Comments on Seattle P-I Calls for Release of Lt. Ehren Watada

A wise choice.

Listen, it doesn't work that way. I'm all for letting conscientious objectors out, like the guy who went to Iraq as a medic and couldn't even bring himself to load his rifle.

But soldiers have to follow orders, at least legal ones, and while he's free to disobey any illegal order he receives once he's there (and there would no doubt be many), he's gotta go. I hate this war as much as anybody else, but really, if you don't wanna participate in wars, don't sign up for the military.

i really admire watada for taking a stand. but part of that admiration is because of what that stand is costing him. because i pretty much agree with gitai above.

gitai ever heard of the un charter? it made preemptive war illegal for all signatory states unless approved by the security council.

"But soldiers have to follow orders, at least legal ones, and while he's free to disobey any illegal order he receives"

He's not just free to disobey illegal orders, he is duty-bound to disobey them. His defense basically boils down to this being an illegal war, and therefore it is his duty not to participate in it.