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, Lt. Ehren
Watada now poised to refuse deployment via simultaneous,
cross-country press conferences on Wednesday, June 7.
“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.” - U.S. Army
Lt. Ehren Watada
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. Watada
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:
Thank you Lt. Ehren Watada for standing up for
international, US and military law by refusing to deploy to
Iraq in support of the ongoing illegal war and occupation.
From the preemptive invasion based on deception, to the
deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians and nearly
2,500 U.S. troops, to the infamous Abu Ghraib torture cells
and the recent Haditha massacre, no more evidence is required
of how very wrong this war is. In light of these facts, we
appreciate your decision to now follow your conscience.
We agree with you Lt. Watada, it is past time for US
forces to leave Iraq. We salute your true leadership in these
dark times, and believe that we can all learn something from
your courage.
Time is short. We are now
asking people to:
** Sign the petition online (www.thankyoult.org)
** Help collect personalized brief messages of support (to be
used publicly) from notable people. These can also be sent via
the website.
** 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 www.thankyoult.org for breaking news and forthcoming
organizing materials. Add yourself to the Updates and Alerts
email bulletin (provided by Courage to Resist).
** Help organize nationally coordinated support actions prior
to any possible military court martial.
** Contribute to the legal and political defense fund.
Contributions are tax-deductible. Online credit card and
PayPal donations.
Please make check out to "Not in Our Name" and note "Thank You
LT Fund" on your check's memo line. For tax-deductible
donations of $250 or more, make check out to "Not in Our Name
/ Agape Foundation". Send check or money order to:
Thank You LT Fund, c/o Not in Our Name, 3945 Opal Street,
Oakland CA 94609
Additional quotes from Lt. Ehren Watada, first U.S. military
officer to publicly resist Iraq War:
“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.”
"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 friends and family of
Lt. Ehren Watada working group,
Clare Bayard, Catalyst Project / War Resister's League
Max Diorio, Not in Our Name / Courage to Resist
George Johnson, Veterans for Peace
Jim Harris, Courage to Resist / Tom Joad
Michael Hoffman, Campus Anti-War Network / ISO
Lori Hurlebaus, Courage to Resist / GI Rights Hotline
Nancy Mancias, Global Exchange / CodePink
Camilo Mejia, Iraq Veterans Against the War
Steve Morse, Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors
Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name / Courage to Resist
Sandra Schwartz, American Friends Service Committee
David Solnit, Courage to Resist
Bill Schwalb, Veterans for Peace
Matti Tamura, Not in Our Name
Mike Wong, Veterans for Peace
Bob Watada, father of Lt. Ehren Watada
http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/80/27/
see
Payday's letter of support
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