The Associated Press
Saturday 16 September 2006
Fort Lewis, Washington - The Army added another charge against a lieutenant who refused to serve in Iraq because he believes the war is illegal, but did not say if the case will proceed to a court martial.
The new charge is based on Lt. Ehren Watada's (remarks to the national convention of Veterans for Peace ), held in Seattle last month, Army spokesman Joe Piek said Friday.
At the veterans gathering, Watada said that "to stop an illegal and unjust war, soldiers can choose to stop fighting it," according to a support group, Friends and Family of Lt. Watada.
Watada, 28, of Honolulu, Hawaii, refused to deploy on June 22 with his Fort Lewis-based unit. He already was charged with missing troop movement, conduct unbecoming an officer and contempt toward officials, including using "contemptuous words" against President Bush in media interviews.
Conviction on all charges could bring a maximum of seven years in prison, Piek said.
The Fort Lewis commander, Lt. Gen. James Dubik, will decide whether the case proceeds to court martial, Piek said. Last month, investigating officer Lt. Col. Mark Keith recommended that Watada be court-martialed.
"The Army's unwillingness thus far to seek any reasonable solution or outcome of this situation certainly has placed Lt. Watada into a position where he has little or no choice but to vigorously defend himself against charges that we submit are extravagant and unjustified," Eric Seitz, Watada's civilian defense attorney, wrote in a rebuttal submitted to the military court in August.
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