Support Lt. Ehren Watada resist illegal war, action needed NOW!

[mahina]

Aloha,
The next few weeks may determine the outcome of the court martial of Lt. Ehren Watada's principled stand against the U.S. Army in refusing orders to deploy to Iraq. Lt. Watada is the first commissioned officer who had the courage to resist the Army's orders because the war in Iraq is unlawful. Lt. Watada's court martial is tentatively scheduled for February 5, 2006.

Here is a list of critical actions that we are you asking you take ASAP to support Lt. Watada and upcoming events to participate in! Please forward the letter writing actions to your friends, families and networks.

1. Talk by Ann Wright with appearance by Lt. Ehren Watada
2. Letter writing action to support Lt. Watada

Upcoming events: Details coming soon! Please mark your calendars
First Friday event with Peace Ribbon Project: Jan 5 6:00-9:00 p.m. Downtown Honolulu
Peace Ribbon Project Display: Jan 10-13 at Hawaii State Library
March with Peace Ribbon: Jan 15 Martin Luther King Day parade
For further info on the Peace Ribbon campaign visit:
http://codepink4peace.org/article.php?list=type&type=17


1. Talk by Ann Wright with a special appearance by Lt. Watada
Tuesday, December 19 7:00 p.m. at Church of the Crossroads
Don't miss this opportunity to meet and hear two of Hawai`i's
courageous resisters.

The event is being organized by World Can't Wait-Hawai`i, and is co-sponsored by the Hawai`i chapters of Not In Our Name, CodePINK, Iraq Vets Against the War, Veterans for Peace, AFSC, PFLAG, GI Rights Hotline, and Hawai`i Labor for Peace, Hawai`i People's Fund, Buddhist Peace Fellowship O`ahu, Revolution Books, Ohana Koa/Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific, DMZ Aloha `Aina.

2. Letter Writing Action to gain support for Ehren!

A. Write individual and organizational letters of support for Lt. Watada to the U.S. Army. Ask the Army to accept Lt. Watada's resignation and to give him a discharge. Letters should be directed to:

Commanding General
Fort Lewis and I Corps
Lt. Gen. James M. Dubik
Bldg. 2025 Stop 1
Fort Lewis WA 98433

Copy to:

The Honorable Francis J. Harvey
Secretary of the U.S. Army
1500 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310-1500

Also copy your Congressional member in House and Senate

B. Request that your member of Congress write a letter of support to the U.S. Army. The Congressional request to the Army should be to accept Lt. Watada's resignation from the U.S. Army. This request would bring Lt. Watada's court martial to a close.

Contact:

Senator Daniel Inouye
Email: http://inouye.senate.gov/abtform.html
Fax: [phone]
Mail: Senator Daniel Inouye
300 Ala Moana Blvd. Rm 7-212
Honolulu, HI 96850-4975

Senator Daniel Akaka
Email:
http://akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Fax: [phone]
Mail: Senator Daniel Akaka
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 3-106
Honolulu, HI 96850

Congressman Neil Abercrombie
Email: Neil.Abercrombie@...
Fax: (808) 533-0133
Mail: Congressman Neil Abercrombie
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd. Room 4-104
Honolulu, HI 96850

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono
Email: Mazie.Hirono@... (in January, 2007)
Mail: Congresswoman Mazie Hirono
Honolulu District Office Address:
5104 Prince Kuhio Federal Bldg.
Honolulu, HI 96850

Sample letter:

Dear Senator Inouye,

I write to ask for your leadership in support of Lt. Ehren Watada, a local boy who has become the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to the unlawful Iraq war and occupation. Along with tens of thousands of my fellow Americans, I support Lt. Watada's principled stance against this war.

Lt. Watada exemplifies true courage in his decision of conscience to refuse to participate in a war that violates the U.S. Constitution and international law. He is now being court-martialed for his act of moral conscience challenging government leaders on the war in Iraq through conduct consistent with his conscience, for stating what we now know about the war. For the first time since 1965, the military is prosecuting an objector for expressing his opinions, a particularly disturbing trend.

In the fear and hysteria of war, disastrous decisions are sometimes made in flagrant disregard of the Constitution -- like the Executive Order incarcerating Japanese Americans during World War II, and the current illegal war in Iraq. As our history teaches, and Lt. Watada reminds us, the Constitution must be protected, and not ignored, in times of war. Through his loyal dissent, Lt. Watada fulfills his oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

I urge you to support Lt. Watada's case and his cause in your capacity as a member of Congress. Please join the growing number of Americans who are deeply distressed at the wrong course our nation has taken, and stand with Lt. Watada in his principled defense of the Constitution.

I ask you to make a Congressional request to Lt General James Dubik and to Secretary Francis Harvey to accept Lt. Watada's resignation with full discharge.

Mahalo for your support.

Respectfully,

__________________

C. Obtain support from State and local officials. Ask them to write letters of support urging the Army to accept Lt. Watada's resignation from the U.S. Army and direct them to both Lt. General Dubik and Secretary of U.S. Army Francis Harvey, referred to above.

Contact your State Senators here:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/senate/members/members.asp?press1=senate&press2=members

Contact your State House Representatives here:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/house/members/members.asp?press1=house&press2=members

3. Write a letter to the editor of our local newspapers in support of
Lt. Watada.

YOUR ACTIONS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
THE TIME TO TAKE THEM IS NOW!

"Gandhi once declared that it was his wife who unwittingly taught him the effectiveness on nonviolence. Who better than women should know that battles can be won without resort to physical strength? Who better than we should know all the power that resides in noncooperation?" Barbara Deming