Tuesday, July 11, 2006

US Army to call reporters in officer's case

SEATTLE (Reuters) - The U.S. Army plans to call two journalists as witnesses
to support charges filed against an officer who refused to fight in Iraq
because of his objections to the war, the lieutenant's lawyer said on Monday.

First Lt. Ehren Watada is facing charges over his refusal to deploy to Iraq
with his unit on June 22 and choosing to remain at the Fort Lewis base
in Washington state.

Last week, the Army charged Watada with missing his deployment, conduct
unbecoming an officer and contempt toward officials. If found guilty on all
charges, he faces up to seven years of confinement, dismissal and forfeiture
of pay.

To prove that he made "contemptuous" comments about President George W. Bush
and therefore engaged in conduct unbecoming an officer, the Army plans to call
two journalists to attest to comments Watada made during interviews, the
officer's lawyer, Eric Seitz, told reporters.


Related Story ... Watada lawyer sees slim hopes for acquittal

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