Ehren Watada

Watada was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Robert Watada and Carolyn Ho. His father served for 10 years as executive director of Hawaii's Campaign Spending Commission and himself refused to serve in the Vietnam War.{{Cite web |url=http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0627-06.htm |title=International Day of Action to Support First Lt. Ehren Watada |access-date=2007-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063324/http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0627-06.htm |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }} Ehren Watada attended Punahou School, then transferred in his sophomore year to Kalani High School, where he played cornerback on the varsity football team. An Eagle Scout, Watada graduated from Hawaii Pacific University magna cum laude in 2003 with a BA in finance.[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003044627_nogo7m.html Officer at Fort Lewis calls Iraq war illegal, refuses order to go] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060608031029/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003044627_nogo7m.html |date=2006-06-08 }}[http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-officer5feb05,0,1444479.story?coll=la-home-headlines Instead of Iraq, a battle all his own]

Watada joined the Army after the war in Iraq had begun, stating that he was motivated "out of a desire to protect our country" after the September 11 attacks. He was commissioned by the Army's Officer Candidate School, on November 20, 2003, at Fort Benning, Georgia, as a second lieutenant of field artillery—one month after Security Council Resolution 1511 authorized a multinational force in Iraq.[http://www.undemocracy.com/S-RES-1511(2003)/page_1 Security Council Resolution 1511] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116094132/http://www.undemocracy.com/S-RES-1511(2003)/page_1 |date=January 16, 2008 }}, October 16, 2003. Watada served one year in South Korea, and was subsequently reassigned to Fort Lewis, Washington.[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/us/23refuse.html Officer faces court-martial for refusing to deploy], The New York Times, July 23, 2006.

Soon after reporting to Fort Lewis, Watada discovered that his unit would be deploying to Iraq, in support of ongoing operations there. In preparation to deploy, he began conducting research on the country, its culture, and the reasons for the U.S. involvement in Iraq. Watada stated that, after reading several books and articles about the history of Iraq, international law, and the evidence used to justify the war,[http://armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1870677.php Deployment Refuser has no Regrets], Army Times, June 14, 2006. {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20060620223327/http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1870677.php |date=June 20, 2006 }} and speaking with veterans returning from Iraq, he ceased to believe in its legality and justification.

In January 2006, Watada attempted to resign. In his letter, he asserted that he was "wholeheartedly opposed to the continued war in Iraq", citing what he believed to be lawlessness and dishonesty in its justification. He came to the conclusion after doing his own personal research, including reading books by Seymour Hersh and James Bamford as well as learning about the Downing Street Memo, a British government document that stated that war in Iraq was "inevitable" and "the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy" of war. Watada also asserted, in discussions with other soldiers, that he and his fellow servicemen were complicit in war crimes. Watada stated that he was not a conscientious objector because he was not opposed to all wars as a matter of principle, and he stated that he had offered to serve in Afghanistan, which he regarded as "an unambiguous war linked to the September 11 attacks." This was refused; Watada, in turn, refused an offer for a desk job in Iraq without direct combat involvement, stating that the point of his protest was not about combat.

In response to Watada's refusal to deploy, the Army initially preferred seven specifications of various offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). After the initial preferral, all but three specifications were dropped; the remaining charges sent to the court-martial were:

• Two specifications Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman (for statements made in speeches and interviews) (Article 133)
• One specification Missing Movement (for refusing to deploy to Iraq on June 22) (Article 87)

When the initial charges were preferred, Watada faced the possibility of a general court-martial and up to seven years in prison, as well as dismissal from the service. ("dismissal" is the only class of punitive discharge for U.S. commissioned officers; it is the equivalent of a dishonorable discharge, to which enlisted personnel may be sentenced.) Faced with these consequences, Watada said that he did not regret his decision, stating that he believed it to have been his moral responsibility:

When you are looking your children in the eye in the future, or when you are at the end of your life, you want to look back on your life and know that at a very important moment, when I had the opportunity to make the right decisions, I did so, even knowing there were negative consequences.The Nation: [http://www.thenation.com/video/lieutenant-watadas-war-against-war Lieutenant Watada's War Against the War]. June 26, 2006.

