Lt. Ehren Watada on Refusing to Serve in Iraq

[zebra4593]

Much respect for this man.

[glenneveaux]

a soldier with a brain; precious and so lacking in the world today. my comment (freedom of speech) is pending approval by whom? show ur pitiful selves. google???? pend this u cocksucking corporate hypocrites; this country was "founded" by slave-owners who wanted to be free. now, if that's a fact, tell me, am i lying?

[sunflowerofpeace]

So refreshing to hear the truth from a soldier,maybe they are not all brainwashed,maybe there is hope.What a brave soul,he must get an aweful lot of threats and hatemail,well for what it is worth,some stand with you,peace & love from Canada

[starmanskye]

IMHO -- This man and those serving men and women like him are a thousand times more honorable & courageous than those who reluctantly follow orders to fight & kill on behalf of cynical, malicious US policies of Imperialist outreach & profits. Refusing illegal orders, resisting authoritarian abuse-of-power & voluntarily accepting the persecution, punishment, public condemnation & humiliation is a profound demonstration of moral integrity & honor.

[kaffholter]

spread this far and wide for Pat Tilman!

[Plutonwolf]

see, there is hope for us. A man like this is a true hero. Let us all stand up for people like him. He is what we should all aspire to be.

[im4wur2]

"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat." - Sun Tzu

[andersmusician]

this is what happens when the constitution contradicts with war policies.

[Whorulesnow]

Thank you Lt. Watada. You are a brave and great man. I support you. It is time for change. The people of this country need to stand up to all the corruption and misinformation. Our country is being destroyed along with Iraq and Afghanistan.

[cochranexyz]

A hero, huh? A hero stands up for what's right and doesn't empower the assholes to continue their ways. Watada has more guts than the scared troops who march on to fight something they feel is wrong.

[spliffsperlunk]

The American people dont want the War to end if they had they would have voted for Ron Paul instead of Obama or McCain.

[TopOfTheWorldTV]

media is biased and vast - he is going to have to organize a powerful campaign

[dr3behemoth]

@spliffsperlunk most thought Obama would end the war............but you're right.i hope they give Ron Paul and peace a chance in 2012^

[usdmriv64]

Are you guys serouis? A hero deploys with his troops and leads from the front.

Enjoy your freedom

Semper Fi

[itrainsinoctober]

Regarding the Iraqi invasion, YouTube: George Galloway vs. U.S Senate

[biwamasa]

well said

[bcosten2007]

this guy and the men behind him defy the stereotype of jarheads and my perception that most soldiers are simpletons without education or a conception of the big picture they are complicit in carrying out

[tbgallien]

Patriotism is a dark and demanding obligation to take the most serious possible steps and undergo the most serious kinds of personal risks in defence of this freedom, that is our natural right. This universal challenge that always included the demand for self correction, must always be unto ourselves. To face the national mirror with open eyes and not fail to be humble.

Naomi Wolf

Semper Fi SGT USMC 0300

This man is our nations Hero

[Dorje8l8l]

"They must remember duty to the Constitution and the people supercedes the ideology of their leadership...They must know that resisting an authoritarian government at home is equally important to fighting a foreign aggressor on the battlefield." -Lt. Watada

A TRUE HERO, A TRUE PATRIOT, A TRUE CITIZEN.

[Maddogface]

This is a very, very brave man... if somebody go against the military machine of U.S. must to be a man of faith, and conviction god for you Lt. E. Watada .. your name will known all over the world and you´re words will be eared , the war criminals will be judges. I hope so.

[nogodsnever]

Now, THAT takes courage!

[scatmanwfm]

its nice to see a true hero once in a while instead of the complacent drones without a mind of their own.

[peeweegerman]

@scatmanwfm its not so much about being a complacent drone,it about doing your job.

[nbcooler022]

Lt. Ehren Watada, a true american hero.

Expose the facade of the neo-cons!

[peapod8]

Thank you, Lt. Ehren Watada.

[realrockvince]

One of the bravest officers ever to serve.

[caseywrong]

It's good to see a true hero...

[zc816]

thank you Lt. You deserve Nobel peace prize.

[bobicp]

no, he doesn't, he abandoned his men and enjoys the blanket of freedom while his men are fighting oversees, he left his men to go to war, he is wrong, period

[ratkins2323]

he abandoned his men, his men abandoned him. goes both ways.

[brahim119]

Maybe, but at least he didn't abondon the law of the land and more importantly he didn't abondon the Constitution of his country for which he took an oath to defend and uphold,

[htsprks]

Lt. Ehren Watada, you are a true hero!

[shamanradotcom]

A real soldier. A real humble spiritual. Thank you!

[000GUN1]

Though he may not see himself as a hero, this man is indeed nothing less. To hold yourself to the same principles and values that you would see in others shows the highest integrity, as is the unmistakable mark of a true leader.

