Officer to Resist Illegal Iraq War. URGENT, support needed!

Military Officer to Refuse Illegal Iraq War!
http://www.thankyoult.org

"Never in my life did I ever imagine I would have to disobey my president. But then again, never did I imagine my president would lie to go to war, condone torture, spy on Americans, or destroy the career of a CIA agent for political gain. I would rather resign in protest, but the army doesn't agree."

First U.S. military officer poised to publicly refuse orders in support of the illegal Iraq War requests your immediate support and assistance. Having already attempted to resign his commission in protest, he now poised to refuse deployment via simultaneous, cross-country press conferences, within days.

"I refuse to be silent any longer. I refuse to watch families torn apart, while the President tells us to "stay the course." . . . I refuse to be party to an illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression. I wanted to be there for my fellow troops. But the best way was not to help drop artillery and cause more death and destruction. It is to help oppose this war and end it so that all soldiers can come home."
- LT, US Army officer*

A working group has formed to facilitate an unprecedented political and legal support campaign on his behalf. Well respected civilian legal representation has been secured. A legal and political defense fund has been created. Many of us have already met LT* and have been moved by his determination to help stop an unjust war.

We envision a broad political support campaign with this petition as our basis of unity:


(*At the press conferences "LT's" name will be made public, but we want hundreds of messages of support, and thousands of petition signatures before then.) This means you, DU'ers!

Time is short! We are now asking people to:

** Sign the petition online: http://www.thankyoult.org

Or send an email with your name, title, organizational affiliation (if any),city and state to petition@thankyoult.org

** Help collect personalized brief messages of support (to be used publicly)from notable people. These can also be sent via the website, or by email to statements@thankyoult.org

** Encourage your local or national organization to become an official endorser and supporter of this effort.

** Distribute this call to action and petition to friends, family, and organizational lists.

** Check http://www.thankyoult.org for breaking news and forthcoming organizing materials. Add yourself to the Updates and Alerts email bulletin (provided by Courage to Resist).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional quotes from first U.S. military officer to publicly resist Iraq War:

"Mr. President, you have violated: Article I of the Constitution by deceiving Congress, Article 2 of the U.N. Charter, U.N. Gen. Assembly Res. 3314 and the Nuremburg Tribunal Charter barring wars of aggression, and many other international and domestic laws. As a commissioned officer of the U.S. Armed Forces my legal and moral obligation is to the Constitution--not to those who would issue unlawful orders. It is my duty to refuse to fight this illegal war."

Other Websites of interest:
http://tomjoad.org/WarHeroes.htm Lists the real military heroes... those that resist!
http://www.couragetoresist.org COURAGE TO RESIST is a group of concerned community members, veterans and military families that supports military objectors to illegal war and occupation and the policies of empire.
http://bendermantimeline.com/ Supporting Kevin Benderman, who is serving a 15 month sentence for his refusal to continue his participation in war. Monica, kevin's wife, has posted here at DU.

standing up for what is right.

:kick:

:kick:

my message to this brave and patriotic soul:

I know I speak for millions of Americans when I say: THANK YOU!!!! I have been waiting for the day for someone in uniform to do this. When you sign up with the Military, you take an oath to "Protect the Constitution of the United States"... NOT to "protect the President". Please find as many fellow Military Personel as you can to join you in this effort and know in your heart that WE THE PEOPLE stand behind you.

This is the bravest thing I've heard of in quite a while.

I hope it catches on.

Captain Ian Fishback? :shrug:
http://www.citizen-soldier.org/fishback.html

Read Captain Ian Fishback's letter to Sen. John McCain,
"A Matter of Honor" at http://www.couragetoresist.org/mambo

OR


Army National Guard Specialist Katherine Jashinski
Woman GI Publicly Stands Against War as She Faces Immediate Deployment to Middle East
November 17, 11:30 AM, Front Gate of Ft. Benning, Georgia--
Army National Guard Specialist Katherine Jashinski, on active duty with the 111th ASG since
January of this year, made a public statement against the war as a conscientious objector
in the face of orders to participate in weapons training and deploy to the Middle East.

