed the defense to present evidence about the illegality of the war in Iraq. Approximately three hours of the four-hour hearing were devoted to testimony by former United Nations Undersecretary Denis Halliday, Army Colonel Ann Wright (ret.), who resigned in March 2003 to protest the invasion of Iraq, and University of Illinois Professor Francis Boyle, an international law expert.
The defense submitted documents into evidence including an amicus brief filled by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Charter of the United Nations, The War Crimes Act, a German high court ruling in favor of a soldier who refused to participate in the Iraq war, and letters of support from organizations and prominent individuals, including Representative Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii.
Most likely, a military court martial to convict Lt. Watada of three counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, two counts (for the same statements) of contempt towards officials, specifically President G. W. Bush, and one count of missing movement will be convened in November. If found guilty of all charges, Lt. Watada faces over seven years in confinement. He faces over five years imprisonment for simply expressing his opinion that President Bush misled the American people into an illegal war.
The Friends and Family of Lt. Watada are moving forward with plans for a mass regional mobilization during the upcoming court martial, and many other actions and projects to help Lt. Watada put the war on trial.
Following a standing ovation from supporters, Lt. Watada explained his willingness to go to jail for the truth if needed. Lt. Watada’s civilian attorney, Eric Seitz of Honolulu explained that the defense does not seek to put the war on trial - it’s the military’s prosecution of Lt. Watada that requires them to do so. “We appreciated the opportunity to lay the groundwork to prove that the war in Iraq is illegal and that Lt. Watada, coming to this conclusion after much research, was duty bound to refuse to participate,” said Mr. Seitz. “This case is really about the duty of individual soldiers to look at the facts and fulfill their obligation to national and international law,” he said.
All three defense witnesses gave an overview of their earlier testimony to Army Lieutenant Colonel Keith, the military hearing officer in the cramped Fort Lewis courtroom. Despite frequent objections from the prosecution, LTC Keith allowed the defense to present evidence about the illegality of the war in Iraq. Approximately three hours of the four-hour hearing were devoted to testimony by former United Nations Undersecretary Denis Halliday, Army Colonel Ann Wright (ret.), who resigned in March 2003 to protest the invasion of Iraq, and University of Illinois Professor Francis Boyle, an international law expert.
The defense submitted documents into evidence including an amicus brief filled by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Charter of the United Nations, The War Crimes Act, a German high court ruling in favor of a soldier who refused to participate in the Iraq war, and letters of support from organizations and prominent individuals, including Representative Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii.
Most likely, a military court martial to convict Lt. Watada of three counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, two counts (for the same statements) of contempt towards officials, specifically President G. W. Bush, and one count of missing movement will be convened in November. If found guilty of all charges, Lt. Watada faces over seven years in confinement. He faces over five years imprisonment for simply expressing his opinion that President Bush misled the American people into an illegal war.
The Friends and Family of Lt. Watada are moving forward with plans for a mass regional mobilization during the upcoming court martial, and many other actions and projects to help Lt. Watada put the war on trial.
For more information:
http://www.thankyoult.org
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I am fully in support of the case of Lt. Ehren Watada, which challenges the right of the military to order officers and enlisted to follow orders, whether the order is illegal or immoral, which Lt. Watada considers this war to me. Millions of Americans and people around the world agree that this war was entered into as a war of aggression, and by way of deception, and has been carried out in outright and admitted defiance of international law and the conventions of warfare agreed upon by nations following World War II.
I am a United Methodist Minister, in Portland, Oregon. My Bishop, of the Oregon-Idaho Conference, Bishop Robert T. Hoshibata, has made a strong statement in support of Lt. Watada's considered decision to refuse deployment to Iraq for reasons of conscience. Other Bishops who have made similar strong statements of support include: Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, of the California-Pacific Conference, which includes Southern California and Hawaii,;Bishop Roy Sano, retired Bishop and Executive Secretary of our Council of Bishops, residing in Oakland, California; Bishop Edward Paup, of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, which includes all of Washington State and northern Idaho ( including the site of the trial in Tacoma, WA), Bishop Minerva Carcano of the Desert Southwest Conference, covering all of Arizona, and Bishop Beverly Shamana, Bishop of Northern California and Nevada. The Bishops have referred to the UMC Social Principles, which have always supported the right to conscientously resist war, or a particular war. They also quoted from a pastoral letter from 109 UMC Bishops against the war in Iraq. President George W. Bush claims membership in a United Methodist Church, but has consistently refused to accept or reflect carefully on counsel and concern from the Bishops of that church .
