http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070202/us_nm/usa_iraq_officer_dc
and his name is Watada!!!
Note: it takes real guts to stand up and say WRONG is WRONG, while the whole govt is against you to finish you!!!!
Also, he said he is ready to fight in Afganistan but not Iraq.
Hats off Mr. Watada ...hope you come out victorious...
Do you agree what Watada is doing right ?
2007-02-02 14:58:12 · 9 answers · asked by rat123pig 3 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
I SURE DO think Ehren Watada is doing the right thing--and a brave thing.
There are many OTHER real, brave men and women in the military---but many of them have gone straight from high school into boot camp, and haven't, the way Watada has, really spent much time poring over printed material or websites that detail neocon shenanigans by the likes of MICHAEL "every-ten-years or so the United States needs to pick up some small crappy little country and throw it against the wall just to show the world we-mean-business" LEDEEN.
There are so many people in the military who are willing to give their lives for us civilians. While they busy fighting for their lives, and they truly believe, ours, those of us at home need to support THEM by protesting the war to our senators, supporting military families, joining peace coalitions...Let Watada's courage inspire us.
2007-02-02 15:18:17 · answer #1 · answered by miraclewhip 3 · 2⤊ 4⤋
No, I do not.
He swore an oath. He took his obligation "freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion." He accepted a commission, he is not just a new enlisted guy. With that commission comes the obligation to accept the lawful orders of his superiors. A junior who disobeys an order on the grounds of claimed unlawfulness does so at his peril.
Accepting a commission in the armed forces carries with it the obligation to go where you're ordered and do the job. It's not within his purview to decide which wars are appropriate. We have elected and appointed leaders to do that. If he wasn't willing to go where and when told, he shouldn't have accepted his commission.
I don't care that he is willing to fight in some war more acceptable to him. That isn't conscientious objection, sorry. Conscientious objection is objection to war IN ALL ITS FORMS.
Sorry, Lieutenant. Take your dismissal and your prison term. I'm only sorry that the UCMJ can't be used to break you to private as well; it's unjust that any member of our armed forces should have to call you "sir" or be outranked by you.
2007-02-02 15:07:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No. I dont agree.
Listen up. Im in the army. Ive been to Iraq twice. YET...i will admit to anyone i have very mixed feelings about this war, and i question our reasons for going more and more everyday. That being said i would NEVER dream of deserting or refusing orders to go back. I took an OATH to my country. I could never break that and most of all i could never let down my fellow soldiers. That means alot to me. Maybe his oath doesnt mean anything to him.
He has ruined his life for this, he is facing prison time. wouldnt it have been much easier to just followed orders and go back?
2007-02-02 15:11:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am behind his decision 200%. If he truly believes that what this country is doing in Iraq is morally wrong, and he cannot continue to fight for this reason then his first priority is to follow his conscience. As far as I am concerned all other arguments are specious. He did not claim conscientious objector status because that is not where he head was at when he first signed up. He changed his mind once he was in Iraq only because he began to discern the evil nature of our occupation.
2007-02-02 16:02:09 · answer #4 · answered by Sicilian Godmother 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No, he shouldn't have joined the military if he felt that he wasn't willing to fight in any war, or been a concienscous objector following the start of the Iraq war, but not deploying a unit is taking it too far. He honestly should be tried for treason.
2007-02-02 15:01:59 · answer #5 · answered by Tuco 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Mr. Watada is a coward and a traitor just like his old man. Each swore an oath to Support and defend and to obey the orders of those appointed over him. Each turned their back on their nation and their men to claim "this war is illegal and immoral".
I ask you what I have asked all who have disagreed with us being over there. That is: Where do you get your source of information by which you draw your conclusions?
How is it immoral to remove a brutal regime in order to provide freedom and equality to a beaten people? How is this any different from WW2? Finally, if Mr. Watada felt that America is so bad and so oppressive, why did he decide to serve?
2007-02-02 17:40:38 · answer #6 · answered by Wookie 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
I'm totally against the war in Iraq, but Mr. Watada signed up and swore in. He needs to go in or go to jail (like Muhammad Ali had the balls to do)
2007-02-02 15:01:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
well he's doing whats right by him, but plenty of soldiers in Iraq DO believe that that war is justified. (and yes, its a crying shame, but war CAN be justified) but Sonora M has a point, once you join the military, u should follow your freakin orders, like it or not. if your not ready to do that, dont join the military.
2007-02-02 15:01:47 · answer #8 · answered by Cole 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I completely agree, and I wish there was some way I could show my support for him.
2007-02-02 15:00:13 · answer #9 · answered by littlechrismary 5 · 3⤊ 4⤋