COUNTERING MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Articles: Military Service: General
First Officer Publicly Resisting War Gains National Support
Sarah Olson, t r u t h o u t
June 8, 2006
When
27-year-old US Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada announced his refusal
to deploy to Iraq yesterday, he did so surrounded by veterans, military
family members, and members of the religious and anti-war communities.
News of Watada's intent to refuse his orders to deploy to Iraq has
galvanized anti-war communities around the country, many of which are
already calling for a series of demonstrations in support of Watada's
actions. And others they hope will be inspired to refuse deployment to
Iraq as well.
At a press conference in Tacoma, Washington, Watada
announced his view that the war in Iraq is immoral and illegal, and his
intent was to refuse to deploy to fight that war. Watada said, "It is
my duty as a commissioned officer of the United States Army to speak
out against grave injustices. I stand before you today because it is my
job to serve and protect soldiers, the American people and innocent
Iraqis with no voice." Watada went on to say that his participation in
the Iraq war would make him party to grave moral injustice and war
crimes.
While Watada may face a court martial for his
decision to refuse to deploy to Iraq, he has also received significant
support from veterans' organizations. Members of Iraq Veterans Against
the War, the War Resisters League, and many chapters of Veterans for
Peace have all come to Watada's defense.
Ann Wright is a retired US Army colonel and US
diplomat who resigned her position in 2003 in protest of the war in
Iraq. She says that after spending 29 years in the military she
understands how significant it is for an officer to disobey not just
his direct orders, but also everything he has been trained to do.
Wright says the entire military establishment is based on order and
discipline, and for an officer to defy this system based on his
personal beliefs takes an enormous amount of bravery. But she also says
it's important for Watada, as a Lieutenant, to speak publicly. "People
need to know there are these brave young men and women who are standing
up and who are willing to go to jail because of what they believe." She
says people in the US must understand that the military isn't united in
its support for the war in Iraq.
Camilo Mejia is an Iraq war veteran who spent more
than 7 years in the Army. When his conscientious objector status was
denied in 2004, he spent nearly a year in prison rather than return to
Iraq. He says Watada's public stand is admirable and should be
commended. "The Pentagon recently reported 8,000 cases of desertion.
These are people in the military who are saying 'no' to their units and
the war, but where are they? It takes a special kind of individual to
break the silence and risk all for a bigger cause."
Mejia hopes Lieutenant Watada's stand inspires
others to refuse their orders as well. "It's going to take regular
people to realize that they don't have to be in the army and refuse
orders to make a difference," Mejia said. "The stance Ehren is taking
is inspiring, but others need to take more responsibility and realize
that they have power, too, and then they have to use that power."
Members of religious communities have long opposed
the war in Iraq on moral grounds. Jim Davis is a United Methodist
minister who attended Watada's press conference yesterday to support
his stand. Davis says the war in Iraq violates traditional Christian
just-war principles and is an ongoing moral issue for all Christian
citizens in the United States. Davis calls on people around the country
to support Lieutenant Watada.
Davis wanted Watada to know that religious
communities, "Stand with you today in support of your act of conscience
as you have sought to do that which is right. We solute you for your
courage to take a moral stance. We salute you for your compassion for
soldiers and families affected by this war and for your call to bring
the troops home."
While Watada is making a very personal stand against
the war, his family is supporting him through his decision. Robert
Watada told the Honolulu Advertiser, "My son has a great deal of
courage, and clearly understands what is right, and what is wrong. He's
choosing to do the right thing, which is a hard course."
Loren Watada is Ehren's older brother. He traveled
to Washington state Wednesday to support his brother during his press
conference in Tacoma. He says he respects his brother's actions and is
behind him one hundred percent. He fails to see the crime that he is
committing. "What crime has he committed? They're talking about
incarcerating him in prison, but he's not a criminal. There is no crime
he has committed against our society or our country. He's standing by
his beliefs and saying that the war is an illegal war. To me, that's
not a crime."
Anti-war organizations have launched a campaign to
thank Lieutenant Watada for his actions and to stand with him in his
resistance to what he says is an immoral and illegal war. David Solnit,
a long-time organizer in the peace movement said, "There is an umbrella
of his family and friends that supports these courageous actions to
support our troops, the American people and US international law." Many
in the anti-war movement see this as a much needed inspiration to those
who feel that nothing can be done to stop the Iraq war.
Family and friends of Lieutenant Watada have
launched a national campaign to support his actions and to encourage
other military personnel to do the same. Anti-war activists are
planning coordinated national actions set to begin at the end of June
in support of Watada's anticipated refusal to deploy to Iraq. For more
information, visit the web site: http://www.thankyoult.org.
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