As many peace-oriented folks know, this week Lt. Ehren Watada (ehren being the German word for “honor”, appropiately enough) is facing Court Martial for refusing to participate in Bush’s illegal and immoral war of aggression in Iraq.
He is the first commissioned officer to refuse duty in Iraq, and his courage and determination deserve our greatest respect.
Please visit his website at ThankYouLt.org Also visit CourageToResist
Tom Joad's Musings 
February 18, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Hi, just thought I would leave a response for you. You state that Lt. Watada is a hero for refusing his duty calling the war illegal and immoral. Unfortunately in October of 2002 Congress voted on and authorized the President to use military force. The resolution specifically stated that Sadam was in “material and unacceptable breech of international obligations” related to his refusal of following the mandates of the United Nations. Congress also called for his removal, using force the President deemed necessary, to “promote a democratic government” throught the “removal of the current regime”. Obviously based on this the war is legal and as such Lt. Watada and the other objectors are commiting a crime by refusing to serve. Because they are all volunteers and not draftees their objection is baseless. They volunteered knowing full well they could be ordered to war. War is an unfortunate part of the world we live in, but sometimes necessary. This individual was obviously a terror and was engaged in an act of genocide. He needed to be stopped and unfortunately since we have assumed the role of the world’s policeman the job fell on us.
March 1, 2007 at 10:46 pm
The idiocy and recklessness of the US Congress to approve the Iraq War Resolution cannot be overstated.
It does not change the fact that the war is illegal by international standards, however. It is clearly a war of aggression, based on the lies of the Bush administration and its supporters.
Those in the military voluntarily gave an oath to protect the United States, not to fight in wars of aggression. It is their duty to refuse such illegal and basically immoral orders. See the Nuremberg Principles.
http://www.tomjoad.org/nuremberg.htm