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Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Thu, 01/04/2007 - 8:02pm.
Jan 4 2007 - 8:00am
Jan 12 2007 - 5:00pm
Members of the anti-war group Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW.org) arrived at Ft. Lewis this morning to support Lt. Ehren Watada's (thankyoult.org) refusal to deploy to Iraq.

By noon, the anti-war veterans were well on their way to setting up "Camp Resistance," where they plan to spend the next month or so waiting for Lt. Watada's expected court martial. If all goes well, the military will decide against trying Watada's case. But this would be an admission that Watada's refusal of deployment is lawful: it would be an admission that refusal is the right thing to do (which it is.) And that's the whole point. This trial is actually less about Ehren Watada's refusal than it is about the lies and deception that entered us, as a country, into an immoral, unnecessary, unjustified and illegal act of military belligerence.

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Watada has made the prudent decision in this case. I am, therefore, in the process of scripting a letter to the Ft. Lewis Base Commander, General Dubik, to ask him to honor Watada's resignation. And if he can't do that, to at least delay trial until Congress has conducted a full and impartial investigation into allegations of pre-war intelligence fraud.

America, and the world, would truly be a better place if more military personnel were to take Watada's message and actions to heart, and have the courage to resist.

The invasion of Iraq, the ongoing occupation, are not serving the American people, or national security. What the occupation is serving are the megalomaniacial interests of a few corporate entities bent on global commercial hegemony.

Let's put a stop to this. We are uniquely [well] situated in Olympia to support the IVAW, and Watada. To visit Camp Resistance proceed to exit 119 off of I-5 and proceed away from the gate to Ft Lewis. The camp should be on the right. I am sure that any supplies, support and/or company would be welcomed by the resisters.

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Today's Rally

There were some really awesome speeches today. I particularly liked Ret. Col. Ann Wright's, and Pia Rivera, Anakbayan's (from the Filipino Youth and Students Group.) Maybe a recording of the rally will be made available?

In the Course of Events

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Ann Wright is awesome

I was lucky enough to be able to drive her to the Suzanne Swift release rally yesterday.  She is such an admirable person, who works tirelessly for peace, always has something positive to say, and knows how to find common ground with diverse people.  I really admire her, and feel privileged to have had the opportunity to get to know her.  I have been quoting the things she said to me in casual conversation all day! 
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