The most egregious of the charges against Lt. Watada, in my opinion, is that of "contempt for officials", which refers to his statements against the war. This is clearly a suppression of first amendment speech. Lt. Watada has not made any statements while in uniform, or while on base, but has always taken great care to exercise his right as a citizen to think critically and speak honestly. If this is to be seen as a punishable offense, then our democracy is truly in trouble, as executive authority continues to overreach more and more day by day.
It is a great act of courage which has brought Lt. Watada to make the choice that he has, and all of us who oppose this war and cherish protected freedom of expression need to make our support known. To find ways to do so, go to <http://www.thankyoult.org>
I am a United Methodist Minister, in Portland, Oregon. My Bishop, of the Oregon-Idaho Conference, Bishop Robert T. Hoshibata, has made a strong statement in support of Lt. Watada's considered decision to refuse deployment to Iraq for reasons of conscience. Other Bishops who have made similar strong statements of support include: Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, of the California-Pacific Conference, which includes Southern California and Hawaii,;Bishop Roy Sano, retired Bishop and Executive Secretary of our Council of Bishops, residing in Oakland, California; Bishop Edward Paup, of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, which includes all of Washington State and northern Idaho ( including the site of the trial in Tacoma, WA), Bishop Minerva Carcano of the Desert Southwest Conference, covering all of Arizona, and Bishop Beverly Shamana, Bishop of Northern California and Nevada. The Bishops have referred to the UMC Social Principles, which have always supported the right to conscientously resist war, or a particular war. They also quoted from a pastoral letter from 109 UMC Bishops against the war in Iraq. President George W. Bush claims membership in a United Methodist Church, but has consistently refused to accept or reflect carefully on counsel and concern from the Bishops of that church .
The most egregious of the charges against Lt. Watada, in my opinion, is that of "contempt for officials", which refers to his statements against the war. This is clearly a suppression of first amendment speech. Lt. Watada has not made any statements while in uniform, or while on base, but has always taken great care to exercise his right as a citizen to think critically and speak honestly. If this is to be seen as a punishable offense, then our democracy is truly in trouble, as executive authority continues to overreach more and more day by day.
It is a great act of courage which has brought Lt. Watada to make the choice that he has, and all of us who oppose this war and cherish protected freedom of expression need to make our support known. To find ways to do so, go to <http://www.thankyoult.org>
To all friends everywhere:
Greetings!
I am a personal friend of Tom Fox, Quaker, killed in Iraq on March 9, 2006, in Baghdad. Tom Fox had been taken hostage on November 26, 2005 as he escorted three other men to a Baghdad mosque to interview a cleric whose help they sought. Tom Fox had helped to establish Muslim Peacemaker Teams to work in concert with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Baghdad. All four men kidnapped November 26, 2005 were associated with joint projects of both the Muslim and the Christian Peacemaker Teams of Baghdad.
Prior to his capture on November 26, 2005, I had been in correspondence with Tom, by e-mail, concerning a letter I had sent to The Oregonian newspaper, for their editorial page column, Choice Cuts. Here is what Tom sent back to me, his letter to the editor:
"The Bush administration says it is spreading freedom and democracy to the people of Iraq but in reality they are spreading torture, death and the complete unraveling of the social fabric of the Iraqi society."
I sent this letter in to The Oregonian before and after the death of Tom Fox. The Oregonian never printed the letter. Since Tom can no longer speak for himself, I thought I would send his truth and his love to you.
Tom Fox laid down his life to express his truth and his love.
Now comes Lt. Ehren Watada, doing exactly the same thing.
In my window, beside the spent candle I once lit for Tom Fox, there is now a fresh candle burning brightly for Lt. Watada and his whole family and all of his supporters and friends, such as yourselves.
To all of you wonderful, beautiful Methodists, from all of us simple, quiet Quakers at Multnomah Monthly Meeting: Greetings! Thank you for nurturing and supporting the same truth and the same love we hold so tenderly in the Light. Thank you for supporting Lt. Eheren Watada and his family.
Tom's candle may have faltered a bit in March, but his Light continues guiding him, upward and onward. That Light shines for all of us. That Light is, of course, the Spirit of Christ, which shines in the darkness and cannot be quenched.
Aloha,
Kalei Luyben
Portland, OR
August 28, 2006
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