Ehren Watada

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Category: Hawaii people

First Lt. Ehren Watada, 28, an All American Eagle Scout, former Football QB, and son of Bob Watada, the former Hawaii State Campaign Spending Commission executive director, Watada refused to accompany his Stryker brigade combat team, which left for Iraq on June 22, 2006. Watada believes the war and occupation in Iraq are illegal and that participation in the war is also illegal thus he became the first Officer to resist the Iaq War.

Watada, has tried twice, without success, to resign his commission or be allowed to serve in some other combat zone, like Afghanistan. He has said he is not a conscientious objector and intends to defend himself based on the illegality of the Iraq war and occupation.

Watada could face up to five years in jail and a dishonorable discharge if he is convicted at a court-martial for failing to join his 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Regiment. [1]

In a August 25, 2006 Star-Bulletin article, Greg Kakesako reports:

An Army officer has recommended that 1st Lt. Ehren Watada face a general court-martial for failing to join his unit in Iraq.

Lt. Col. Mark Keith, presiding Army officer during a hearing last week in Washington state, also has endorsed two other charges: conduct unbecoming an officer and contempt toward officials.

A Fort Lewis, Wash., spokesman said Keith's decision now goes to Col. Cynthia Murphy, U.S. Army Garrison commander at Fort Lewis, who will review it and then submit her recommendations to Lt. Gen. James Dubik, former commander of the 25th Infantry Division who now heads Fort Lewis and I Corps.

"There is no timetable for action," Fort Lewis spokesman J.C. Mathews said. "It gets considered as long as the chain of command believes is appropriate." [2]

External Links

• Thank You Lt. Ehren Watada
• Kakesako, Gregg K. Honolulu man not unique in refusal to deploy -- Honolulu native 1st Lt. Ehren K. Watada announced he would not fight in Iraq Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 7, 2006.
• Kakesako, Gregg K. Watada could face prison and discharge for defiance -- Refusing to report for Iraq could elicit a court-martial Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 8, 2006.
• Kakesako, Gregg K. Watada is restricted to post after unit leaves -- The Hawaii native faces possible charges for refusing Iraq duty Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 23, 2006.
• Lee, Venus. Demonstrations support soldier's stance -- First Lt. Ehren Watada is being confined for refusing to fight in Iraq Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 28, 2006.
• Daranciang, Nelson. Watada will face Article 32 hearing -- The Army's charges against him could mean seven and a half years in prison Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 06, 2006.
• Navares, Alyssa S. Bob Watada cheering for son’s biggest match -- The Army officer can beat a court-martial, his dad tells backers Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 08, 2006.
• Associated press. Journalists may testify in Watada's court-martial Honolulu Advertiser, July 12, 2006.
• Kakesako, Gregg. Pretrial hearing for Watada set for mid-August Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 14, 2006.
• Oi, Cynthia. Thirst for knowledge led to his undoing as soldier Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 28, 2006.
• Kakesako, Gregg. Watada renews offer to resign his post -- The Army officer wants a reprimand in lieu of a court-martial Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 28, 2006.
• Kakesako, Gregg. Pro-Watada group gathers -- The Army officer's attorney plans to call three witnesses Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 16, 2006.
• Kakesako, Gregg. Watada expresses no regrets as hearing begins -- Watada made his comments after a one-day Article 32 hearing in Fort Lewis near Seattle Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 18, 2006.
• Kakesako, Gregg. Watada court-martial backed -- An Army officer rejects beliefs that Bush's acts were illegal and that the war is immoral Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 25, 2006.
• Small, Greg. Inouye agrees with court-martial for Watada -- The senator says he is not "too happy" with the Army officer Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 27, 2006.
• Army adds another charge against Watada Honolulu Star-Bulletin, September 16, 2006
• Adamski, Mary. Faith group to honor war resister Watada -- The Army officer who refused to go to Iraq cannot travel to Oahu to accept the award Honolulu Star-Bulletin, October 05, 2006.
• Kakesako, Gregg. Elections support his move, Watada claims -- The Army drops one of its three charges against the officer Honolulu Star-Bulletin, November 10, 2006.
• Kakesako, Gregg. Lt. Watada defends his war stance on CNN Honolulu Star-Bulletin, November 16, 2006.
• DePledge, Derrick. Watada 'standing up for soldiers' Honolulu Advertiser, November 20, 2006.
• Shikina, Robert. Watada court-martial set for Feb. 5 -- A forum supporting the Army lieutenant is held at UH-Manoa Honolulu Star-Bulletin, November 20, 2006.
• Shikina, Robert. Watada, 28, views duty as opposing ‘illegal’ war Honolulu Star-Bulletin, December 25, 2006.
• Fujimori, Leila. Effects of pretrial rulings feared -- Arguments will begin in the court-martial of Ehren Watada Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 3, 2007.
• Mitchell, Melanthia. Watada's remarks legal, says lawyer -- Throw out the charges over comments, the attorney argues Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 5, 2006.
• Associated Press. Watada cannot use 'illegal war' defense Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 18, 2007.
• White, Doug. Where is the petition on behalf of Kakesako? Poinography!, January 26, 2007.
• Cole, William. Two charges against Watada dropped Honolulu Advertiser, January 30, 2007.
• Park, Gene. Soldier calls war a fraud -- 1st Lt. Ehren Watada reiterates his defense in a panel discussion Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 4, 2007.
• Full text of Watada statements cited in Army charging documents: As a result of Watada's public statements, the Army has charged him with two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer in violation of the Uniform Military Code of Justice Article 133. Each count carries a maximum of one year in prison. Below are the statements included in the charges. The Seattle Times, February 4, 2007.
• Mitchell, Melanthia. THE WATADA COURT-MARTIAL: Refusal dubbed betrayal, a disgrace -- Videos of Watada's statements are shown during trial Honolulu Star-bulletin, February 7, 2007.
• Mitchell, Melanthia. Commander testifies he felt 'betrayed' by Watada Honolulu Advertiser, February 7, 2007.
• Scott Galindez and Geoffrey Millard. Watada Court-Martial Ends in Mistrial TruthOut, February 7, 2007.
• Mitchell, Melanthia. MISTRIAL DECLARED: A judge calls for a new court-martial for war objector Ehren Watada Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 8, 2007.
• Simpich, Bill. The Watada Mistrial: Here's What Really Happened TruthOut, February 8, 2007.
• Barber, Mike. Mistrial Could Be End of Watada Case -- Double-jeopardy prohibition might thwart retrial. TruthOut, February 8, 2007.
• Fujimori, Leila. Watada trial judge erred, risking case, one expert says -- But experts disagree about double jeopardy in court-martial Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 9, 2007.
• OUR OPINION: Mistrial shows difficulty of separating Watada's motive from his actions THE ISSUE: A military judge has declared a mistrial in the court-martial of the Army officer. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 9, 2007.
• Brecher, Jeremy and Smith, Brendan. Will the Watada Mistrial Spark an End to the War? The Nation, February 9, 2007.
• Westneat, Danny. Emotions run high on Watada The Seattle Times, February 11, 2007.
• Borg, Jim. Watada's attorney likes the spotlight -- Eric Seitz wants Bush, Cheney and Rumsfield tried for war crimes for launching the invasion of Iraq Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 4, 2007.
• Altonn, Helen. No double jeopardy deemed for Watada -- The officer's father says the ruling was 'fully expected' Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 8, 2007.
• Advertiser Staff and News Services. Hawaii war objector wins round against retrial Honolulu Advertiser, November 9, 2007.