Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Pacifica Commentary for January 31, 2007
The Trial Of Lieutenant Ehren Watada
Leutenant Ehren Watada will go before a military court on next Monday, February 5th.. On Sunday, February 4th at 10:00 AM here on KPFK I will Have three of the members of THE CITIZENS HEARING ON THE LEGALITY OF THE WAR IN IRAQ. They are Professor Richard Falk, Colonel Ann Wright and David Krieger, President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. The hearing was convened to present evidence that Lieutenant Ehren Watada intended to present at his February 5th Court Martial. But in a pretrial hearing the court refused to hear the evidence. As a result of the failure of this military court to hear the motives for Lieutenant Watada’s refusal to serve, the Citizens’ Hearing was held before a gathering of 600 people. Here are some of the points made by the legal experts who presided over the hearing:
Lieutenant Ehren Watada had not only the right to refuse to deploy to Iraq in an illegal war, but he had a duty to do so.
Watada should be recognized for his courage rather than undergoing a Court Martial.
Darrell Anderson, who received a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq spoke of orders
issued to, “Shoot everyone, regardless of whether they were civilians, including children.”
Experts on International Law made it clear that the war in Iraq was initiated illegally. It did not comply with the United Nations Charter because it was not required for immediate self defense and it was not authorized by the United Nations Security Council. It was a war of aggression violating international law and the United States Constitution. Article 6, Section 2 of the Constitution makes treaties such as the United Nations Charter part of the Supreme Law of the Land.
The panel also received testimony regarding the systematic torture of Iraqi prisoners, and indiscriminate killing of civilians.
Dennis Halliday, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations described the “shock and awe” initiation of the war as terrorist act.
Law Professor Richard Falk testified that the military judge’s order preventing Ehren Watada from presenting evidence on the illegality of the war was “criminally disallowing him from obeying the law.”
The unanimous finding of the panel is that the United States committed crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Iraq. Further, Lieutenant Watada acted legally and honorably in refusing orders to deploy to Iraq, and his actions are in accord with the oath he took to uphold the constitution of the United States. The only thing going on trial on next Monday morning is the War in Iraq. Lieutenant Watada is a victim of that war.
Leutenant Ehren Watada will go before a military court on next Monday, February 5th.. On Sunday, February 4th at 10:00 AM here on KPFK I will Have three of the members of THE CITIZENS HEARING ON THE LEGALITY OF THE WAR IN IRAQ. They are Professor Richard Falk, Colonel Ann Wright and David Krieger, President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. The hearing was convened to present evidence that Lieutenant Ehren Watada intended to present at his February 5th Court Martial. But in a pretrial hearing the court refused to hear the evidence. As a result of the failure of this military court to hear the motives for Lieutenant Watada’s refusal to serve, the Citizens’ Hearing was held before a gathering of 600 people. Here are some of the points made by the legal experts who presided over the hearing:
Lieutenant Ehren Watada had not only the right to refuse to deploy to Iraq in an illegal war, but he had a duty to do so.
Watada should be recognized for his courage rather than undergoing a Court Martial.
Darrell Anderson, who received a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq spoke of orders
issued to, “Shoot everyone, regardless of whether they were civilians, including children.”
Experts on International Law made it clear that the war in Iraq was initiated illegally. It did not comply with the United Nations Charter because it was not required for immediate self defense and it was not authorized by the United Nations Security Council. It was a war of aggression violating international law and the United States Constitution. Article 6, Section 2 of the Constitution makes treaties such as the United Nations Charter part of the Supreme Law of the Land.
The panel also received testimony regarding the systematic torture of Iraqi prisoners, and indiscriminate killing of civilians.
Dennis Halliday, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations described the “shock and awe” initiation of the war as terrorist act.
Law Professor Richard Falk testified that the military judge’s order preventing Ehren Watada from presenting evidence on the illegality of the war was “criminally disallowing him from obeying the law.”
The unanimous finding of the panel is that the United States committed crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Iraq. Further, Lieutenant Watada acted legally and honorably in refusing orders to deploy to Iraq, and his actions are in accord with the oath he took to uphold the constitution of the United States. The only thing going on trial on next Monday morning is the War in Iraq. Lieutenant Watada is a victim of that war.