OR


Pablo Paredes
http://www.citizen-soldier.org/pabloparedes.html
On December 6, 2004, Pablo Paredes refused to board the war-bound USS Bonhomme Richard leaving
from San Diego,CA. Facing charges of "Missing Movement" and "Unauthorized Absence" Pablo was
court martialed on May 11, 2005 for refusing to fight in a war, he challenged, was illegal.

OR


Sgt. Kevin Benderman
http://www.citizen-soldier.org/benderman.html#bendermanconvicted
Benderman Convicted: Get Fifteen Months
On July 28, 2005, a general court martial at Ft. Stewart, GA, sitting judge alone,
found Sgt. Kevin Benderman guilty of "missing a movement" (i.e., failing to return for combat duty in Iraq)
and sentenced him to fifteen months in prison, a Dishonorable Discharge,
reduction to the lowest rank and loss of all pay and benefits.
The judge acquitted Benderman on the charge of desertion.
If convicted on both charges, Benderman could have received a ten year prison sentence.
http://www.bendermantimeline.com/

their stand against this illegal invasion.

And thanks to this officer also. I wish more would join him ~ if this became a movement in the military, the US might regain some of the respect this administration caused it to lose. I can't think of a better way to show the world that the people of the US will no longer support the criminals who started all of this.

He is brave, I hope he gets better treatment than Kevin Benderman did ~

certainly heard of these folks. I put up the list.
http://tomjoad.org/WarHeroes.htm

I met LT last memorial day weekend, it was an honor.

who said "someone in uniform" ...

Besides, isn't a Captain an officer? :shrug:
"7 senses of captain -
Sense 1 captain -- (an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant)"

"diamondsndust (631 posts) Fri Jun-02-06 08:57 PM
Response to Original message
5. Thank You and Blessed Be .. A TRUE PATRIOT....

my message to this brave and patriotic soul:

I know I speak for millions of Americans when I say: THANK YOU!!!!
I have been waiting for the day for someone in uniform to do this."

a month or so ago, I hadn't watched TV in over 5 years. Thank you for the information though, it's great to know about this.

:patriot:

Link Update: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/27/AR2005092701527.html

"A Matter of Honor"
Wednesday, September 28, 2005; Page A21
The following letter was sent to:

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Sept. 16:

From: Capt. Ian Fishback
1st Battalion,
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
82nd Airborne Division,
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

"Dear Senator McCain:
I am a graduate of West Point currently serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army Infantry.
I have served two combat tours with the 82nd Airborne Division, one each in Afghanistan and Iraq..."

LT wants to resign his commission, but cannot, and will be subject to prosecution for his refusal to participate in this illegal war. Hence the need for massive support.

I do commend the courage of Capt. Fishback for taking a public stand.

Thanks for the opportunity to make this clear.

Noticing your nym, I can't help wondering if you are perhaps a Tangerine Dream fanatic? Just curious...

diamonds and dust is a line out of an AC/DC song... Sin City .... and I liked it better than Diamonds & Rust from Judas Priest ....

Joan Baez, if I remember right.

Best wishes to him during his upcoming hard labor. He'll get a lot worse than that dog handler.

handler gets only 90 days hard labor.

A man that refuses to kill, torture, occupy a sovereign land gets hard time, a man who does this vicious act gets less... and the masters of war themselves are feasting away... and Hillary Clinton reminds us that Bush is really a charming fellow.

The thing is, its the %^%#&!! who sent the dog handler to a war of conquest, and created the environment of permission and encouragement to torture that really should be doing time.

God blees this guy and guide him through the Hell that he surely faces.

Let's all stay on this.

Thanks for the find and the post, Tom Joad.

:patriot:

my unqualified support.

:kick:

Leadership. Honnor. Courage. Integrity. Duty.

"Mr. President, you have violated: Article I of the Constitution by deceiving Congress, Article 2 of the U.N. Charter, U.N. Gen. Assembly Res. 3314 and the Nuremburg Tribunal Charter barring wars of aggression, and many other international and domestic laws. As a commissioned officer of the U.S. Armed Forces my legal and moral obligation is to the Constitution--not to those who would issue unlawful orders. It is my duty to refuse to fight this illegal war."


