The U.S. Military: Jack-Booted Thugs Chilling Free Speech

Enough with the whole "discipline" schtick, already. We get it.

Did you two maggots hear me? I said, move out!!

 

 

I'm a little busy right now.

 

 

Still nursing a cerveza here, dude.

 

 

I apologize, gentlemen. Please join us once you're thoroughly wasted, if it's not too much trouble.

 

 

Whatever.

GMAFB:

The U.S. Army filed three charges on Wednesday against an officer who refused to fight in Iraq due to objections over the legality of the war.

First Lt. Ehren Watada, who supporters say is the first commissioned U.S. officer to publicly refuse to serve in Iraq and face a military court, remained at Fort Lewis base in Washington state when his unit shipped out to Iraq on June 22.

Watada called the war and U.S. occupation of Iraq "illegal" and said participation would make him a party to war crimes.

In a statement, the Army said it had charged Watada, 28, with missing movement, contempt toward officials and conduct unbecoming an officer.
...
Watada's lawyer said he expected the missing movement charge, but was somewhat surprised by the decision to charge the officer with contempt toward officials and conduct unbecoming an officer, because it raises free speech issues.

 

Comments

[AnonymousDrivel]

"...he expected the missing movement charge, but was somewhat surprised by the decision to charge the officer with contempt toward officials and conduct unbecoming an officer..."

Meanwhile, a quiet conversation was overheard in cell block 4F:

"Um, Lt. Watada? Whoopsie. I made a boo boo. Yeah, about that legal defense strategy - do you have a plan B?"

[benny bird]

I,ll bet that OLIVER STONE or MICHEAL MOORE will be wanting to make a movie about him you know these hollywood lowlifes

[Major John]

Obviously not a JAG for his defense counsel. Then he might have realized that ACTIVE soldiers don't get to spout off the kind of drivel his client did. Try picking up a copy of the UCMJ, counsellor. Bah.

[dorkafork]

You think he would've had time to think about that before he joined in March 2003. I'm racking my brain here, but I could've sworn there was something in the news about Iraq around that time...

Saying it was because the war was "illegal" is a matter of fact, and Watada is wrong on the facts. Even if you considered the UN the final arbiter on war, the UN legitimized the occupation, so there's no basis for saying it is illegal. By any standard.

[dorkafork]

This story actually reminded me of my own attempt to join the Army. I told the recruiter that I was only willing to serve in Hawaii, and I would consider any other posting to be "serving in an illegal war", and would ask them to just keep me in Hawaii please. I was surprised by the officials' decision to deny me my rights to live in Hawaii. Freaking fascists.

[John from WuzzaDem]

I'm racking my brain here, but I could've sworn there was something in the news about Iraq around that time...

Since when it it a crime not to be a new junkie?

[Dave in Texas]

If the prosecution can demonstrate he sought a commission to make a political statement, i.e. he knew he'd get deployed and he was already committed to his position, he's going to be in Leavenworth for a very long time. That was incredibly stupid of him.

[Jeff H]

Hey, Major John: Anything in the UCMJ about just shooting a**holes on sight, just for General Principles' sake? If so, I think we've found the answer to Lt. Watada's little "problem".

[Dave (in NYC)]

"I" was not expecting the missing movement charge, except perhaps as a lesser included offense, because he should have been charged at minimum with absence without leave. My preference, based on my experience as a lawyer and as a military officer, and based on the fact that the soldiers of his unit who are doing their duty are risking their lives for their country, is that he be charged with desertion, and that the Army file notice to seek the death penalty. And he should also have been charged with willfully disobeying a lawful command of a superior commissioned officer, which BTW is also a capital offense in wartime. Frankly, since there is no real "front line" in this war against terror, I would also have charged him with misbehavior before the enemy, also a capital offense.

[Muslihoon]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't soldiers by default have restricted free speech?

[akanik]

Typical wingnuts, you can't get your facts straight. The UN Security Council did NOT authorize the use of force in Iraq, therefore the Iraq war is manifestly illegal and anyone who participates in it could be charged with war crimes. It is not Watada's right to refuse deployment, it is his DUTY under the UCMJ to refuse unlawful orders. You see there was little thing called the Nuremberg trials...you probably think the Nazis got railroaded in that little adjudication.

[John from WuzzaDem]

Wow. I was going to ask 'akanik' if (s)he could provide a cite, then I noticed (s)he used THE CAPS LOCK KEY.

Not only that, (s)he mentioned NAZIS, and called us WINGNUTS.

TRIFECTA!

Who needs FACTS when you've got THE CAPS LOCK KEY?

YOU WINGNUTS ARE NAZI LOVERS!! WHAT ABOUT THE UN?? MAYBE YOU SHOULD GOOGLE NUREMBERG TRIALS!!!

OMG WHAT ABOUT THE UN LOL???