Thanks_for_the_death_of_our_sons : Message: All the truths about Lt. Ehren Watada

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"A war can end when the soldiers choose to stop fighting it.� Lt.Ehren K. Watada

Lt. Watada, age 28, was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii where he enlisted in the Army and was obligated to serve on active duty as an Army officer for a term of three years concluding on December 3, 2006. Lt. Watada was stationed at Ft. Lewis in January 2006, when he first asked to resign his commission because as he stated, "I am whole-heartedly opposed to the continued war in Iraq, the deception used to wage this war, and the lawlessness that has pervaded every aspect of our civilian leadership."

In January 2006 he first asked for permission to resign his commission based on his understanding that the war in Iraq is illegal, and that any order to participate would be an illegal order. He did not apply for a conscientious objector discharge and does not intend to do so, as he is not opposed to all wars, but believes this war in Iraq is illegal. After his initial request and a later formal application to resign were denied by the Army, Lt. Watada informed his superiors that he will refuse to deploy with his unit when it is scheduled to leave Ft. Lewis later this month.

On June 7, 2006 Lt. Ehren Watada stood before the national media and announced his intent to refuse any order to participate in the Iraq war. Lt. Watada faces possible court-martial charges unless the Army allows him to resign his commission or assigns him to duties that are not directly connected to the Iraq war.

Here is a video showing Lt. Watada' statement on June 7, 2006

Direct link:

http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesig.../statement.html

Download link:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/bp1e4u

And here is an audio version of the interview with Lt. Watada By Sarah Olson, June 7, 2006

Direct link :

http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesig...ntv-solson.html

Download link:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/5kiy4a

On June 22, U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren K. Watada became the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to the unlawful Iraq War and occupation.

On Tuesday, June 27 , more than a thousand supporters in over 30 cities and towns took part in the National Day of Action to Stand Up with Lt. Watada .

Here is a video showing the message from Lt. Ehren Watada to supporters

Direct link:

http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesig...sg-13jun06.html

Download link:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/d4d4dx

On July 5, Lt. Watada was formally charged with contempt towards President Bush, conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and missing movement. For the first time in forty years, the military is prosecuting an objector for First Amendment speech. He faces over seven years in a military prison.
Int'l actions and a mass mobilization at Fort Lewis, Washington have been called for leading up to this precedent setting court martial in the early Fall. Supporters have already staged a national day of action.

Lt. Watada�s mother, Carolyn Ho, who flew in from Honolulu, Hawaii to support her son, said , �My son�s decision to refrain from deploying to Iraq comes through much soul searching. It is an act of patriotism. It is a statement to all Americans, to men and women in uniform, that they need not remain silent out of fear, that that they have the power to turn the tide of history: to stop the destruction of a country and the killing of untold numbers of innocent men, women, and children. It is a message that states unequivocally that blindly following orders is no longer an option. My son, Lt. Watada�s stance is clear. He will stay the course. I urge you to join him in this effort.�

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