Update: Judge Declares Mistrial in Watada Case

On Wednesday, presiding judge, Lt. Col. John Head declared a mistrial, in the court-martial of First Lt. Watada, over a technicality. Beginning the court-martial, Judge Lt. Col. Head had Watada sign an agreement admitting that he failed to deploy to Iraq, and that he had given several antiwar speeches, for which he was charged with 'conduct unbecoming of an officer'. During exchanges in the trial, however, Watada disagreed.

“Your Honour,” he said. “I have always believed that I have a legal and moral defence. I realise that the government can make arguments and you can make rulings contrary to that, but that does not negate my belief that I have a defence.”

“To me,” Watada told the court, leading soldiers into battle in Iraq “means to participate in a war that I believe to be illegal.”

Aaron Glantz (GNN) reports that Col. Head had ruled that Watada’s claim—that the war is immoral and illegal—would not be a permissible defence at trial, and that Watada had hoped to argue under the so-called Nuremberg Principals which arose from trials of Nazi war criminals after World War II.

Lt. Watada's attorney, Eric Seitz, had this to say about the trial; “Every time the government has tried to prevent political speech, which they are attempting to punish, from infusing the trial proceedings it has created a major mess and many of those cases resulted in mistrials.”

“The government tried in artificial ways to prevent the defendants from explaining in their own way why they were there and why they did what they did,” Seitz said. “But there is a contradiction, because they are the core issues of what led the defendant from being there in the first place.”

Many antiwar activists cheered for the mistrial declaration. Mike Wong, a San Francisco social worker who deserted the Army rather than fight in the Vietnam War, stated that A GI Rights hotline has been set up for the men and women fighting the war, who want to get out of Iraq. Wong says that the army is now receiving 2000 calls a month.

“The military doesn’t want the American public to know that soldiers are talking about this in the barracks. Some soldiers think he’s a disgrace and others think he’s a frickin’ hero. But what it’s causing is for soldiers to discuss, to debate, and what’s really frightening to this administration is that soldiers are thinking. They don’t want soldiers to think. They want soldiers to follow orders.” -Geoff Millard (about the court-martial)

Every Soldier has a Right, a Duty to Disobey Illegal Orders

Today, in Fort Lewis, Washington, the court-marshal of First Lt. Ehren Watada begins (see interview with Watada). He is charged with "missing movement" and "conduct unbecoming an officer" including the "use of contemptuous words for the President." Ehren, from Hawaii, has questioned the legality of the war in Iraq, and refused deployment.

His defense includes all the lies Bush has fed to us about the war : the fraudulent basis for the war, the absence of a formal declaration from Congress (which has no constitutional authority to transfer its war-declaring power to another branch), the war crimes, and the flagrant violations of international treaties such as the United Nations Charter. However, prosecutors told the presiding judge that Watada's truthfulness is irrelevant to the case. They do not mean to allow Watada to prove what he has said about the President is true.

"The war in Iraq is in fact illegal," Watada told TruthOut.org. "It is my obligation and my duty to refuse any orders to participate in this war. An order to take part in an illegal war is unlawful in itself. So my obligation is not to follow the order to go to Iraq."

Lt. Col. Head, the presiding judge at Watada's trial has already stated that he will uphold a motion "to prevent the defense from presenting any evidence on the illegality of the war."

Via Alternet

Bush's war on the Iraqi people

Is this a war on terrorism, or a war on Iraqi's? Air America reports that last month, the U.S. government stopped accepting all but the latest version of Iraqi passports. Hundred of Iraqi's have been stopped from entering the U.S., including some college students.

The only way for Iraqis to get a valid passport and get into the U.S., is to go back to Baghdad and get a new passport. If you don't maybe the U.S. will crush your car with a tank.

The Occupation Project: A Campaign of Sustained Nonviolent Civil Disobedience to End the Iraq War

Voices for Creative Nonviolence has just launched the 'Occupation Project: A Campaign of Sustained Nonviolent Civil Disobedience to End the Iraq War' (visit site to sign-up). The campaign began today, February 5, and will run for eight weeks. The campaign challenges Representatives and Senators to publicly declare that they will vote against any further funding for the war in and occupation of Iraq.