Regarding the charges, Watada's civilian attorney, Eric Seitz, commented:

Well, we expected him to be charged with missing movement or violating an order to get on a bus to accompany his unit to Iraq. We did not really anticipate that they would charge him with additional offenses based upon the comments and the remarks that he's made. And that opens up a whole new chapter in this proceeding, because what the Army has clearly tried to do by the nature of these charges is send out a message to people in the military, that if you criticize the war and if you criticize the decisions that were made to bring the United States into this war, that you, too, could be charged with disloyalty, contemptuous remarks and disrespect for higher officers, and in this case, specifically in this charge, the President.[http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/07/1356221 Army Charges Lieutenant With Contempt and Conduct Unbecoming an Officer for Refusing Iraq Deployment and Criticizing Bush, War] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060711191226/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06%2F07%2F07%2F1356221 |date=2006-07-11 }}, Democracy Now, July 7, 2006.

Watada's article 32 hearing to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to move forward with a general court-martial was held on August 17, 2006.[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/281518_watada17.html Hearings to open on 'no Iraq' officer: Fort Lewis panel to decide if Watada faces court-martial], Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 17, 2006. The investigating officer Lt. Col. Mark Keith presided.[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/281742_watada18.html Hearing for soldier who won't serve in Iraq puts war on trial] Seattle Post Intelligencer, August 18, 2006.

The Army prosecutor, Capt. Dan Kuecker, described Watada's actions as contemptuous of President George W. Bush, and argued that Watada's public statements hurt morale in his unit. He played video clips from a Veterans for Peace conference.[http://www.theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060817/NEWS01/60817012 Military uses video of Watada speeches as evidence against him]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Olympian, August 17, 2006. In that speech, Watada called on his fellow soldiers to stop fighting.[http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesigns.org/content/view/172/ Lt. Watada addresses national veterans convention] thankyoult.org {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530025238/http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesigns.org/content/view/172/ |date=May 30, 2012 }}

Eric Seitz, Watada's civilian counsel, and Capt. Mark Kim, Watada's military lawyer, raised the issue of the legality of the war. Over the prosecutor's objections, Seitz and Kim called three witnesses to question the legality of the war. University of Illinois professor of international law Francis Boyle testified that the war is illegal because it was not authorized by the U.N. Security Council, and asserted that congress approved the war on the basis of faulty intelligence. Also testifying in Watada's defense were former United Nations Undersecretary Denis Halliday, and Army Colonel Ann Wright (ret.), who retired from the State Department in March 2003, in protest of the coming invasion. Like Boyle, both asserted that the war was illegal and that therefore Watada was within his rights to refuse participation in it. Also, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed an amicus brief, saying that soldiers should not be court martialed for explaining their views.[https://www.aclu.org/free-speech/aclu-washington-defends-free-speech-rights-lt-ehren-watada ACLU of Washington Defends Free Speech Rights of Lt. Ehren Watada], "ACLU", August 15, 2005.

On September 15, 2006, the Army announced that it had preferred another charge against Watada of "conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman".{{cite news|url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090601/brecher_smith|title=The Trials of Ehren Watada|last=Brecher|first=Jeremy|author2=Brendan Smith|date=May 19, 2009|work=The Nation}} This brought the potential prison term faced by Watada to eight and a half years in prison if convicted of all charges. Six and a half of these years would have been for statements that he made concerning the war rather than his refusal to deploy to Iraq; "missing movement" is punishable by a maximum of two years. Keith justified the additional charge by asserting that "contempt for the President and the suggestion that US soldiers can stop the war simply by refusing to fight borders on mutiny and sedition. Seitz asserted that the Army added the new charge to make a public example of him: "He's not doing anything other than saying things he believes to be true, and that we believe are true. This makes it that much clearer that this is just a political prosecution, and that's really all this case has been about from the beginning."Seattle Post-Intelligencer: [http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Court-martial-recommended-for-Army-war-protestor-1212715.php Court-martial recommended for Army war protestor.] October 24, 2006.

