Leftenant Declares The War In Iraq Is Illegal
Skip,
Since Lt. Watada is an officer, his oath is a bit different. From the US Army web site:
“I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.” (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.)
Notice that he took the obligation freely without mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and it requires him to well and faithfully discharge the duties of his office. It goes a bit beyond that required of an enlisted man. Lt. Watada took a much more serious oath. I remember this oath well, when I was commissioned a Reserve officer when I was commissioned again as a Regular officer in the US Air Force.
What would General Patton do? Clap him in irons, court-martial him, and quite probably, have him shot as this is in a time of war. Personally, clap him in irons, send him to Fort Leavenworth for the rest of his natural life. That, or shoot him as a deserter.
I can’t call this lilly livered, spineless, yellow bellied coward Lt. Ain’t gonna happen. He should be spending the rest of his days at the Kansas Gravel Academy, right now. Either that, or life in front of a firing squad.
Posted by MikeyB
02/08/2007 at 02:51 PM
He’s a coward.
This is a very local story and it is an friggin’ circus. Sean Penn has been marching around down at Ft. Lewis, others are carrying signs calling on the soldiers to follow Watada’s example and refuse to deploy, the lawyers are holding court (in the royalty sense).
Watada is charged under 887. ART. 87. MISSING MOVEMENT
“Any person subject to this chapter who through neglect or design misses the movement of a ship, aircraft, or unit with which he is required in the course of duty to move shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”
According to KVI talkshow host Bryan Suits, US Army, three deployments, latest to Iraq, he actually e-mailed Watada to discuss this and got a few returns. Suits finally told him he should be honest and violate 888. ART. 88. CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS and get tossed.
“Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”
No reply to that one.
My own thought - Watada is a setup. His family background in the anti-war peace movement and his having volunteered after 9/11 indicate to me that he planned this all along. He will get 4 or 6 years, depending on the specific charges re-filed after the mistrial, but no matter what, once he is behind bars he is used up damaged goods and all his supporters will drop him for the next “big story” fad.
Just friggin’ pathetic all around.
And even if he follows his daddy into polly-ticks, he’ll never get far because he’ll never be able to get a security clearance again.
Sarge: I don’t think it’s sedition, but rather subversion. He’s encouraging military personnel to not do their duty. But yes, add more charges as appropriate.
Draven: political hacks (elected officials and appointments) aren’t subject to the same adjudication procedures for a security clearance as the rank and file. Just look at the 60s rejects who were “cleared” during the Clinton administration, or Sandy “stuff my pants with classified documents” Berger. My guess is that this socialist shitstain would not be harmed with his political activism-just look at John “effin’” Kerry.
Posted by Annoying_Mike
02/08/2007 at 06:32 PM
Kerry doesn’t have a BCD (or the officer’s equivalent)
General Patton happens to be one of my personal heroes. I have read a multitude of books about him, and I absolutely LOVE the movie. The way I figure it, he’d have him court martialed and then shot by firing squad. Of course, if Patton were around today, this would be a VERY different war. Where are you when we need you sir?
Lt. Ehren Watada needs to be clapped in irons and frog-marched to the stockade - and left there to pound big rocks into little rocks for the next forty years. That is my decision.
Aahh - but what about his idle and carefree evenings after the rock-pounding?
His cell mate should be Bruce “The Mallet” and his 11-inch Stick of Discipline.
Just sayin’.
Dravin, Kerry did have a BCD or equiv until peanut brain commuted it. Look at the docs he made public. His Honorable was dated in the late 70’s.
As for Watada, send him to Abu Graib or another Iraqi prison. Let him serve his six years confined with the human scum of Iraq. He can be the social bitch for all the perverts there. Kansas don’t need him. We’d get Sean Penn protesting and we don’t need that kind of crap staining our streets.
a Turkish prison is too good for him.
Firing Squad?
Too quick.
A Marine Corps brig for the duration of his sentence?
Next entry: Motivational Poster Of The Day
Previous entry: Most Ridiculous Item Of The Day (so far)