What do you think about the Army Officer who is going on trial for refusing to serve in Iraq?

sarge927

When he became an Army officer, he agreed that he would obey the orders of the President of the United States and the officers appointed over him. His actions are hypocritical -- he expects to receive the pay and other benefits that he is normally entitled to as a military member, but he has decided all by himself that he doesn't have to honor the contract that he made with the U.S. Government. His actions have dishonored himself, his unit, and the Army as a whole. He is NOT a hero. He is NOT a free-thinker. He is a coward who thinks he can wear the uniform of the U.S. Armed Forces, but only when it's convenient for him. He has renegged on his promise and deserves to spend several years rotting in Leavenworth.

MadMaxx

His father was a coward POS... and so is he. He had no right to put that uniform on in the first place! He's a coward... hoping he gets at least 5 years in Levenworth!

Curt

I think he deserves the punishment he receives.

gman992

He took an oath when he signed up to obey orders. He should be prosecuted to the fullest extant and take his punishment like a man.

strike_eagle29

HE'S A COWARD AND DESERVES TO BE IN PRISON.
AS A SOLDIER YOU DO NOT CHOOSE THE FIGHT. YOU DO AS YOUR TOLD. DISCIPLINE IS THE KEY TO THE MILITARY. IF THE SOLDIERS GOT TO CHOOSE THEIR FIGHTS THEY WOULD NEVER FIGHT. HE SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAY ALL THE MONEY THAT HE HAS GOTTEN OUT OF THE MILITARY AND HE SHOULD BE SENT TO JAIL FOR A LONG TIME. HE'S A COWARD AND HE DESERVES NO PITY.

lunatic

The UCMJ is very clear. His decision to make this public will force the Court to give him the maximum sentence as an example.

Our involvement in Iraq was ordered by the Commander in Chief of the military and approved by a vote in Congress. There is nothing "illegal" about it.

Goose&Tonic

I think he should be prosecuted. Our army is VOLUNTEER. No one forced him to sign up AFTER we were already at war. I do not feel bad for this guy, I think he is a coward and a traitor. Hope they throw the book at him.

I think he should go to jail. At the end of the day, he signed a contract stating that he would serve his country. And the contract also states that you will answer to all orders set to you from all officers above you. He knew what he was signing, hes educated, unlucky. Im a serving British Soldier by the way. JAIL HIM!!!!!!.

NONAME

That's what he gets. Don't sign up for a job you will only deny to do.

If you can't take the heat stay out of the nuclear reactor.

brett.brown

If he was against the war and found it unconstitutional they why did he join the ARMY? Its unfortunate that because he is on the army he longer has the right to make that decision but again its a volunteer army and going in you know there is the possibility of war and that you will be forced to go. He deserves his punishment, at least this way he serves his three months and gets discharged. Now he doesn't have to go to war.

fat_albert_999

Lock him up and throw away the key. If you join the service, its your job to fight our wars.

rjsluvbug

I think he should have chosen another line of work (or career), it is no different than a police offer refusing to go to the scene of a shoot out (like the one in LA), or an EMT refusing to go on a call to render medical help........ If you aren't going to do the job, & have reservations, fears, etc. that you can't overcome, ...you should be doing something else...especially when speaking of the military or police or fire , b/c your comrades count on you, and if you aren't "committed" you not only put yourself at risk - but you risk the lives of those counting on you. He should be a baker or something.

He never should have enlisted. He's probably expects a pardon if the Democrats win the white house.

Proud to be an AMERICAN

He is a disgrace and should suffer the severest penalties available.

Ray H

I think Levenworth will be a nice place for him.

elmjunburke

I was an army officer in the Second World War. A real officer or soldier goes cheerfully and gladly wherever he's told to go. Soldiers are trained to fight. The right kind of soldier is anxious to put his training to use and to the test. I personally looked foreward to a good fight ( I was in the infantry ), and was disappointed if left out.
This " officer " should be locked up in a dark cage for many many years. Back one hundred years ago, it called for the firing squad. He volunteered for the service, he accepted a commission but he wants to sit out all that he was trained for.
Traitor and coward would not fit him. He's way below that.

isthisyouorme

he should be shot execution style for his lack of patriotism

jnwmom

I had just asked that question not too long ago.My opinion,Watada is a disgrace and a coward.This is a voluntary military.You dont chose who you fight or which battle you fight in.You are obligated to defend this country both foreign and domestic,it is the job of the military.If the little wimp didnt want to fight in a war,he should never have enlisted.He has a right to change his mind.But to publically side with the anti war movement,he is spitting in the face of this brothers fighting this war.You dont act in antiwar activity while wearing an Armed Forces Uniform.