Keith recommended Watada for court-martial on all charges, even as he said that he thought that Watada was "sincere in his beliefs". Of the court-martial recommendation, Seitz accused the Army of trying Watada without looking seriously at his arguments and that of the other experts appearing at the trial about the legality of the war.[http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesigns.org/content/view/179/ Investigator recommends court martial on all charges], thankyoult.org {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530024813/http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesigns.org/content/view/179/ |date=May 30, 2012 }}

On November 9, 2006, the U.S. Army announced the decision of the Fort Lewis commander, LTG James Dubik, that Watada would face a court martial. The charges of "contempt toward officials" were dismissed without comment. Without the "contempt for officials" charges, Watada could face up to four years confinement, two for missing movement and two for statements that he made, as well as a dismissal, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances, if convicted of the remaining charges.[http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=watada10m&date=20061110&query=ehren+watada Fort Lewis soldier opposed to war faces military trial], The Seattle Times, November 10, 2006.

Watada's defense team had intended to demonstrate that the war was illegal by maintaining that the required congressional approval was granted only on the basis of the existence of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in Iraq and ties between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda. They also intended to subpoena witnesses to testify and to cite the Nuremberg Principles,[https://web.archive.org/web/20061127164236/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2006%2F11%2F22%2Fwusarmy22.xml It was My Duty to Refuse to go to Iraq] The Daily Telegraph, November 23, 2006. which require soldiers to disobey illegal orders. However, on January 16, 2007, Judge John M. Head ruled that Watada would not be allowed to present any defense based on the Nuremberg principles, stating that the legality of a war was a "nonjusticiable political question"{{cite web|url=http://peacelaw.wikidot.com/local--files/2007-01-30/2007-01-16-rules|title=Ruling of the Court: Defense Request for Hearing on Nuremberg Defense|author=Judge John M. Head|date=January 16, 2007|access-date=January 30, 2007}} and ruling that the order that Watada had refused was lawful. Watada was also forbidden to present a First Amendment defense.{{cite web|url=http://peacelaw.wikidot.com/local--files/2007-01-30/2007-01-16-speech|title=Ruling of the Court: Defense Motion to Suppress the Charge and All Specifications Alleging Violations of Article 133|author=Judge John M. Head|date=January 16, 2007|access-date=January 30, 2007}} Seitz said about the rulings that "they are essentially saying there is no right to criticize, which we all know is not true", and that they intend to appeal any conviction to the federal courts.[http://www.thankyoult.org/content/view/44/23/ Officer facing Court-Martial Denounces War], "Los Angeles Times," January 17, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012013924/http://www.thankyoult.org/content/view/44/23/ |date=October 12, 2008 }}

At a pre-trial press conference Watada remarked that he believed it his duty to refuse to fight in the war, and that he was prepared to face prison time for his beliefs.

Watada was court-martialed in February 2007, with the case ending in a mistrial. On February 5, 2007, Watada's court-martial began with him entering a plea of not guilty to all of the specifications against him. He faced three specifications: one for missing movement, and two for "conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman" related to his public comments criticizing the Bush administration and the war.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iraq-officer/war-objector-pleads-not-guilty-at-court-martial-idUSN0547436320070205|title=War objector pleads not guilty at court-martial|author=Wakabayashi, Daisuke|work=Reuters|date=February 5, 2007|access-date=November 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208002928/http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0547436320070205|archive-date=2007-02-08|url-status=live}} Panel selection was conducted on the first day, narrowing a pool of ten officers down to seven, ranking from captain through lieutenant colonel. The court-martial panel is similar to a jury in a civilian trial, but due to rules provided in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), panels consist of service members equal or senior in rank to the defendant.

On the second day of his court-martial, the prosecution presented opening arguments stating that Watada had "abandoned his soldiers and disgraced himself and the service"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070209092134/http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/06/ap3401677.html Army: War Objector Brought Disgrace]Forbes.com, February 6, 2007. and began calling witnesses. The first witness called was Watada's former Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Bruce Antonia. He testified that he learned of Watada's feelings about the war soon after Watada concluded, in early January 2006, that the war was illegal. Antonia stated, "I told him I was concerned. I did not want this to turn into a big media event." His chain of command counseled him on the consequences of his actions if he refused to deploy and used his position to make a spectacle of the issue.[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003560267_watada7m0.html Army: Watada betrayed trust] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218070838/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003560267_watada7m0.html |date=2007-02-18 }} Seattle Times, February 7, 2007. Lt. Col. William James, another officer who counseled Watada, testified that he found Watada's offer to serve in Afghanistan in "direct conflict" with Watada's written statement or stipulation that he did not want to deploy as a "tool" of the Bush administration. Watada had also stipulated that he had indeed missed his brigade's June deployment to Iraq and that he made a series of public statements against the war. In return for the stipulation, Army prosecutors had dropped several counts that knocked two years off the maximum six-year sentence.

