Why did Watada wait until after he made a commitment to our military to decide that the war in Iraq is illegal

Question

This is the 21st century for God's sake; shouldn't he (or anyone else who decides that they believe that the war in Iraq is illegal) have ben smart enough to do his homework before he jumped in head first to a commitment that he wasn't ready to abide by?

Answer 1

One of two things.
1) This was his plan all along. Refuse deployment to get his 15 minutes.
2) He was all ready to go until he found out he was going to Iraq and got scared out of his little Havard mind, and used the first excuse he could find to try to weasel his way out.

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\/ That guy has the right idea. 2005 Manual of Courts Martial. AKA Big Red

Answer 2

Because he got money and his bills paid then found out he would actually have to do something. No one has made a judicial decision that the war is illegal since there is no standard to judge it by. A few judges have said it is in their opinion; we have a federal judge saying things are against the "Constitutional Rights" of military personnel who obviously does not know that military personnel give up those rights when they join-since that is in the Constitution I wonder what Constitution he reads to make his decisions. This person is the same class of people who joined National Guard units prior to 9/11 to get the educational benefits and money then started crying when they were activated that they joined for one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer; they knew it was possible but believed being called up wouldn't happen to them. I am not "slamming" the NG here-I am slamming those people who did that. My niece is NG and served in Iraq and she had some in her unit that did that and I know is it a small minority but they exist. Let the coward go after he pays everything he was paid back plus interest and then give him an OTH.

Answer 3

Bottom Line This guy is a Dirt Bag and I hope the Army throws the book at him (and the UCMJ is a big book)

As an Army Officer I have no sympathy for him, I expect more as an Officer, you are a Soldier and a Leader.

Just think about the troops in his unit who went to war and came back while 1LT Watada stayed home and got to live in the states every day.

When you join the Army you state the following in your oath:

"...I make this obligation freely without moral reservation or purpose of evasion..."

If you serve in the military you do not have the luxury of picking what wars you want to serve in. (this isn't the peace corps)

He was given a lawful order to deploy with his unit and he violated it.

He is clearly guilty of the following offenses:
Missing Movement
Conduct Unbecoming an Officer
Bringing discredit to the US Army
Insubordination
Treason

If you gave me some time I could come up with more.

Answer 4

the war was illegal it should have been under the united nations not just a particular set of nations and so was the murder of sadam hussan i thought there was diplomatic immunity to sww a leader of a country exicuted was absolutly discusting and lacking in morral ethics with all those people displaced no homes or food or jobs its wrong for some henchmen to take this in thier own hands and should be changed the amount of people affected by this idiocy is phenomanal and wonder who are the real terrorists because i dont see peace ever comming out of this war

Answer 5

I don't know. That's the aspect of his case that has really given me pause. Supposedly he didn't really "research" the war until he had orders to go there (http://www.thankyoult.org/content/view/1042/75/ ). I have difficulty buying it -- someone applying for OCS in a time of war would surely consider it more seriously before making that commitment.

Answer 6

You and I see eye to eye on this one. No one can legitimately say they didn't know that the US military's mission is to fight. Oh, and there is no war in Iraq.

Answer 7

Why'd you wait until he did it to ask this question?