Thank You Lt. Watada

On June 6th, 2006 Army Commissioned Officer First Lt. Ehren Watada refused to deploy to Iraq:

Thank You Lt. Watada,

You have my full support in resisting the illegal actions of our government.

- Robert Whitlock



Also see:

Statement of Lt. Ehren Watada
Recorded June 6 and presented on June 7, 2006

More Photos from Watada Rally

Link to more pictures of Monday's rally: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwhitlock/sets/72157594523285250/

Rally for Ehren Watada

Thank You Lt. Watada








Too tired to write a story about today's events. Maybe later. Thank You Lt. Watada

Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq

Two weeks ago, citizens from around the United States gathered at The Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus for a hearing on the legality of U.S. actions in Iraq. The gathering was prompted by First Lieutenant Ehren Watada's (thankyoult.org) courageous refusal to deploy for service in what he considers to be the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq.

Watada believes that the war was justified on false premises, and that there was no true military cause or necessity for the invasion and subsequent ongoing occupation. As such, the war can be seen as a war of choice, i.e. a war of aggression.

The Citizen's Hearing panelists have recently released a report of their findings. It can be found here.

Please support Watada's courageous and principled stand in opposition to an illegal, immoral, aggressive and imperialist military action.

"Kill 'em All: Let God Sort 'em Out[?]"

[[edit: 28 June] — So say the "Operation Support Our Troops" people. The "Kill 'em All..." slogan's origin is mysterious to me. But the OSOTers flew their "Kill 'em All..." flag with an apparent sense of pride (see below). What does this say about the United States and its military mission in Iraq (and elsewhere)?]

But first, the "good guys"...
Peace Activists Banner for Lt. Watada and Other War Resistors at I-5 exit #119, (Near the Dupont Entrance to Ft. Lewis, WA State.)


"Special Forces: Mess With the Best, Die Like the Rest"

For me, this motto does absolutely nothing to inspire pride in America. It simply does not generate any sense of patriotism for me. Killing, in my mind is wrong, whether on a battlefield, or not. Some argument can be made for killing in self-defense. Unfortunately, due to the offensive nature of the United States' military action in Iraq, this excuse is inoperable.

Hence, Lt. Watada is right to refuse service in this illegal war.


"Kill 'em All..."

This motto is used in the military to justify the killing of innocent bystanders when attempting to eliminate an opposing guerilla fighting force. The killing of innocent Iraqi's is justified [rationalized] by the fact that "insurgents" might exist amongst the general populus.

This is unacceptable to me. Not to mention the fact that from a certain perspective the insurgents can be understood to be freedom fighters i.e. a force of resistance to an occupying and imperial military, one under the control of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, et al.

Do the American people stand firm in opposition to the use of our national military forces for the purpose of imperial conquest?

Bush's America is not my America.

p.s. check out this web video with Ehren Watada and more information about his position here, from thenation.com