Breaking - Judge HALTS - Watada Court-Martial

[kpete]

Judge halts Iraq war objector’s court-martial
Watada accused of refusing to be deployed to Iraq, saying war is illegal


TACOMA, Wash. - A federal court judge has temporarily blocked a court-martial scheduled to start Tuesday for an Iraq war objector based at Fort Lewis.

First Lt. Ehren Watada is charged with refusing to deploy to Iraq. His lawyers argue the Army is violating his constitutional rights by trying him twice for the same crime.

U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle ruled he has jurisdiction to issue the stay and that Watada's double-jeopardy claim is not frivolous.

Watada is accused of missing his unit’s deployment in June 2006 and of conduct unbecoming an officer for making public comments denouncing President Bush and the Iraq war.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21156844/

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Ok they are 'bout to make history

and I like that.

If the army had any sense they would just give him his discharge, not less than honorable but neutral

[dailykoff]

2. Good news.

The fight against fascism is going to take place in courtrooms across the country and if we lose there, in the streets.

[SeattleGirl]

3. That is great news!

I've always thought the Army was trying to make "an example" of Lt. Watada for his refusal to return to Iraq. I'm glad this judge seems to have a good sense of things, and hope the stay holds.

[Kagemusha]

4. I agree that the claim is not frivolous. Hope he wins.

Double jeopardy in a case like this, where the judge dismisses a case purely because the prosecutors asked him to so they could have a do-over, is most certainly not frivolous in my own humble opinion.

[FogerRox]

5. Cool.

[Hepburn]

10. Great pic!

Seems real appropriate on this particular thread! :hi:

[annabanana]

6. Wowie Zowie! That is some good news!

Every single roadblock thrown down.. every little wrench in the works... anything that slows, even imperceptibly, the war juggernaut is a good thing

[orleans]

7. best of luck to lt. watada--and all the rest to follow. n/t

[JeffR]

8. K & R!

This is very good.

[Richard Steele]

9. Good news. K&R