Q-burt

Reduction to E1
forfiture of all pay
Confienment for five years
Dishonorable Discharge

Thats what he deserves.

grantwiscour

He cashed the checks for service not during wartime. Why did he sign up if he didn't consider going to war?

Article 15 and Dishonorable Discharge under the UCMJ.

Kris L

I'm sorry, but it is because he is an Army officer that his 'anti-war statements' really bother me, especially since he enlisted AFTER Iraq was first invaded. I don't care whether he 'believes them' or not ... he 'swore an oath' when he entered the service, and by 'refusing to serve in Iraq' he has violated that oath, and he deserves to go to prison and get a 'dishonorable discharge' ... which means that he won't ever be allowed to 'vote' or to hold a U.S. passport. I too am 'against the war' ... but even though I was raised as an 'Air Force Brat' I had the 'good sense' to know that I could never serve 'in the military' because that 'oath' requires them to 'follow orders' whether they be good ones or bad, and I believe that 'keeping one's promises' (oaths) is far more important to everyone than not 'wanting to fight' for whatever the 'real reason' is.

Yo Yo Mama

I agree the conquest of Iraq was unjustified. So were the conquests of Panama and Grenada. Leaders lie and leaders send soldiers off to fight unjust wars and leaders use military force recklessly. Anyone who's read a history book knows that. If your expectation is that you'll only be sent when and where you agree to go, then volunteer to sell Girl Scout cookies, but don't join the Army. He has to go to prison. It can't go down any other way. And if he's doing this to protest the war, then he should be prepared to accept the consequences with stoicism. But if he whines that he's legally justified and shouldn't be punished, then I won't be sending any cookies to his cell.

mcspic63

he is a disgrace to the uniform-----
even more so for being an officer who is entrusted to lead
there is no punishment cruel enough for his sorry ***
should be drummed out and whipped in public

clear1130

His troops will be able to have a real leader, I thank him for showing his colors before the bullets fly.

mariner31

What I think is immaterial... the Court will decide if he is guilty of the charges of a) Missing Movement and b) Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer.

From what I've read, he's guilty of those charges, and he should do the punishment (4-10 years confinement)

There's no treason, no cowardice on his behalf... just stupidity and failure to follow his oath.

I think the Army should have just accepted his resignation... he's an OFFICER and doesn't have a minimum contract that I'm aware of. And from what I've read, he didn't go thru ROTC so he doesn't owe the Army for college.

Now onto those chimps who committed rape and murder are the ones who get lined up against the wall.

dadacoolone

I would not call him a coward as he has no objection in being sent to Afghanistan ! I think he is a person of conviction as he See's the Iraq war as illegal and unjust,never the less he is a professional soldier, disobeying orders,..this is some thing for the courts to decide !

Joachin Murrieta

An admirable moron.....

ash

You are speaking of Ehren Watada I think. He's from Hawaii. I feel two ways. When you go into the military, you make the decision to support whatever your command delegates is right. So, he knew what he signed. But on the other hand, I believe that people should fight what they believe in. And Iraq civil war isn't one Watada believes in. That's why we have freedom so we can make the choice. At least they dropped 4 charges from his trial.

roadwarrior

Before you hand your "fair" and "just" judgement on the guy, I suggest that you read the full story of the issue first. Know all of the facts before calling him a traitor who deserved to be shot or thrown to rot in jail.

He volunteered in the service at the time when the reasons for going to war in Iraq were clear and without question. After more than a year of the Iraqi invasion, the government admitted that there were no WMDs found in Iraq nor Iraq had anything to do with 9/11, which were the reasons given at the very beginning on why the war in Iraq was necessary. Then recently, he was called up. The guy felt that he had been deceived and lied to by the government. He indeed know the consequences if he refused to deploy to Iraq. So, he requested to be deployed to Afghanistan instead. This is the fact that most people don't know about. To flatly say that the guy refused to deploy is incorrect. He never evaded his responsiblity to deploy. He simply considered that it is morally correct to fight in Afghanistan rather than Iraq.

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