Today a total of eight local congressional offices were occupied across the country, including the San Francisco offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), and the Portland office of Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR). Members of Veterans For Peace, one of the 18 organizations endorsing the campaign, participated in an action at a congressional office in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Dan Pearson, a spokesperson for the Occupation Project, explained the campaign’s goal is to defeat the $93 billion “emergency supplemental” war funding bill that the Bush administration forwarded to Congress yesterday.

Listen to the Democracy Now! interview with Kathy Kelly, Executive Director of Voices for Creative Nonviolence.

Bush's Record Low 28% Approval Rating

According to the latest CBS News poll, the president's overall approval rating has now fallen to a mere 28%—the lowest in his presidency. Not too surprising. However, to help put this approval rating into perspective, Jaimie Etkin (Radar) has put together 2 lists; 1 of people and things with equal popularity, and the other list with people and things with greater popularity.

OTHER THINGS WITH A 28 PERCENT APPROVAL RATING
• Boxer Briefs
• Kelly Osbourne
• Body Hair on Guys
• Reptiles
• A Wall Along the Mexican Border
• Text Message Flirting
• Porn
• Cottage Cheese

THINGS WITH AN APPROVAL RATING HIGHER THAN BUSH
• Brussels Sprouts (51%)
• Coke Zero (41%)
• Hillary Duff (52%)
• Jennifer Love Hewitt (36%)
• Fruit Cake (40%)
• Kevin Federline (45%)
• Rosie O'Donnell on The View (46%)
• Crocheting (72%)
• Fishing (49%)
• Legalizing Prostitution (58%)
• The Dentist (45%)
• Hanson (53%)
• In-Laws (68%)
• Figs (76%)
• The Name "Shiloh Nouvel Jolie Pitt" (29%)
• Ciara's Goodies (55%)
• The Pussy Cat Dolls (56%)
• Ryan Seacrest (60%)
• Spiceworld (57%)
• MTV VJ John Norris (35%)
• The Barenaked Ladies (73%)
• Russian Pop Duo T.A.T.U. (58%)
• The "Dude, You're getting a Dell!" Guy (42%)
• The Backstreet Boys (66%)
• Nickelback (57%)
• Sum 41 (63%)
• Hootie & The Blowfish (84%)
• Stepping in Dog Shit (35%)
• Walking in the Rain Without an Umbrella (60%)
• Small Breasts (50%)
• Getting Kicked in the Balls (41%)

Radar Online

Watch out for DNA sucking Feds!

According to The New York Times, U.S. authorities will soon begin collecting DNA samples from suspects arrested or detained by federal authorities, including hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants. Before the U.S. Justice Department changed them, the rules were that it was only convicted felons who had their DNA logged. Now, all you have to do is look suspicious, and the feds can detain you for just that. You no longer have to commit a crime to get your DNA stolen from you and filed into the U.S. database.

"DNA profiles have the potential to reveal our physical diseases and mental disorders. It becomes intrusive when the government begins to mine our most intimate matters," said Peter Neufeld, co-director of the Innocence Project, which has exonerated dozens of prison inmates using DNA evidence.

The Raw Story

Rupert Murdoch says News Corp. loves Bush. Surprise!

Rupert Murdoch talks about the Internet and digital media growth, and how Fox News is a bias as you can get.

From The Hollywood Reporter: Asked if his News Corp. managed to shape the agenda on the war in Iraq, Murdoch said: "No, I don't think so. We tried." Asked by Rose for further comment, he said: "We basically supported the Bush policy in the Middle East...but we have been very critical of his execution."

I never thought you would be so blunt and staright forward about it Murdoch. So for all the people that absolutely sweat Fox News. Do you really think it's healthy to watch one news station for all your news. Especially a news station where the CEO just said that "[they] basically supported the Bush policy in the Middle East..." ?