[aristofaness]

Ehren Watada is a true soldier not only for this country. He is a real citizen of the world. We need more soldiers like him who understand that they have a brain, and the brain is for be used as Watada Does. I embrace this brave young boy.

[warhater]

Thanx Lt. 4 obeying the U.S. Constitution & international law a/c the Iraq invasion/occupation is especially illegal. U R an wonderful example 4 civilians & military alike. R treasonous leaders would be held accountable if there were millions more like U. But everyone is 2 fearful lacking the knowledge that they have the power to change the Iraq horror. Ur a brave person!

[olivemike81]

Ok I'm not comparing Bush to Hitler, this is just a point, but how do we look upon soldiers who refused to fight for germany, in WW2, because they thought it was immoral? This man is refusing to fight in something he deems immoral; can we expect anything less? Also soldiers are not bound to follow illegal orders or orders that are outlawed by the geneva convention. This is really no different.

[nebula88]

God Bless you Lt. Watada

[MrDowntownLA]

Robert M. Gates, Sec of Defense Air Force Academy 6/30/07 "The willingness always to take the right path, even if it is the hard path, is called character. In every aspect of your life, whether personal or professional, you must always maintain the courage of your convictions -- your personal integrity."

[nholmes]

"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." - Mark Twain

[hotnune]

I felt sad for Ehren. When he quit, he not only let down our country, but he let down the rest of us. When he was needed the most, he quit. "Honor and Duty", He took an oath as an officer, and he betrayed that oath. I stood the wall, as my son now stands the wall, and I will again. As an Officer I continue up holding my oath, for my country and my men.

[Estarrol88]

Truely one can realize that the War on Iraq is based on a Lie. Saddam Hussein never had WMDs. now many og you guys If you were a leader of a nation and you had nuclear weapons and all the enemy troops were located in a small condense area would you use it for self-defense? have you also realize that we spent BILLIONS of dollars on this war which we could have used to help our economy and our schools

[itslegit]

>As an Officer I continue up holding my oath, for my country and my men.

You really need to believe that.

[1TrueLiberator]

Ehren Watada, has shown great "Honor and Duty". He questioned the very integrity of a TREASONIST President. Question the commander in chiefs "Dishonorable" orders. Has "Honestly and Dutifully" fought against this despicable incompetent Presidential order. Where is Osama? Not where the OIL is Bush is where the OIL is and SOLDIERS have been abused and we at the pump at $3.5 a gallon.

[jathan7710]

very well spoken. speaks true, I like this man.

After hearing his speach on this matter. I even beleve now, that this mission in Iraq, has live pass its usefullness. and now has become more of a problem.

[melomane]

This man is a hero and gives me a little bit of faith back in this sad, lost country of ours.

[frozen78996587]

This is a most excellent man with an enormously important position to convey...listen to him.

A private American citizen far outranks an LT, general, president.

[dontTouchMyFknRadio]

He has some guts to speak up for what he believes in.

[jenamawal]

Lt. Watada is a true patriot. Thank God he has followed his conscience. I pray that many others will walk this same path.

[limoges7]

couldn't agree more

[Cadet6799]

To think i am going in the Airforce, pretty much i already did. I am only 17, but smart as hell, i am not doing my job for bushes pure fun, only for myself

[parkregal]

When people like this guy is in the extreme minority, then we know something is extremely wrong with our country and the direction it is going.

[ninjauno]

the HONOR of this great man is gigantic

I hope my fellows americans democrat or republican,wake up of their dreams and realized that ( bush and freinds ) with their agenda wants to detroy america.

[sugarsees]

GO WATADA .. well said my friend ...

[Phlegmwahn]

Thank God for Lt. Ehren Watada he has restored my faith in the American people

[dudethedreamer]

dont be so sure, its more like a bug in a program, american people are too much into themself and Ehren is just a fluke, a good thing that was not suppose to have happen in america. but it does seem like more americans are finaly waking up because of teh internet, so maybe you can keep your good faith in a already dead country

[Jul1us]

the same for me !!!

[SamFeldman1]

I was present during the speech. I have watched it several times since. Each time, my admiration for Lt. Watada grows. Here is a young man of conviction who got it right. He will go on to be a great leader, no matter where he goes.

Though he's a leg, he deserves a hearty "Airborne!"

[Alfaguy]

A brave an well spoken man - but why don't many more refuse to fight. I sometimes find it difficult to sympathise when soldiers get killed in Iraq. It was their choice to go - I would not do it.

[SamFeldman1]

There are over 40,000 soldiers who went AWOL, according to the Department of Defense. But, most soldiers do their duty and serve without questioning, or even while questioning. This happens because of a sense of duty and because of decades socialization that tells us that we must follow orders. It's a commitment that we made when we signed up and some of us just don't have the moral conviction to break that contract.

