Lt. Watada is still on trial
Lt. Ehren Watada on Refusing to Serve in Iraq
Despite the Congressional elections, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee non-binding resolution and other news showing resistance to the war in Iraq, the Pentagon is continuing its court martial trial against Lt. Ehren Watada. I thought I'd pass on some local events that will take place here in Honolulu -- Ehren's hometown:
Saturday, February 3, 10:30 am to noon, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai`i, 5th Floor
Monday, February 5, 3:30-6pm;
PS You can hear Lt. Watada's on the fine NPR talk show "Fresh Air" for 25 January 2007.
Despite the Congressional elections, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee non-binding resolution and other news showing resistance to the war in Iraq, the Pentagon is continuing its court martial trial against Lt. Ehren Watada. I thought I'd pass on some local events that will take place here in Honolulu -- Ehren's hometown:
Saturday, February 3, 10:30 am to noon, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai`i, 5th Floor
Panel discussion on Lt. Watada: Dissenter or Deserter?
Panelists include Jon Okamura, Ph.D., Karen Nakasone, and Ernie Kimoto. Sponsored by JCCH; phone: 945-7633 ext 27 for more information; Admission free
Monday, February 5, 3:30-6pm;
Press Conference at 4 pm., Fort Shafter Gate
Demonstration to Support Lt. Ehren Watada. Help bring out hundreds of people to support Lt. Watada on the first day of his court-martial! Plan car pools (parking is available in the neighborhood just beyond Fort Shafter), or catch rides from the Church of the Crossroads parking lot at 3 pm. There will be signs and banners, or you can make your own. Make sure your organizations is there, and represented at the Press Conference.
PS You can hear Lt. Watada's on the fine NPR talk show "Fresh Air" for 25 January 2007.
posted by Dr. Drew at
1/27/2007 11:48:00 AM
3 Comment(s):
The world is watching the results of this trial. I went to the JCCH Forum on Saturday. It was excellent! It was obvious that most people present were supporting Lt. Watada. Even the one panelist who critiqued Watada's actions (a former JAG) criticized the war.
Lt. Watada's trial starts on Monday. I won't be able to make the Peace vigil at Fort Shafter, but will see if I can make it to the Federal Building between 4:00 and 6:30.
By
Dr. Drew, at Sunday, February 04, 2007 11:56:00 PM
Judge Head declared a mistrial today before Lt. Watada could present his own eloquent albeit limited defense. This was a surprise -- after the Judge had ruled out discussion of the legality or morality of the war.
I don't quite know if the Pentagon was afraid of letting him testify... or if they were more afraid of the result of not allowing discussion of the war and thus sending a true leader to prison for a decision that most Americans agree with (i.e., the war is wrong). Perhaps by simply delaying this trial they are blocking the impact of his eloquent defense.
...Or I wonder if the Pentagon had feared that he might win his Court Martial.
Whatever the appointed leaders at the Pentagon decide, I bet they will try to delay this process for many more months. If they concede, I predict it will be announced on a Friday at 5pm, as they usually do with any story they want to bury. Sigh. We'll just have to keep our eyes on this case.
By
Dr. Drew, at Wednesday, February 07, 2007 7:34:00 PM
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By
Dr. Drew, at Friday, February 09, 2007 2:13:00 AM
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