Refusing to fight in Iraq

by Jeremy Hunt

Daily Lobo

Bob Watada said his son joined the army in early March 2003 to fight the war on terrorism.

However, Ehren Watada refused to deploy to Iraq because he didn't see a connection between terrorism and Iraq's government, Bob Watada said.

"The president said there is al-Qaida training going on in Iraq," Bob Watada said. "There could have been no connection to Saddam (Hussein) and Osama (bin Laden)."

Ehren Watada is the first commissioned officer to refuse to deploy to Iraq, Bob Watada said.

Bob Watada spoke to more than 30 people Friday at the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice at 202 Harvard Drive, S.E.

Bob Watada and his wife, Rosa Sakanishi, are on a 16-state tour to raise support for their son.

There was an Article 32 hearing on Aug. 24, which is a military version of an indictment, Bob Watada said. He said the prosecutors recommended a court martial, and Ehren Watada's attorney expects one in February 2007.

"We're hoping that at the court martial, the military will see there's a lot of public opinion and support for Ehren Watada," Bob Watada said.

Ehren Watada was getting a degree in business finance at the Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu when the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks happened, Bob Watada said.

Ehren Watada joined the army before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and went to boot camp in June after graduating, Bob Watada said.

Bob Watada said Ehren Watada got caught up in the paranoia the government instilled in the public.

"He wanted to do something for his country and join the war on terrorism," he said.

Ehren Watada last trained in South Korea to be an artillery officer, Bob Watada said.

In June 2005, Ehren Watada was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., and was scheduled for deployment to Iraq in June 2006, Bob Watada said.

Ehren Watada made two formal requests to resign and at least two requests to be given duties not related to Iraq, Bob Watada said.

All his requests were denied.

On June 7, Ehren Watada made a public statement and said the war in Iraq is illegal and immoral and the president was being deceptive, Bob Watada said.

Ehren Watada did not deploy when he was scheduled to on June 22, Bob Watada said.

Student Heather Larronde, secretary for Albuquerque's Veterans for Peace chapter, said Ehren Watada is a patriot, and he couldn't have known he would have to fight a war he didn't believe in.

"There are things you're not expecting to happen, and they did happen to Ehren," she said. "He wasn't naive at all."

Ehren Watada believes the war violates the constitution and international law, Bob Watada said.

He is charged with failing to deploy, two counts of contempt toward officials and four counts of conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, Bob Watada said.

If found guilty, he could spend eight years in prison, Bob Watada said.

Bob Watada said Ehren Watada is acting in accordance with the promise he made to the United States.

"He made an oath to support and protect the U.S. constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic," he said. "Clearly, there's no foreign enemy involved here (Iraq) for the U.S."

Ehren Watada lives off base and has been reassigned to ICorp, an administrative unit at Fort Lewis, working in the accounting and budgeting office, Bob Watada said.

Bob Watada said there are at least 25 other soldiers who publicly refuse to fight in Iraq.

Bob Watada said Ehren Watada did not comply with his order to go to Iraq because he was following an order given by the Nuremberg Tribunal, which the United States signed after World War II.

"In the Nuremberg Tribunal, any civilian or military person that participates in war crimes, such as killing of innocent people, can be prosecuted for war crimes," he said. "My son will be asked to go to Iraq and participate in war crimes."