1st Lt. Ehren Watada, refuses Orders to IRAQ

Published on June 16, 2006 By Moderateman In War on Terror

http://www.komotv.com/stories/43774.htm

This man has refused to go to IRAQ,. I bet you think I am going to Trash him, well you are wrong.

The difference is this man has made an informed decision, knowing the consequences and is not running away.

He Knows he is going to jail, that some people will call him a coward {I won't} He will be dishonorably discharged and carry the stigma with him for life. Yet he stands by his decision. Now if he made this decision and RAN, I would be after him, but to stand by your conscious and take it on the chin {lord knows he will be dealt with harshly} Is something I RESPECT.

I salute you,.................. addendum below... This was in the original body of work, then I removed it, I have added it back at the suggestion of one of our resident heroes, so the point of this article is not lost.

Comments (Page 2)

Texas Wahine

on Jun 16, 2006

SO, i agree that he should be punished for not keeping his commitment, but in the end we have the obligation as Americans and human beings to follow our concience. I'm glad he's accepting the due consequences of not keeping his commitment, and I think he's done what many of us would do if we felt we were being sent to die for an unjust cause.

I just don't see anything valuable or worthy about his choice. I'm sorry.

Ask yourself this, TW. Would you want someone who didn't believe in the cause and who didn't feel they should fight to be alongside your husband who is counting on them? Would you prefer this person to go over there and make a "statement" by lobbing a grenade in a tent, or making up lies about the troops as his form of protest?

My own husband doesn't believe in the cause. He will do what is required of him and he will do it to the best of his ability. THAT is honorable. What local boy Watada is doing is shameful.

Not every commitment we make affords us the opportunity to change our minds.

Texas Wahine

on Jun 16, 2006

Or perhaps he was hoping that he'd get through his commitment without being called up to go to Iraq?

That would be my guess.

bakerstreet

on Jun 16, 2006

"I just don't see anything valuable or worthy about his choice. I'm sorry. "

If you were relying on the guy next to you to shoot people he can't bring himself to shoot, you might feel differently.

AngelaMarie88

on Jun 16, 2006

My own husband doesn't believe in the cause.

My husband doesn't believe in the cause either (neither do I), and he dutifully went to Iraq like everyone else, and just like your husband is preparing to do.

Can you imagine if every servicemember who silently agrees with Lt. Watada were to do the same thing he did? Can you imagine what the impact on this issue would be if there were THOUSANDS of deserters?

There would be a lot of families with servicemembers in prison...And a lot of housewives looking for jobs to support their families, but

I imagine such an uprising would make our Beloved President RE-THINK THIS STUPID "WAR"!!!!!!

bakerstreet

on Jun 16, 2006

"There would be a lot of families with servicemembers in prison...And a lot of housewives looking for jobs to support their families, but do you suppose that would make our Beloved President re-think this stupid "war"???"

Absolutely. In the end, the final veto over any war are the people who are going to give their lives. Just like anyone who steps up and disagrees with the group, he could have fled to Canada and whined, or he could stand his ground and refuse to do something he doesn't agree with. To me, the most honest path for this person was to stay home and face the music.

I believe the war in Iraq was the right thing to do at the last possible moment it could have been done. Anything later would have endangered the effort by placing the election right in the middle and shifting the responsiblity to whatever Democrat won. I don't, though, believe that anyone who believes pulling a trigger is the wrong thing to do should pull the trigger.

Moderateman

on Jun 16, 2006

#14 by BakerStreet
Fri, June 16, 2006 4:55 PM

Me, I'd rather people who aren't committed to the cause to stay home.

yes, me too, I surely would not follow this man into battle.

Texas Wahine

on Jun 16, 2006

If you were relying on the guy next to you to shoot people he can't bring himself to shoot, you might feel differently.

You do realize he's an OFFICER, right? He's not going to be shooting anyone. He's going to be sitting in a swivel chair in an air conditioned room.

Moderateman

on Jun 16, 2006

#15 by AngelaMarie88
Fri, June 16, 2006 5:04 PM

From a different angle, if Lt. Watada is so opposed to this war, why the heck did he sign up after the war began? Me wonders if he was looking forward to making this statement? Or perhaps he was hoping that he'd get through his commitment without being called up to go to Iraq, while enjoying his nice fat paychecks? I wonder if he hadn't received orders he would have kept his opinion to himself like so many others do?

I would like to know the answers to that as well. Nope he would have kept his "opinion" to himself, there was no point before he had orders.

bakerstreet

on Jun 16, 2006

"He's going to be sitting in a swivel chair in an air conditioned room."

Then even more so, because he'd hypocritically be sending people like your husband to die. Is sending people to die for a cause you don't believe in an honest thing to do, you think?

Texas Wahine

on Jun 16, 2006

Then even more so, because he'd hypocritically be sending people like your husband to die. Is sending people to die for a cause you don't believe in an honest thing to do, you think?

"Sending people like your husband to die?"

My husband isn't being "sent to die"...he's a fucking medic, Bakerstreet. You can kiss Watada's ass all you want, but I don't find his decision to abandon his commitment at his own convenience honorable.

We have different standards.

Does anyone know what Watada DOES? Just because he's an officer doesn't make him a commander charged with sending troops into battle. He could be a fucking lawyer for all I know.

Moderateman

on Jun 16, 2006

#25 by Texas Wahine
Fri, June 16, 2006 5:24 PM

Does anyone know what Watada DOES? Just because he's an officer doesn't make him a commander charged with sending troops into battle. He could be a fucking lawyer for all I know.

I don't, I just assumed he was battle ground bound.

Moderateman

on Jun 16, 2006

His unit - the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division stryker division.

I think this is a combat mission by where is is stationed and with who.

bakerstreet

on Jun 16, 2006

Stryker Brigade is described as:

" The SBCT is designed to bridge the gap between The Army’s light and heavy forces. The unit provides combatant commanders increased operational and tactical flexibility. The Stryker, an eight-wheeled medium weight armored vehicle, is the SBCT's primary combat and combat support platform. Significantly lighter and more transportable than existing tanks and armored vehicles, the Stryker fulfills an immediate requirement to equip a strategically and tactically deployable brigade, capable of rapid movement worldwide.

During the training events, the Stryker Brigade’s capability to deploy rapidly and execute early entry operations was assessed, along with its capability to conduct combat missions across the range of military operations, potential threats and terrain. Additionally, the unit’s organizational design was evaluated."

Texas Wahine

on Jun 16, 2006

He's an artillery officer.

It took a surprising amount of digging to find that out.

The responsibilities of a Field Artillery Lieutenant may include:

Leading and controlling Field Artillery troops and combined armed forces during land combat.
Coordinating employment of Field Artillery Soldiers at all levels of command, from platoon to battalion and higher, in U.S. and multi-national operations.

Texas Wahine

on Jun 16, 2006

His unit - the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division stryker division.

I think this is a combat mission by where is is stationed and with who.

That's what's commonly posted in articles about him. Stryker is combat, but like anything else, it will include non-combat positions.

You'd be hard-pressed to find an MOS in the Army that doesn't deploy.

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