Op Ed: War Criminals 'R' US »

This Story is Archived and Commenting is Closed

Comments: 14

• 
  Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)

  mcgrievysr

  Jan. 30, 2007, 5:46 a.m.

  I had to look up "poverty draft" and found that it describes a targeting by the military to make attractive military service for the poor and undereducated. Have you seen the recruiting commercials on TV? Interesting. Those recruits will generally not question authority. That makes it especially problematic when a young man like Watada thinks for himself relating to moral issues. For military judges, this opens a whole new can of worms.

  A wealthy friend of a friend is a conservative who wholly supports our occupation in Iraq. He said that as long as the poor and uneducated are serving, then it's no big loss. I asked him if his son who is at Princeton would volunteer, and he said, "You've got to be kidding! There's no draft". Does this echo the sentiments of our present administration? I laughed out loud when someone on Netscape referred to them as the "Chairborne Rangers". That's descriptive, but very grim humor.
• 
  Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)

  spkguy

  Jan. 30, 2007, 7:37 a.m.

  Some people on the right say that Jim Webb is a traitor because he ran for the Democratic party seat in the senate.

  And its easy for then to say that, because most likely they did not have personal stake in this conflict like he does.
• 
  Avg rating: (+5/-0 5)

  Spadecaller

  Jan. 30, 2007, 7:52 a.m.

  "Why would a military judge refuse to allow an officer to make the case that in refusing an order the officer was following a higher law, which is itself recognized by the military? A judge should be bound by the law, including important provisions of international law that have been incorporated into domestic law. For a judge to refuse to follow the law is beyond reason."

  "But there is a reason. Watada's challenge is that the Iraq War is illegal. This fact seems beyond question. A legal war cannot logically be premised on lies, and we all know the Iraq War was premised on a series of well coordinated lies (the "Downing Street Memo" being the proof any rational person needs). The judge cannot allow Watada to argue the War is illegal because it is obviously illegal, and as such constitutes a War Crime, so the judge disregards the law - much to the shame of us all."

  This case could prevent future ill-conceived and illegal wars.
• 
  Avg rating: (+7/-2 5)

  bubba2

  Jan. 30, 2007, 11:41 a.m.

  Here is a website for/about Lt. Watada --

  http://www.thankyoult.org/
• 
  Avg rating: (+1/-3 -2)

  Amazing1

  Jan. 30, 2007, 11:49 a.m.

  The article states, "Watada properly and legally refused an illegal order and we must now admit the truth of his position and recognize that we as a society stand condemned in the light of this truth. Morality is not easy, and thinking for oneself in a time of wars and lies is even harder. There are times when we are tested. This is one of those times."

  It is time for the populace to demand that we adhere to the principles set forth in our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. If we do not, we are nothing but just another banana republic.
• 
  Avg rating: (+0/-3 -3)

  jordan11

  Jan. 30, 2007, 12:09 p.m.

  Too bad bush is president. He could pardon him otherwise, if he's found guilty. (and he will be).
• 
  Avg rating: (+15/-2 13)

  ind06

  Jan. 30, 2007, 2:08 p.m.

  The mistake is in the question "are we any better than the Germans who just followed orders?"

  The answer: no, not really.

  If we find ourselves, as a whole, acting like WWII Germans, we shouldn't be surprised. We shouldn't be happy about it either.

  This is the lesson of the Holocaust, not that that Nazis were an evil murderous bunch, they were. But, that humans in general have the capacity for greatly evil works. In the end it's what makes denial of the Holocaust so dangerous.

  Sorry about going off topic, Spade.
• 
  Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)

  ETproductions

  Jan. 30, 2007, 2:50 p.m.

  If the violation of the Nuremberg Protocols is brought into the impeachment of Bush and Cheney, what is the chance that Lt. Watada can get a review of his case?
• 
  Avg rating: (+0/-3 -3)

  SaintCheez

  Jan. 30, 2007, 8:05 p.m.

  All-in-all a well written piece. Hard to argue against it.
• 
  Avg rating: (+5/-0 5)

  eugenegerard

  Feb. 1, 2007, 9:32 p.m.

  All soldiers are required to refuse any unlawful order.

All 14 comments are shown.