Ehren Watada NOT Reporting for Duty

Do you get the feeling that Lt. Ehren Watada is looking for a career in politics?

Watada does seem to be using John Kerry as a role model.

Granted, Kerry actually served in Vietnam for a few months before he returned to the U.S. and started accusing his band of brothers of war crimes. Watada, on the other hand, is refusing to even go to Iraq before stabbing his brothers in the back.

SEATTLE - As thousands of Fort Lewis Army troops prepare to head back to Iraq, one of their officers is making a stand.

A lieutenant says he is going to refuse to go, saying it's an unjust war. Anti-war groups are rallying to his defense.

What a shock!

Anti-war groups are rallying to his defense. Gee, I didn't see that coming.

Lt. Ehren Watada of the Stryker Brigade writes, "I refuse to be silent any longer. I refuse to watch families torn apart, while the President tells us to ‘stay the course.’ I refuse to be party to an illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression.

"I wanted to be there for my fellow troops. But the best way was not to help drop artillery and cause more death and destruction. It is to help oppose this war and end it so that all soldiers can come home." - signed LT.

Watada is definitely using Kerry's Winter Soldier template.

…Fort Lewis says since the lieutenant hasn't done anything official yet, there's no violation. But should he decide to go ahead with this, he could be charged with 'desertion' or more likely with 'missing the movement' of his unit.

Lt. Watada asked for reassignment and tried resigning his commission, but the Army refused. His attorney tells us from Hawaii that Watada is not against all wars, just this one.

Watada doesn't get to choose his war. What kind of military would we have if all personnel had the option of just saying no?

This doesn't sit well with fellow soldiers.

"We're here to serve our country and fight and that's his job," said Private Nathan Hanson. "It's his duty."

Clearly, Watada doesn't see it that way.

It must be remembered that he volunteered to serve in the military. He agreed to do his duty, but he has reneged. There’s nothing courageous about that.

I think it's a sleazy move. Watada’s pandering to the anti-war liberal elite types may get him plenty of adoration from the fringe Left, but he’s betraying his fellow soldiers in the process.

It's John Kerry all over again.

Anti-war protestors, many of which demonstrated at the Port of Olympia recently, are rushing to his aid. They have put up a Web site believing he's the first commissioned officer to refuse to go.

Yes, Watada has a website dedicated to his "bravery."

The website was launched BEFORE Watada announced that he wouldn't go to Iraq. Obviously, this is a well-orchestrated stunt.
The anti-war crowd wants a poster boy and Watada is willing to serve.

From his site:

Thank you Lt. Ehren Watada for resisting an illegal war.

Today, Wednesday, June 7th U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada will become the first commissioned officer to refuse deployment to the unlawful Iraq war and occupation. He will announce his intention to disobey the illegal order to deploy to Iraq in coordinated press conferences in Tacoma, Washington and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Blah, blah, blah.

Watada doesn't need anti-war protesters to rush to his aid.

He doesn't need their help. They need his help, and Watada is reporting for duty.