Thoreau it out!

[Stonehead]

We were all busy talking about a loony, lovesick, diaper-wearing astronaut while this happened. The case against 1st Lt Ehren Watada ended in mistrial. The case seemed cut-and-dried with respect to missing troop movement but not so clear with the charge of contempt towards officials, specifically President Bush. Conduct unbecoming a officer and gentleman? Hmm...

 

Well his actions ended a potentially promising military career and I bet he questions the wisdom of his decisions every day. I think it was a foolish move but it still took some guts to actually stand for his beliefs especially in a monolithic institution such as the military.

 

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020807A.shtml

[max]

Yeah, good for him for standing up for what he believes in, but I'd say he needs to pay for going back on his word. He committed to, and he benefitied from his agreement with the military, and now that he's faced with the cost (going against his principles), he backs out.

 

Throw that deserter in jail! I hope they're able to come up with another case against him.

 

[Stonehead]

I don't believe 'deserter' can be used to qualify him. Apparently, he didn't desert or go AWOL but he did miss a troop movement to go to Iraq.

 

I don't believe one person will change anything. It's whether that one person is a believable figure who stands as an example, a political icon of sorts.

 

I also don't believe he will become a martyr but will be sentenced and will spend his time in obscurity, neglected by MSM but perhaps kept alive in the blogsphere.

 

But I have been known to be wrong before.

[Crux]

While we pursued a blood enemy, Osama bin Laden, our Commander-in-Chief deserted us to go upon an adventure of his own unlawful choosing. In my opinion, his crime was capital and so should be his punishment. To blame a subordinate who refused to follow that commander into an unlawful aggression is like blaming a soldier who refused to burn a Jew under orders from the Reich.

 

American soldiers have a duty, in principle and in the law, to disobey an unlawful order. I too would like to see a retrial, as it will provide opportunity to put the legality of the "war" on trial. It's going to happen, sooner or later, but it may as well happen on the watch of that noble son who is 1st Lieutenant Ehren Watada.