'Why I Object to Testifying Against Lt. Watada' ...by Sarah Olson

[babylonsister]

'Why I Object to Testifying Against Lt. Watada' ...by Sarah Olson

Editor & Publisher

OAKLAND -- In May of this year, I conducted an interview with Ehren Watada while working as a freelance journalist. Watada is a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and is the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse orders to deploy to Iraq.

In the interview, Lieutenant Watada asserted that he had a duty as an officer to evaluate the legality of his orders and conduct himself accordingly. He said that he could not participate in the Iraq War because it was “manifestly illegal” and that his participation would make him a party to war crimes.

In June, Lieutenant Watada made national headlines when he refused to deploy to Iraq.

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t is my job as a professional journalist to report the news, not to act as the eyes and ears of the government. I am repelled by this approach that jeopardizes my credibility and seeks to compel my participation in muting public speech and dissenting personal opinion.

Further, it is stunningly ironic that the Army seeks my testimony – the testimony of a journalist – in a case against free speech itself. What could be more hostile to the idea of a free press than a journalist participating in the suppression of newsworthy speech?

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http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=802

[Monkeyman]

1. Good Luck Lt. the Green Machine is against you

[FogerRox]

2. Ly Watada speach prt 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa6ZHYcG_EM

prt 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dAXQeH7y9g

[JeffR]

3. K & R

:kick:

[Tom Joad]

4. Met both Sarah and Ehren earlier this year, and i support both

of them.

[FogerRox]

5. Kickin for truth to power.