The Scene: National speaking tour by Bob Watada, whose son, Lt. Ehren Watada, is the first commissioned officer to refuse deployment to the illegal war in Iraq, St. Johns Unitarian Church, 320 Resor Avenue, Cincinnati, OH. Contacts are Doug Zachary, 512-791-9824 (Watada Tour) and Marty Webster 513-349-4413 (V V A W). Sponsored by V V A W Ohio Valley Regional Chapter.

On June 22nd, Lt. Ehren Watada became the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq. He takes this stand based on his belief that the war is illegal, and that it is his moral and legal duty under the constitution to refuse orders to deploy. He is currently awaiting court-martial at Ft. Lewis, Washington on charges of contempt toward officials, specifically, the president; conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman; and missing movement. The army has chosen to prosecute Lt. Watada primarily on the basis of his speech, rather than his refusal to deploy, confirming that their primary objective is to silence his dissent.

For the first time since 1965, the army is prosecuting an objector for his opinions. (http://www.thankyoult.org/)

Lt. Watada's father, Bob, has begun a national speaking tour in support of his son. Mr. Watada's background includes service in the Peace Corps and 10 years as Executive Director of Hawaii's State Campaign Spending Commission. He will speak about his son's path from enlistment after 9/11 to his realization that the basis for the invasion was fraudulent, to his decision to follow his conscience and refuse illegal war. "He was very, very patriotic...very much for his country. He didn't realize then that the president could lie", said Mr. Watada of his son. http://starbulletin.com/2006/06/08/news/story04.html). "He took an oath to defend the constitution of the U.S., and that's what he's doing."

Mr Watada speaking with another Iraq war protester and that protester's mother.

Ray, Atia, and Justyn.

Leaders of local and national Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

Lt. Watada's Father and Step-Mother.

Mr. Watada addresses the group.

The talk was to be followed by a screening of the documentary film "Sir, No Sir!" This film tells the almost forgotten story of the rebellion by thousands of soldiers against the Vietnam war: http://www.sirnosir.com/home_about_film.html.

The film was long and I needed to leave before it ended, but I lived through that period and remember it well. Even so, I learned a lot from the movie that I had not known about the antiwar work of many soldiers at that time.

There were two young men also there who were to speak about their status as military personnel and Iraq war protesters. I regret it got too late and I needed to leave before they spoke.

Notice:
Today's sign event page is dedicated to war protesters everywhere, and especially the Vietnam Veterans Against the War and the current military personnel taking stands against the war in Iraq.

More later,

Ray

Written November 3, 2006