Watada argued that his orders were unlawful, and Military Judge John Head ruled that the question could not be resolved within the military justice system, saying Watada's argument was reduced to an admission of guilt. The judge ruled that the court-martial was unable to decide the question of whether the deployment order was unlawful, and decided to strike Watada's stipulation, calling it an admission of guilt. Recognizing that the stipulation was the basis of the prosecution's case, Judge Head granted their request for a mistrial.[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/302733_courtmartial07ww.html?source=mypi Mistrial ends Watada court-martial: War objector may have to be tried again], Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 7, 2007.

A new court martial was set for March 19, 2007{{cite news| title = US war objector's trial misfires | work= BBC | date = 2007-02-07 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6340897.stm }} rescheduled for July 23, 2007, and then postponed until October 9, 2007,{{cite news| title = Court issues stay in Watada court-martial| author = Melanthia Mitchell| agency= Associated Press| work=Army Times|date = 2007-05-19 | url = http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/05/ap_watada_warobjector_070519/ }} as an appeal based on the issue of double jeopardy delayed the case. Following the ruling on July 5, 2007, by Lt. Col. John Head, again presiding over Watada's court-martial, that double jeopardy did not apply, Watada's attorneys appealed the ruling to the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals and then to U.S. civilian court. On October 5, 2007, U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle stayed further proceedings until October 26. The Army challenged the injunction. Watada was represented by Ken Kagan and Jim Lobsenz with the Seattle law firm Carney Badley Spellman,{{cite news | title = Watada switches lawyers for second court-martial | agency= Associated Press | date = 2007-04-06 | url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003654034_watada06m.html |work=Seattle Times|url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604061413/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003654034_watada06m.html | archive-date = 2011-06-04 }} who had replaced Eric Seitz. On the issue of double jeopardy, Joe Piek, spokesman for Fort Lewis, argued{{cite news| title = Army expects to retry Watada | author = Mike Barber | work= Seattle Post-Intelligencer | date = 2007-02-09 | url = http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/303085_watadaweb09.html }} that the rules for courts-martial (MCM Rule 915(c)),[https://web.archive.org/web/20030325014009/http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/law/mcm.pdf Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM), United States (2005 Edition)] PDF document. allow the Army to try Watada again, on the theory that the mistrial is not a decision and that the mistrial was not due to prosecutorial misconduct. Others, including the military defense attorney assigned to Watada, as well as Kagan and Lobsenz, argued that double jeopardy attached at the start of the presentation of evidence.[http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/5722/ Jeff Paterson, "Lt. Watada Mistrial Clear Victory,"] Courage to Resist, February 8, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928001314/http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/5722/ |date=September 28, 2007 }} Rule 907(b)(2)(C) of the MCM states that jeopardy attaches at the "beginning of the presentation of evidence on the merits," raising the possibility that jeopardy attached prior to the declaration of mistrial.

The second court-martial was stayed in October 2007 by U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle, on grounds of double jeopardy. Settle issued an order stating that Watada's "double jeopardy claim is meritorious" and that no evidence to the contrary was presented.[http://www.thankyoult.org/images/stories/2007_10_5__fed_ct_-_watadastayorder.pdf Order Granting in Part Petitioner's Motion for a Stay of Court Martial Proceedings] dated October 5, 2007, Tacoma, Washington Federal District case no. C07-5549BHS {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The Army challenged the injunction, and Judge Settle ruled on October 21, 2008, that Watada cannot be retried on three of the five counts, but abstained from deciding whether the remaining two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer may go forward.[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008295492_watadaruling22m.html "Watada Won't Be Retried on 3 of 5 Counts"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025052909/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008295492_watadaruling22m.html |date=2008-10-25 }} (Seattle Times) On November 8, 2007, the injunction was extended by Judge Settle, who held that Lt. Watada's double jeopardy claim was meritorious.

