Officer says he sought anti-war groups’ help

Army Lt. Ehren Watada said Sunday that he sought out anti-war groups for support before he made public his refusal to deploy to Iraq.

The Fort Lewis soldier spoke Sunday night before anti-war activists and parishioners at St. Leo’s Catholic church in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood. News reporters were barred from the event, per Watada’s request, said Mary Bradford, the church’s pastoral assistant for social ministry.

I wonder why?  She was nice enough to explain:

“He preferred (to have) no media because he wanted a candid conversation without being quoted,” she said.

And he is afraid of being quoted why?  Consider that in the next paragraph

Watada, 28, made his comments to reporters in an impromptu press conference before Sunday night’s program. Since his announcement to refuse to deploy to Iraq with his fellow Stryker soldiers, he said he’s received supportive e-mails from people in the military. However, “Not many people want to talk to me” at Fort Lewis, he said.

So he doesn’t want to bequoted, but he will have a press conference…where he will be quoted.  So I wonder what candid admissions he is afraid of having the media quote? 

And the whole  “ ‘Not many people want to talk to me’ at Fort Lewis”  statement….well duh, you are acting in a manner that is anathema to a mafority of people.  These people are doing their jobs.  You are not.  They hate war too, but they made on oath of service and they are honoring it.  You are not.  You will find a few disgruntled people who will clap you on the back in comradeship, but the average serviceman will clap you on the back to put a "Kick Me" sign there.

He asked for support from Courage to Resist, Iraq Veterans Against the War and other groups in April, he said.

Much sooner then I expected really, this was a very premeditated effort. 

“I knew these were groups that were supportive of troops doing their duty,” Watada said.

Um, if that is how you see this, well whatever.   I may only have been a SSgt, a lowly E-5 but even us dumb enlisted guys understand that one of the core elements of doing ones duty is obeying lawful orders.

Being anti war is not a deterrent to duty, so these groups are not an issue.  He is not anti war anyway, by his own words so it is moot.  This is completely about his inability…no, I take that back, this is about his willing refusal to do his duty.  He is able.  He just won’t.

He apparently just wanted a group to support him, and they wanted him to trot out in their dog and pony show, the poor young officer disillusioned by Bush’s lies.  A marriage of convenience.

Personally he is beginning to make me wanna puke. 

Anti-war groups have since launched www.thankyoult.org to back his effort and solicit donations on his behalf.

Watada said “he didn’t expect all the media attention” that he’s garnered since his announcement that he wouldn’t deploy to Iraq because he believes the war is illegal and it’s his duty to not take part in it. He made the announcement Wednesday in Tacoma during a scheduled press conference

Let me get this straight.  He did not expect media attention, but he scheduled a press conference?

Ahem.  Bullshit.  He not only expected it he and his handlers wanted it.  They took a few months to let the story trickle out, then had the big planned information release.  For a guy who didn’t expect media attention, he certainly was not afraid to use the media as a tool for his cause.  This just shrieks of planning.

Watada, a native of Honolulu, enlisted in 2003 after he graduated from Hawaii Pacific University.

He attended Officer Candidate School, accepted a commission as a second lieutenant and served in Korea for a year before he arrived at Fort Lewis last summer.

He has said he believed President Bush when he said before the invasion that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and links to al-Qaida. However, he came to believe the war is illegal and based on “woeful misconduct at the highest levels of my chain of command,” he has said.

Of course he has not offered any proof to his defense here.  And he carefully ignores all the evidence to the contrary.

The 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, of which Watada is a member, is scheduled to head to Iraq in the next few weeks for its second yearlong deployment of the war. It would be Watada’s first combat deployment.

Fort Lewis officials have said that no decision would be made about action against Watada until his commander completes a thorough review.

If they fail to jail him, then the army has become completely gutless.