Dishonor Update

The Army has brought formal charges against lieutenant Ehren Watada, the dishonorable, and dishonored,  soldier who refused orders to deploy with his unit to Iraq. The charges are missing movement, contempt toward officials and conduct unbecoming an officer. The missing movement charge carries a possible two year jail sentence. (My original post is here).

"Officers are held to a high moral and legal standard. Acts contrary to this standard may be tried by court-martial," said the Army statement.

If found guilty of all charges, Watada could face several years in confinement, dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of pay, according to the Army. The missing movement charge carries the heaviest punishment of confinement of up to two years.

Watada's lawyer said he expected the missing movement charge, but was somewhat surprised by the decision to charge the officer with contempt toward officials and conduct unbecoming an officer, because it raises free speech issues.

"What he said about the war and the way the war began and the misrepresentations by the Bush administration are all true. Not only does he have a right to make those statements, he has an obligation to make those statements," said Eric Seitz, Watada's Honolulu-based attorney.

"The reasons why they are going after him for the things he said is because they want to muzzle him," Seitz said.

Which only goes to show what a fool Watada has for an attorney. Military officers are not free to speak their minds. There is a very high standard and a very low tolerance for failing to meet those standards. One hopes the lieutenant (soon to be private) feels all warm and fuzzy when his enablers supporters are home in a nice warm house sipping cocktails while he's breaking rocks at Leavenworth. Because they have most assuredly led him down a road to ruin.