I will do whatever I can to support the good Lt. Lord knows that this will be a difficult path to take and he will need every ounce of support that we can lend.

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

they have me and peacetakescourage.com behind them!

:):):):):):)

...thanks for posting this Tom. :thumbsup:

I know this is going to sound a bit tinfoil-hat'ish, but doesn't it seem a bit strange that they aren't providing a name? And this person isn't the first one to refuse to fight, even though they say he is. Maybe it's to collect a list of names? :shrug: Just sayin'... How did you hear about this, btw?

:kick:

shortly. Everyone that posts here will get a PM when i post that info (it will be in the next week or so).
We are asking for donations now, but if you want to wait until all this is public, then that's understandable. Do send in your support (that's free). Do tell supporters this is happening.
For over 2 years i have been posting the stories of GI's who refuse.
http://tomjoad.org/WarHeroes.htm
I am not going to steer people wrong.
I have met LT, and now he is real, he is brave, and you will not be disappointed.

LT is the first commissioned officer.
Sgt. Benderman, (who I met along with his wife Monica) is a non-commissioned officer. And a wonderful person.

I guess foreigners, even Brits, can't (or shouldn't) directly support?

Signed!! Thank you!

:patriot:

thanks for bringing this to light

:kick:

:patriot: :kick:

It may be awhile before her name is added to the list, but Col. Wright has signed on.
If you have any contacts with "notable" people, please contact them (not to say that each and every one of you are not special, of course, cuz you are)

Ann Wright resigned from the U.S. Foreign Service on March 19, 2003, while serving as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Mongolia . She resigned due to her disagreement with the Bush administration's decision to go to war in Iraq without the authorization of the UN Security Council, the lack of effort in resolving the Israel-Palestinian situation, the lack of policy on North Korea and unnecessary curtailment of civil liberties in the United States .

'If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!'


--Rudyard Kipling

distributing & thank you Tom Joad!

"Mr. President, you have violated: Article I of the Constitution by deceiving Congress, Article 2 of the U.N. Charter, U.N. Gen. Assembly Res. 3314 and the Nuremburg Tribunal Charter barring wars of aggression, and many other international and domestic laws. As a commissioned officer of the U.S. Armed Forces my legal and moral obligation is to the Constitution--not to those who would issue unlawful orders. It is my duty to refuse to fight this illegal war."

The Constitution, yes indeed.

THIS is what a hero looks like. THIS is the type of soldier worthy of support.

I could not find a date.

Does anyone know?

Thanks for any info! :)

That's the oath they took when they joined the service. Isn't that right?

a kick

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1851191.php

Lieutenant defies Army over ‘illegal’ war

By William Cole
The Honolulu Advertiser

In one of the first known cases of its kind, an Army officer from Honolulu is expected to refuse to go to Iraq this month with his unit, citing what he calls the “illegal” and “immoral” basis of the war, his father confirmed.

The officer, 1st Lt. Ehren K. Watada, 28, son of former state campaign spending commission executive director Bob Watada, is believed to be one of the first military officers to publicly take steps to refuse his deployment orders.
Subscribe Today!

“My son has a great deal of courage, and clearly understands what is right, and what is wrong,” Bob Watada said yesterday. “He’s choosing to do the right thing, which is a hard course.”

Watada declined further comment until a news conference planned for 11 a.m. tomorrow at the state Capitol. His son is with a Stryker unit out of Fort Lewis, Wash., and is expected to participate by teleconference.

Jeff Paterson, a former Kaneohe Bay Marine who refused to board a transport in 1990 heading to the Gulf War and now works as an anti-war activist with the organization Not In Our Name, said a second news conference will be held in Tacoma, Wash.

On a Web site Paterson said was created by friends and family, the “Lt.” is quoted as saying: “I refuse to be silent any longer. I refuse to watch families torn apart, while the President tells us to ‘stay the course.’ ... I refuse to be party to an illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression. I wanted to be there for my fellow troops. But the best way was not to help drop artillery and cause more death and destruction. It is to help oppose this war and end it so that all soldiers can come home.” more...
*********
Stay tuned for Press Conference scheduled for Wednesday and announcement of protest actions in support of Lt. Watada and all those who resist. Ehren is going to deserve are full support.