Military veterans stand behind “illegal war” refuser Lt. Watada

SEATTLE (August 12, 2006) – Hundreds of military veterans rose to their feet this evening in an impromptu chant, “Thank You Lieutenant Watada!” Lt. Ehren Watada publicly refused to deploy with the Fort Lewis, Washington-based 3rd Stryker Brigade on June 22 becoming the first military officer to take such a stand. At least here at the closing banquet of the national Veterans for Peace convention, his courage was clearly appreciated by the 500 attendees of the more than 5,000 member national organization.

As Lt. Watada took the stage to the chorus of “thank you,” three dozen members of the growing Iraq Veterans Against the War filed on stage to stand behind him. All of them members of the U.S. military since September 11, 2001 – most of them Iraq War veterans.

Lt. Watada outlined his case to put the war on trial in the course of the military’s prosecution of his resistance. On August 17th, in a military courtroom on Fort Lewis, Washington the first test of this strategy to help end the Iraq occupation war will be put into play. At this Article 32 pre-trial hearing, the defense will have former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations Dennis Halliday take the stand. Additionally, U.S. Army Colonel Ann Wright (ret.) and international law professor Francis Boyle will also appear for the defense.

Lt. Watada also challenged attendees to take up the defense of all members of the military who look into their conscience and find themselves unable to follow illegal orders with greater efforts. Currently facing over five years in a military prison for his speech and opinions alone – contempt of the president and conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman – his appearance before the convention held extra gravity. At the end, the hall rose for a final standing ovation.

Many conference attendees supported Lt. Watada battle against the illegal occupation war prior to hearing him speak Saturday night; however, many expressed that they didn’t really understand what “the big deal” was regarding his case until this evening.