The Army appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in November, 2008. But after the Obama administration took office, the Justice Department asked the court to drop the case, which was dismissed on May 6, 2009.[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/06/ap/national/main4996960.shtml "Justice Department Won't Pursue War Objector Case"] May 6, 2009 (Associated Press) {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

On October 2, 2009, the Army discharged Watada "Under Other-Than-Honorable-Conditions". Watada's defense attorney stated that in his opinion, "the Army came to the conclusion that it was not going to be able to prevail in a prosecution, and when the new solicitor general came in, her office had a fresh look at it, and as it was not bound by any of the decisions that had been made previously, they saw fit to put a stop to the appellate process."{{cite news | title=Justice Department won't pursue war objector case | url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-watada-discharge29-2009sep29,0,103553.story | date=28 September 2009 | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Kim | last=Murphy}}

An administrative discharge, "Under Other than Honorable Conditions" discharge is the least favorable type of administrative discharge from the Army. According to AR 635-200, an OTH discharge is reserved for a "pattern of behavior that constitutes a significant departure from the conduct expected of Soldiers of the Army."{{Cite web|url=http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/news/leaving-on-good-terms-types-of-discharges-their-consequences/article_7a646c48-8852-5ba4-a8d3-d4c01e90c662.html|title=Leaving on good terms: Types of discharges, their consequences|last=ESC|first=Capt. Bill Wicks Trial Counsel, 13th|website=Fort Hood Sentinel|date=16 February 2012 |access-date=2016-03-07}}

File:19 Mar 2007 Seattle Demo 17.jpg

Rallies were held at the gates of Fort Lewis during the court-martial; the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that the first day drew "more than 1,000" supporters,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/02/06/chung-officers-stand-on-iraq-deserves-our-attention/|title=Chung: Officer's stand on Iraq deserves our attention|date=2007-02-07|website=The Mercury News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-16}} including Desert Storm Veteran Dennis Kyne {{Cite web|date=2007-02-06|title=Watada lawyer rebukes judge|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/news/watada-lawyer-rebukes-judge/|access-date=2020-06-27|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US}} and the actor{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/news/watada-lawyer-rebukes-judge/|title=Watada lawyer rebukes judge|date=2007-02-06|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-16}} Sean Penn.[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/302569_watada06.html "Watada lawyer frustrated as judge narrows defense"] Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 6, 2007. Among the organizations supporting Watada were the ACLU, Iraq Veterans against the War, and Veterans for Peace.[http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/08/14/18297206.php Military veterans stand behind "illegal war" refuser], August 14, 2006. Watada told reporters that "almost every day, someone from the military or the outside sends me some kind of correspondence or approaches me in person to render support or their respect.”[https://archive.today/20130128043440/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-me-watada16oct16,0,4276309,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines Loyal to Country or Conscience?], "Los Angeles Times", October 16, 2006. Amnesty International issued a press release stating that if Lt Watada were convicted and imprisoned, the organization would consider him a "prisoner of conscience and call for his immediate and unconditional release."Amnesty International: [https://www.amnesty.org/es/documents/amr51/024/2007/es/ USA: War objector's freedom of conscience must be respected.] February 2, 2007.

Other opposed Watada's actions. Some Japanese American veterans said that as a Japanese American he shamed the community.[http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=5154025 Japanese Americans, Latest Group to Criticize Watada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021085020/http://khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=5154025|date=2007-10-21}}, KHNL 8, July 15, 2006. Watada reported that although he had not received open hostility from fellow soldiers, there was "definitely a tension". There were occasional counter demonstrations at Fort Lewis opposite his supporters.