[ArtGarfunkelfan1]

Lt. Watada makes all us Japanese Americans Proud! I agree with him, the war on Iraq is terrible and the administration that made it happen have little morals, if any

[gbjoce]

A young man to be proud of.

[mistacreative]

Preach my brother.. Preach!

[DracosWrath]

You are a Hero Lt. Watada and the patrons of honor, truth and justice praise you. God Bless.

[scabies]

Awesome. Bravo Watada.

[john1512]

Well done, bro!!! We're proud of you!

[lighthands5050]

What a beautiful speech from an IDEAL American.

God Bless this man and all who stand against the evil that reigns. I support this man and all by his side. May God protect him in this brave and RIGHT decision.

[donnytello]

I support his objection to fight in Iraq... but don't you think the other soldiers in Iraq dread fighting there? How many soldiers do you know? I know a good handful, and each and every one of them are disgusted about this war.

[mobilezonetv]

BRAVO! How many of these people are still around?

[xingch2007]

It takes much more courage to rise against a wrong war than to blindly follow orders, and even more so for an Army officer. He is a hero,period.

[Juliet72]

Exactly! Americans and all those against this evil war can be proud of this man! Go Lt!

[BulgeDiesel]

Hopefully more soldiers will follow in Ehren's footsteps. Bush cannot get out of office soon enough. The troop surge is a horrible idea.

[hasnat407]

The First American connected with the military in any way that I have seen speaking the truth or having a realistic view of the world. Bravo.

[Freshmanwave]

Ah, you've missed Eisenhower's Farewell Address.

[mauiguy85]

God Bless you! We need more people in this country to stand up against the injustice that is the IraqWar. Keep fighting the good fight!!!

[handsometall28]

wow, what a speech.

Truth shall set me free

[MedullaPancreas]

Watada's a conscientious objector.. what's the problem? You telling me citizens paying the ultimate price for their freedom don't have that right anymore? He went over to Iraq and saw the mess of a poorly executed foreign policy first-hand and didn't want to give up his life for a zero sum game. Case closed. He rolled the dice once. That's more than most do for their country. No wonder why people don't want to serve in the Armed Forces. They're treated like this.

[scatmanwfm]

woot preach it brother!

[akisna]

Watada is the man.

[lonelygirlI5]

This guy is saying the heroic things that Oliver North

SHOULD HAVE said publicly but never did. Equally, he's

refusing to do some of the things that Oliver North DID

do.

[distressed7]

G-d bless you. Lt. Watada. I am with you. We have become a nation of followers. You are an exception. You have already won. Just seeing this brings tears to my eyes. You help face another day. You have risen above a defilement many do not understand.

[lethal1960]

i am humbled by your integrity

[mac8394]

"Ties to WMD, ties to Al Qaida and ties to 9/11 never existed and never will. The soldiers must know that our narrowly and questionably elected officials intentionally manipulated the evidence presented to the Congress."

Yeah, I agree. Mr. Bush and his lieutenants including Mr. Rumsfeld and Mr. Wolfowitz should be tried for war crimes.

[distressed7]

Our chance to maintain our self-respect and G-dgiven autonomy will come. Just like the fighters in Fallujah, who are being forced to take biometric SMARTCARDS, retina scanned. We will have to do what they do to take back our nation, and to take back our freedom and our precious privacy.

[joshuakerns76]

I am a man who has lived his life believing in few Hero's. I count Lt. Ehren Watada as a American Hero and Patriot. He is right about the status of our troops. I served for 6 years in the Navy and the double standards ruled us, to act or not to act, damned if you do, damned if you don't. Getting out in 2002, I was fortunate enough to not have to make the tough decision facing so many of our Service Members. This man has gone against all odds.

[sweetcountriegirl]

Wow, Im glad this video is available, we are made to believe that our soldiers are totally behind our pres and his decisions and by not agreeing we are unpatriotic. ty

[hamace]

Most do support the pres the biggest frustriation amongst soldiers is not being there but not being able to do more, we are being held back because bush is pussing out because the US citizens have no will power.

[ToddBoyle]

Lt. Watada is absolutely right.. No matter how many times Bush and Cheney repeat their lies, it is NOT OK to invade other peoples' countries. The US has signed numerous treaties not to attack other countries. Treaties are binding US law.

Our military must stop its mindless obedience. Civilians are just as guilty. We must also refuse to allow this war. We must refuse to pay taxes, shun products of US corporations, and teach our children to disobey.

[EchelonMonitor]

When I was in basic training, we had classes on how to refuse to obey and illegal order. It's too bad they don't teach that class anymore. There also used to be a principle of command responsibility, but they've thrown that out along with moral and ethical principles.