Fort Lewis officer says he'll refuse to go to Iraq

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_War_Objector.html

SEATTLE -- An Army lieutenant based at Fort Lewis has such grave objections to the war in Iraq, he's refusing to deploy, the soldier's attorney said Tuesday.

First Lt. Ehren Watada submitted a letter to his command in January stating he had serious reservations about the Iraq war and felt he could not participate in it, Watada's lawyer, Eric A. Seitz, told The Associated Press on Tuesday

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and from MFSO

www.mfso.org
www.bringthemhomenow.org



"I refuse to be silent any longer. I refuse to watch families torn apart, while the President tells us to 'stay the course.' ... I refuse to be party to an illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression. I wanted to be there for my fellow troops. But the best way was not to help drop artillery and cause more death and destruction. It is to help oppose this war and end it so that all soldiers can come home."

We know that the issue of refusing orders is controversial for some of you, but this officer is taking a principled stand against a war that we all oppose, so we wanted to let you know. A website for those who want to support this officer has been set up by Iraq Veterans Against the War and others - it is www.thankyoult.org On the website there is a petition for individuals to sign to show their support. Below is an article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer with more details about this situation.

In Peace and Solidarity,
Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson
for Military Families Speak Out
www.mfso.org
www.bringthemhomenow.org

I don't get it.

The prowar propaganda was in full force in 2003. It was only at about the time of the Downing Street Memos that the truth started to sink into the American psyche.

It's not like he was stop-lossed, or did a tour and refused to go back based on his experience. It's not like he signed up in December 2001, and found himself bound for Iraq instead of Afghanistan.

What credibility does this guy have to provide to the anti-war movement?

Why can't we find another John Kerry? Somebody who's been there, done that, and has the ability and credibility to speak intelligently and elegantly about the massive mistake the whole war is.

to refuse immoral orders from their commanders. That includes the CIC IMO. We need a string of officers backing this guy up and it could definitely be the tipping point. I think soldiers are more loyal to their immediate superiors than the higher ups. They know they are the ones who have to take them through this shit safely. The only way the military will help us put a stop to this is more dissentions at the officer level. Imagine if this LT's whole unit stood behind him and refused to go.

Despite 80,000 of us hammering away.