Watada's mother, Carolyn Ho, became an anti-Iraq War activist,[http://worldcantwait.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3511&Itemid=10 WORLD CAN'T WAIT--DRIVE OUT THE BUSH REGIME] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014184544/http://worldcantwait.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3511&Itemid=10 |date=2007-10-14 }} founding a website to support him, formerly at [https://web.archive.org/web/20071208070255/http://www.thankyoult.org/ http://www.thankyoult.org]. Watada's father, Bob, also became a critic of the war[http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=11275 Father becomes outspoken critic of Iraq war] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517201507/http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=11275 |date=May 17, 2013 }} and went on a national tour{{cite news|title = Paternal Pride: Father Delivers Army Son's Anti-War Message Nationwide|author = Beth Freed|website= Lone Star Iconoclast|url = http://www.lonestaricon.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=734&z=79 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20070321191616/http://www.lonestaricon.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=734&z=79 |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2007-03-21 |access-date = 2007-05-22 }} to raise money for his son's defense, from October 26 to November 17. Ehren Watada was on hand to speak, and shared the stage with other prominent critics of the war, including Jane Fonda, Sean Penn, and Tim Robbins, at the January 27, 2007 anti-war protest in Washington, D.C.[http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesigns.org/content/view/178/ SoCal events with Bob Watada underway], thankyoult.org {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303074849/http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesigns.org/content/view/178/ |date=March 3, 2012 }}

At event called the "Citizens' hearing on the legality of U.S. actions in Iraq" testimony that had been barred from Watada's courts martial was heard;{{cite web|date=January 20, 2007 |url=http://www.wartribunal.net/ |title=Citizens' hearing on the legality of U.S. actions in Iraq: The Case of Lt. Ehren Watada |access-date=July 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907200204/http://www.wartribunal.net/ |archive-date=September 7, 2008 }} among those testifying on January 20 and January 21, 2007 were:

• Daniel Ellsberg, Vietnam War-era whistleblower who leaked The Pentagon Papers
• Denis Halliday, who coordinated United Nations humanitarian aid to Iraq when he was UN Assistant Secretary-General
• Benjamin G. Davis, law professor, and expert on international law
• Marjorie Cohn, President of the National Lawyers' Guild
• Richard Falk Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University;
• Antonia Juhasz Policy-analyst and author on U.S. economic policies in Iraq;
• John Burroughs Lawyers’ Committee on Nuclear Policy Executive Director
• Francis Boyle Professor of international law at Univ. of Illinois
• Darrell Anderson Army 1st Armored Division in Baghdad & Najaf; awarded Purple Heart;
• Harvey Tharp Former U.S. Navy Lieutenant and JAG stationed in Iraq;
• Geoffrey Millard 8 years in Army National Guard; awarded 13 medals;
• Dennis Kyne Desert storm Veteran & drill sergeant; trained in NBC warfare;
• Chanan Suarez-Diaz Former Navy hospital corpsman; Purple Heart and valor commendation
• Stacy Bannerman Military Families Speak Out; author of "When the War Came Home"
• Eman Khammas Iraqi human rights advocate

In 2012, Watada founded and became the part-owner of the Bachi Burger restaurant in Las Vegas.{{cite web |author=Chang, Melissa |date=10 January 2014 |title=Viva Vegas: A new wave of burgers |url=https://www.honolulumagazine.com/viva-vegas-a-new-wave-of-burgers/ |access-date=26 November 2017 |work=Frolic Hawaii}}{{cite web|url=http://vegasseven.com/2016/05/18/pastry-chef-crossed-road/|title=Why the Pastry Chef Crossed the Road|work=Vegas Seven|author=Mancini, Al|date=May 18, 2016|access-date=November 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034439/http://vegasseven.com/2016/05/18/pastry-chef-crossed-road/|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}

• Legality of the Iraq War
• List of Iraq War Resisters
• Crime against peace
• Criticism of the Iraq War
• Nuremberg Principles
• Ann Wright (United States Army colonel who publicly submitted her letter of resignation to then Secretary of State Colin Powell on March 19, 2003, one day before the U.S. invasion of Iraq.)
• Doe v. Bush (Appeals court decision on the constitutionality of the Iraq invasion)
• Malcolm Kendall-Smith

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• LewRockwell.com court-martial coverage by Jeff Paterson "[http://archive.lewrockwell.com/orig8/paterson1.html Lt. Watada Mistrial Clear Victory]"
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Y-jZdeL70&t=2m8s Ehren Watada: a Soldier Refuses an Illegal War] - YouTube video of Lt. Watada's speech in December, 2006.

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Category:1978 births

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