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Friday, August 25, 2006
Army officer recommending trial for Watada
Iraq war resister faces 3 charges; report likely today
FORT LEWIS -- An Army officer is recommending that 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, who has refused to go to Iraq, face trial on the three charges against him, a Fort Lewis spokesman confirmed Thursday night.
A report by the investigating officer, Lt. Col. Mark Keith, "does recommend that the case be tried by general court-martial," said J.C. Mathews, a civilian spokesman at the base.
Keith's report was expected to be released today.
Watada has been charged with missing troop movement, conduct unbecoming an officer and contempt toward officials.
The Army laid out its case against him at a hearing last week, showing video footage of the officer calling the Iraq war illegal.
Keith could have recommended anything from dismissal of the charges to a general court-martial.
Keith's recommendation goes to Watada's brigade commander, Col. Cynthia Murphy, and finally to Lt. Gen. James Dubik, Fort Lewis commander, who has the final say on whether Watada should stand trial.
If convicted, Watada could face seven years in prison and dishonorable discharge.
Mathews said there is no timetable for Dubik's decision.
Watada's lawyer, Eric Seitz, said he was not surprised.
"We always believed that when they went so far as to convene an Article 32 hearing that they had already made a decision to proceed," he said.
Last week's Article 32 hearing is similar to a grand jury proceeding.
Watada was not immediately reachable for comment.
The 28-year-old officer from Honolulu was charged after he refused to deploy to Iraq on June 22 with his Fort Lewis Stryker unit, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.
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