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Critisized Iraq War - Risks Jail

Feb 6th 2007CarlFreedom of Speech & Individual Freedom & Iraq & Political & USA

A US army officer who refused to go to Iraq is facing court-martial (source: CBS News). Ehren Watada risks up to four years in prison for refusing to fight in Iraq and criticizing the war publicly.

Watada claims that the war on Iraq is illegal according to US laws. He claims also that he has a legal right and obligation to refuse to follow unlawful orders (ie the order to fight in Iraq).

This is once again an example of a totally unacceptable violation of the individual freedom. Refusing to serve and saying what you want to are basical rights that everyone should always have.

The state doesn’t have the right to limit the individual freedom unless it is necessary for the freedom of others. And it’s not the case here.

The court case already seems to have started in an unfair way as the court refused to analyze the legality of the war. The trial is unfair, because if the war is illegal Watada hasn’t actually committed a crime. Now he doesn’t have the chance to prove his innocence.

I see this court case also as an attack on the freedom on speech: Watada can face a jail term for publicly questioning the legality of the war in Iraq.

It’s very unfair that an army officer wouldn’t have the right to the freedom of speech (which is guaranteed in the first amendment of the American constitution). I’m not a law specialist so anyone who has more information about the first amendment in this case is welcome to comment.

Watada’s courage to stand behind his convictions can only be admired.

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4 Responses to “Critisized Iraq War - Risks Jail”

  1. Matt on 08 Feb 2007 at 7:07 #

    Except that the war isn’t illegal so he is guilty.

  2. Carl (admin) on 08 Feb 2007 at 21:04 #

    I can’t tell about the legality according to the US laws. The war was illegal according to international laws (the war was not a defensive war and the UN security council didn’t allow it). But once again I don’t know about the legality according to US laws:-)

  3. Cassie on 09 Feb 2007 at 6:21 #

    The war is illegal because they lied about the reason Matt. Also, since there’s no WMD and Saddam is dead, what is the new reason why we should be there? I am glad that they had a mis-trial.

  4. Paul on 11 Feb 2008 at 1:45 #

    “Freedom does not give you the right to do what you want but what you should”- Abraham Lincoln

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