It Was My Duty To Refuse To Go To Iraq....

It was my duty to refuse to go to Iraq, says first American army officer facing court martial
By Alex Massie in Washington
Last Updated: 1:56am GMT 23/11/2006

The first American army officer to face court-martial for refusing to serve in Iraq said yesterday that it was his duty to recognize and refuse "illegal" orders.
Lt Watada faces six years in jail for his refusal to join his unit
in Iraq. His service would have been due to end next month

Lt Ehren Watada, 28, faces four charges of conduct unbecoming an officer for his refusal to join his unit in Iraq in the summer. Speaking ahead of a pre-trial hearing, the conscientious objector pledged that he would "fight with everything I have for my freedom and that of all Americans. I will face imprisonment to stand up for my beliefs."

If he had gone to Iraq, his service would have been due to end next month. Instead, if convicted, he could face six years in prison.

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Lost In The Desert

By Maureen Dowd
New York Times

Wednesday 22 November 2006

Iraq now evokes that old Jimmy Durante song that goes, "Did you ever have the feeling that you wanted to go and still have the feeling that you wanted to stay?"

It's hard to remember when America has been so stuck. We can't win and we can't leave.

The good news is that the election finished what Katrina started. It dismantled the president's fake reality about Iraq, causing opinions to come gushing forth from all quarters about where to go from here.

The bad news is that no one, and I mean no one, really knows where to go from here. The White House and the Pentagon are ready to shift to Plan B. But Plan B is their empty term for miraculous salvation.

      Crossposted from TruthOut