To the Editor:
This Tuesday, Lieutenant Ehren Watada, the first officer to publicly refuse service in Iraq, will face his second court-martial. Watada's first court martial, which resulted in a mistrial in February of 2007, charged him with "conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman" for publicly criticizing the Bush administration and for missing the departure of his brigade in June 2006.
We know in advance that Watada is unlikely to win. For the court to allow his refusal to fight is for the court to admit the illegality of the war. But from a logical standpoint, Watada's case is strong: Congress has ignored and distorted its original objectives. Watada believes that the war violates the principles of the Constitution, saying that the founders could never believe "a standing army would be used for profit and manifest destiny." He also cites international law in his case, claiming that the Nuremberg principles call for soldiers to disobey illegal orders.
It is of paramount importance that we support Watada in his stand against his superiors. Petitions, vigils, and protests - all of these actions are effective in terms of making a government take action. But if a government refuses to end this illegal war, the only real way we can stop it is if the soldiers themselves refuse to fight. Watada said in his speech at the Veterans For Peace Convention last year, "If soldiers realized this war is contrary to what the Constitution extols - if they stood up and threw their weapons down - no president could ever initiate a war of choice again."
The military is attempting to make a symbol out of Watada, to show how insubordination will not be tolerated. It is our job as conscientious citizens to stand up and support Watada, and every other soldier who refuses to fight. It is time we showed the military and the government that it is time to end the war, and to show the soldiers that we are behind them when they risk everything to oppose it.
Please join Operation Iraqi Freedom, Brown's antiwar group, on the Main Green on Tuesday, Oct. 9 for more information on Watada.
Harry Stark '11Andrea Dillon '11Oct. 4
