Citizens' hearing on the legality of U.S. actions in Iraq - The case of Lt. Ehren Watada Pacific Northwest February 5 mobilization underway for Lt. Watada's court martial. For daily updates regarding housing, transportation, work parties, attending the trial, and more: www.couragetoresist.org/watada Agustin Aguayo, conscientious objector, imprisoned awaiting court martial charge of desertion. Facing a possible seven year prison sentence, Agustin's family desperately seek your financial support to help with upcoming court costs. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the "Agustin Aguayo Campaign" defense fund at www.couragetoresist.org/donate
Citizens' hearing on the legality of U.S. actions in Iraq
January 20-21 (10 am-4 pm) Military Judge John Head ruled this week that Lt. Ehren Watada will be forbidden from defending his refusal to participate in the illegal and immoral war in Iraq at his upcoming February 5 court martial. A citizens’ hearing this weekend in Tacoma, Washington will take up a full review of the available evidence. Although the hearing has been in the planning for months, the timing of course could not have been better. Bush's Iraq War goes on trial While Lt. Ehren Watada awaits his fate at a court martial at Ft. Lewis, Washington in February, American citizens, including Iraq War veterans, will come to nearby Tacoma to participate in a "Citizens’ Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq." The organizers of the January 20-21 “tribunal” indicate that it is of particular relevance to military personnel and their families, and welcome their attendance. Lietta Ruger from the Washington chapter of Military Families Speak Out states: "I do hope my brothers and sisters in military families will take an interest in this hearing as relevant to their immediate lives and concerns." The Citizens’ Hearing will be an opportunity for internationally known experts to present their research into the war’s legality, and for those personally affected by the Iraq War to present their experiences. U.S. public opinion against the war is at an all-time high and President Bush’s “surge” strategy is not winning favor with the new Congress or with some soldiers and their families. Dr. Zoltan Grossman of the tribunal organizing committee asserts: “The discussion within the White House and Congress has focused on how to fight the war, not why it is being fought. Under these circumstances, U.S. citizens (including military veterans and families) have the responsibility to start asking tough questions about the underlying premises of the war.” Lt. Watada maintains that the war on Iraq is illegal under international treaties and under Article Six of the U.S. Constitution. He further argues that the Nuremberg Principles and U.S. military regulations require soldiers to follow only "lawful orders." Lt. Watada’s defense requested that these issues be admitted into the court martial, as they were in the 2005 Navy trial of Iraq War refuser Pablo Paredes. Citizens’ Hearing Panel Chair David Krieger asserts, “If Lt. Watada cannot get a full hearing about the war’s legality in a military trial, then his case should at least be aired in the court of public opinion.” Testifiers will include experts in military policy, international law and war crimes, including:
Testifiers will also include military veterans, and others directly affected by the Iraq War, including:
The format of the Citizens’ Hearing will resemble that of a congressional hearing. A panel of citizens will hear the testimony, examine witnesses, and issue a fact-finding report. Panelists will focus on the legality of the war, whether the invasion of Iraq constituted a "crime against peace,” whether the military occupation of Iraq constitutes a "crime against humanity," and whether individual soldiers have an obligation or duty to refuse unlawful orders that may lead to “war crimes.” The 12-member Citizens’ Hearing Panel will include veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, as well as more recent veterans. It will include a military family member, Gold Star family member, and high school student (representing youth of military age). The Panel will also include a government leader, religious leader, labor union member, and health care worker. Half of the Panel members have military experience. The Citizens’ Hearing will be held at the Evergreen State College’s Tacoma Campus (1210 6th Ave.) on January 20-21, 2007 (10 am-4 pm). This event is free and open to the public. The program (including testifiers, panelists and ways to contribute) can be found at www.WarTribunal.org For more information about the case of U.S. Army Lt. Ehren Watada, go to www.ThankYouLT.org Drving directions from Interstate 5 Take Exit 132 (WA Hwy. 16 West/ Gig Harbor/ Bremerton) |
In wake of a military ruling that forbids Lt. Watada from defending his Iraq War refusal, a Tacoma, Washington hearing this weekend January 20-21 will review the evidence. Testifiers (photo right) include: Denis Halliday, Col. Ann Wright,
Nadia McCaffrey, Daniel Ellsberg, Richard Falk, and Antonia Juhasz. 
