The Case of Lt. Watada

Lt. Ehren Watada, the highest commissioned officer to refuse deployment to Iraq, must be aggravating for the military, who seem to never be successful when trying him in court. His court martial in February ended in a mistrial. Another was scheduled in March and ended in double-jeopardy. His new trial is set for July 23 at Fort Lewis, but it's now unclear whether this will once again proceed on schedule. Watada has not been able to make a Nuremberg Defense, in which he would argue that the War in Iraq is immoral and illegal. In his defense is the US Constitution, the UN Charter, the Nuremberg Principles, and the Supreme Law of the Land. But the military will have no such trial, and will continue its efforts to prosecute Watada for missing a troop movement to the war, and four counts of conduct unbecoming an officer for statements critical of the war--such as the statements in this video. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of six years in prison.