1st Lieutenant Ehren Watada

Ehren Watada refused to go to Iraq because he believes the war is illegal. He could have been a weasel and claimed conscientious objector status but refused to. He says he's willing to fight in Afghanistan. Now he's being court martialed for missing troop movement and conduct unbecoming an officer, if convicted he could face four years in prison.

The bottom line is this: when you receive a direct order you either obey it or face the consequences. Watada refused to lead his men to war, regardless of his beliefs or reasons, this is a crime. He then criticized the war and the President. When you are an officer you forgo the absolute constitutional right to free speech we civilians enjoy. For example, you can't call the president a war criminal and verbally exhort other service members to join you in refusing to fight. Watada has already stipulated that quotes of him saying exactly such things are accurate. This also is a crime, conduct unbecoming an officer.

In my opinion, Watada should be sentenced to four years in prison, then tossed out of the Army. If he walks into his court martial, says his peace and stands for the consequences, I'll forever disagree with him, but would be forced to admire him. Our crapweasels in the Senate should watch and learn.