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2007-02-06 Home Front: WoT

Court-martial for Watada, Fort Lewis officer

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Posted by CrazyFool 2007-02-06 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11126 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Figures, this character is supported by "movie war hero" Sean Penn. The only combat Penn has seen was when he was beating Madonna.
As far as Watada goes, he has just proven his word is no good. He needs that 4 years and a DD. Just another spoiled brat.

Posted by Xenophon 2007-02-06 00:12|| 2007-02-06 00:12|| Front Page Top

#2 Actually, a SGT is an officer, albeit a non-commissioned one.

Posted by Pappy 2007-02-06 00:27|| 2007-02-06 00:27|| Front Page Top

#3 OMG. Head is a judge?! I was once one of his prosecutors, and he's an incompetent choad. Took him three tries to get promoted to LTC. Sounds like he's doing okay so far, but keep your fingers crossed, folks.

Posted by exJAG 2007-02-06 00:33|| 2007-02-06 00:33|| Front Page Top

#4 101 contract law,

You Sign Your Ass Is Mine.

Posted by Uncle Sam 2007-02-06 01:01|| 2007-02-06 01:01|| Front Page Top

#5 Although other officers have refused to deploy to Iraq, Watada is the first to be court-martialed.

Then go find the other "officers" and court-marial them as well. Lead by example! Lead from the TOP! Quit buggering rankers and letting the "officers" off!

Posted by Besoeker 2007-02-06 03:30|| 2007-02-06 03:30|| Front Page Top

#6 Seitz appeared intent on discovering whether any members had any preconceived notions on officers who have refused to deploy with their units

Um, I dunno about anyone else, but I damn well hope US officers have preconceived notions about other officers who refuse lawful orders.

Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford 2007-02-06 06:39|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2007-02-06 06:39|| Front Page Top

#7 ...I am SO waiting to see this twinkie cracking rocks in Leavenworth. Mr Watada (I will NOT give him the dignity of the rank he's disgraced) made a whole bunch of mistakes here:

* Trying to turn the CM into a platform for speaking out about the war. That got tried at all the Abu Ghraib CMs and it got swatted down hard.
* Hiring a civilian lawyer. If you're catching one for something like murder or assault, yeah - get a civilian. Something like this - these guys are always out of their depth. They think it will be like a civilian trial where they can pretty much do anything they want, and it sure as hell don't work like that in a military courtroom.
* The jury vice the judge. That was a REMARKABLY dumb move. When the UCMJ says 'jury of one's peers', they mean in this case commissioned officers - and that does'nt mean he'll get 6 Lieutenants. They'll find six hardened combat officers (probably with some Purple Hearts in there) who will want nothing more than Mr Watada's a*s on a flagpole.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2007-02-06 07:00|| 2007-02-06 07:00|| Front Page Top

#8 Watada's father is a longstanding leftie moonbat. It's interesting that young Watada joined the Army in March 2003.

Posted by SR-71 2007-02-06 07:23|| 2007-02-06 07:23|| Front Page Top

#9 SR-71, Watada is also a moonbat, and signed on with the intent of disobeying orders to create a propaganda spectacle exactly like this. I don't have the links/refs offhand, but his commie friends have written about the scheme publicly on their blogs. They're delighted: witness the protest outside the gate. They're not protesting, they're attracting attention, so that Watada's long-term gamble gets as much publicity as possible.

Posted by exJAG 2007-02-06 07:40|| 2007-02-06 07:40|| Front Page Top

#10 And I see no indication that the prosecution has any awareness of this, or any plans to introduce it as extenuating evidence during sentencing.

And sentenced he will be, because Mike is right, choosing a panel was a dumb move.

Posted by exJAG 2007-02-06 07:45|| 2007-02-06 07:45|| Front Page Top

#11 Last night's (NBC) KING 5 news had two heart-warming human interest stories as the lead off articles:

first one was about a man who saw his neighbor's house on fire, broke in and pulled the elderly (sleeping) man to safety.
the second started out : "...the day did not go well for Watada's defense...." and then detailed all the stuff excluded.

These warmed the cockles of my heart...

They contrasted nicely with the web site reports from the papers and the other TVs: all over "poor widdle El Tee....."

I hope Ex JAGs fears re: the judge are unfounded this time by.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2007-02-06 09:36|| 2007-02-06 09:36|| Front Page Top

#12 I really hope they call members of his squad to testify on how he BETRAYED their trust and left them hanging. To me nothing else would send a stronger message to the panel. I hope they make a BIG deal about flushing this turd into Levenworth for at least ten long ones.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2007-02-06 10:14|| 2007-02-06 10:14|| Front Page Top

#13 Doesn't the Officer's oath also have something in there about serving without reservation?

I think LT Smash was following the case.

This idiot needs to be sent to Leavenworth.

Posted by Anon4021 2007-02-06 11:04|| 2007-02-06 11:04|| Front Page Top

#14 To be precise - Fort Leavenworth and its military confinement facility, not Leavenworth which is home to a large federal penitentiary which is just south and west of the main gate from Ft. Leavenworth. If he went to the civilian one, you could probably get odds of his life expediency from Vegas.

Posted by Procopius2k 2007-02-06 15:09|| 2007-02-06 15:09|| Front Page Top

#15 Should be a quick trial except for his whining and crying.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2007-02-06 15:22|| 2007-02-06 15:22|| Front Page Top

#16 This guy was one of the main news items at yahoo.fr yesterday, titled "the man who stands up to Bush".

The Man can't keep him down!

Posted by anonymous5089 2007-02-06 15:38|| 2007-02-06 15:38|| Front Page Top

#17 As I remember, his beef's with Iraq. There's still a minor skirmish going on in Afghanistan, or so I've heard . Call his bluff and send him there. He can run a one man border outpost up near the Big Wazoo. Send his lawyer and his old man along to keep him company.

Posted by tu3031 2007-02-06 15:48|| 2007-02-06 15:48|| Front Page Top

#18 Saw some Lefty on Fox at noon carrying on about how he is a True American Hero. If I'd been next to her I'd have dope-slapped her. Disgusting. Crying about the Judge not allowing any "debate" over whether or not the war is legal. That's not the issue. He swore an oath, signed on the dotted line, and now doesn't want to pay the mortgage. 3 years at hard labor and a dishonorable discharge.

Posted by Deacon Blues 2007-02-06 15:57|| 2007-02-06 15:57|| Front Page Top

#19 Spot on Deacon. A contract is a contract and he should be in prison. Then for shits and giggles deport his family.

Posted by Icerigger 2007-02-06 16:52|| 2007-02-06 16:52|| Front Page Top

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