| Over a
thousand people and giant puppets rallied at the
gates of Fort Lewis, Washington today in support of
Lt. Ehren Watada. Formed for the occasion, the
“Tacoma Puppetistas” visually dominated the mass
rally by putting the war on trial via huge puppet
theater. Meanwhile Iraq Veterans Against the War and
families of military resisters led chants and
marches from rallies in a nearby park to the base
gates. Helga Aguayo, with her two daughters and mother-in-law at her side, spoke of her husband Agustin’s three year battle with the Army for a conscientious objector discharge—only to then be forced to refuse to return to Iraq for a second deployment. Spc. Aguayo is now facing seven years imprisonment at a upcoming March 6 court martial for desertion On Fort Lewis, supporters of Lt. Watada lined up at the visitors station beginning at 5:00 am in order to gain entry to the court proceedings. Many were turned away, but about 50 civilians were eventually allowed to view the proceedings from a viewing room with an audio/video feed. |
 |
.As Lt. Watada’s mother Carolyn Ho entered the legal
building at 8:30 am, dozens of supporters, lined up across
the street, erupted into cheers. This is probably not
something that happens on Fort Lewis often.
The morning proceedings covered numerous defense motions,
including a few related to what the military judge Lt. Col.
John Head despairingly referred to as the “Nuremberg Defense.”
All motions, “DENIED,” cause: irrelevant.
All defense witnesses, with the possible exception of a West
Point instructor, were also systematically denied by Judge
Head. Witnesses denied by the judge included Richard Falk,
Professor of International Law and Practise, Princeton
University; Michael Ratner, president of the Center for
Constitutional Rights; former UN Assistant Secretary-General
Denis Halliday, and outspoken Iraq War critic General
Newbold.
Lt. Watada’s civilian defense lawyer Eric Seitz explained
that all of these witnesses were required to defend his
client against the two remaining charges of “conduct
unbecoming and officer and a gentleman,” charges based on
his speech to the Veterans for Peace National Convention
last year in Seattle and his initial June 7th pre-recorded
video statement.
In rejecting all of these witnesses, Judge John Head in an
Orwellian twist of logic explained that Lt. Watada is not on
trial for his speech, although that is what is laid out in
the charges against him. Lt. Watada is actually on trial for
his conduct (presumably in uttering the statements that
appear on the charge sheet).
Under this premise, Lt. Watada can not then attempt to
defend himself by proving that the words he spoke were in
deed factual. According to Judge Head, allowing these
witnesses would only “confuse the issues at trial.” When
Eric Seitz attempted to vigorously object, Judge Head
requested he “leave the dramatics at the courtroom door.”
During the afternoon “jury” selection, an Army officer who
treats returning Iraq War veterans for PTSD was asked what
he thought of Lt. Watada. He replied that he was “impressed”
with what he knew of him. Judge Head asked if he meant that
he was “surprised” by Lt. Watada’s public statements. No, he
was “impressed.” Juror dismissed.
At the end of the day, a panel of seven career military
officers was seated to act as a jury of Lt. Watada’s peers.
The court will begin hearing evidence in U.S. v. Watada
tomorrow, Tuesday morning. At this rate, the trial is
expected to last through Wednesday or Thursday. Courage to
Resist and other supporters of Lt. Watada will gather at the
I-5 Exit 119 overpass at 4:00 pm every evening through the
end of the trial.