American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America

Twenty-five years ago, when Pat Robertson and other radio and televangelists first spoke of the United States becoming a Christian nation that would build a global Christian empire, it was hard to take such hyperbolic rhetoric seriously.

Today, such talk no longer sounds like hyperbole but poses, instead, a very real threat to our freedom and our way of life. In American Fascists, Chris Hedges, veteran journalist and author of the National Book Award finalist War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, challenges the Christian Right's religious legitimacy and argues that at its core it is a mass movement fueled by unwavering nationalism and a hatred for the open society.

The Christian Right, like these early fascist movements, doesn't openly call for dictatorship, nor does it use physical violence to suppress opposition (sometimes). Today's movement is not yet revolutionary. But the ideological architecture of a Christian fascism is being cemented in place, whether it be voluntary or involuntary.

Get it at Amazon

Interview with Ehren Watada, first Officer refusing to fight in Iraq

Truthout interviews 1st Lt. Ehren Watada to find out why he's chosen to be "the only known U.S. military officer to publicly refuse to be sent to Iraq."

Watada believes the war is illegal and that "he is duty-bound as an officer under international and military conventions to refuse unlawful orders." Watada's court-martial begins today and he faces up to 4 years in prison and an Army dismissal.

Watch the interview...

9/11 Taking the Fun Out of Cartoons

Last week in Boston, the late night cartoon Aqua Teen Hunger Force character was around town making 'obscene gestures'. His figure was displayed on battery powered boards that flashed lights. Police mistook these for explosive devices, which lead to the whole city going into panic. Hundreds of officers were involved in the security operation, which also included major roads being shut down and railways suspended. The bomb squad even 'detonated' one of the 'devices' in a controlled explosion.

This marketing campaign cost Turner Broadcasting System (who owns CNN) $2 million, $1 milion to cover the security operation, and the other $1 million as a goodwill gesture. Menino (the city's mayor) on Monday defended the city's response to the stunt, which he described last week as outrageous in the heightened security environment the United States has been in since the September 11 attacks of 2001.

Bush to Congress: $2.9 trillion spending plan

First, ""My formula for a balanced budget reflects the priorities of our country at this moment in its history: protecting the homeland and fighting terrorism, keeping the economy strong with low taxes and keeping spending under control while making federal programs more effective," Bush said." Wow. I personally love when ever he says this, " protecting the homeland and fighting terrorism,"

Bush is also proposing to increase the maximum Pell grant, which goes to low-income students, from the current $4,050 to $4,600. Oh wow, and extra $550! Are you serious? Bush is out of his mind, as Democrats are pushing for even larger increases.

"The president's budget is filled with debt and deception, disconnected from reality and continues to move America in the wrong direction,"
--> Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad.

Bush is just looking for ways (that aren't going to work) to make things better, without stopping his 'war.' Here's a clue to increase domestic spending: turn off your war machine.

Yahoo! News

Another victim of the U.S. fear culture and propaganda

A Penn Law School student who allegedly fired his weapon at the door of two neighbors he suspected of terrorism was suspended yesterday from the law school.

His lawyer, Peter Bowers, said the attack on the men he believed were terrorists - actually two roommates studying bio-engineering at Drexel University - "appears to have been a mental health or emotional issue."

Authorities "need to do appropriate mental health evaluations," Bowers said.

His client, Joseph Cho, 31, of Pine Street near 44th, is still awaiting arraignment for his alleged role in the assault. The two victims are each of Indian descent.

Cho, a Yale University graduate, has been charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, trespassing and vandalism, said Lt. John Walker, with Southwest Detectives.

He had gone to the Drexel students' apartment at 12:30 p.m., pounding on their door. When they didn't answer, Cho shot rounds from his legal Glock-9 into the door's lock.

He was later arrested by police.

"It is a bizarre case that we are investigating," Walker said. "You would think he would be more tolerant and more understanding to different cultures of people" because of his educational background.

Yesterday, Provost Ron Daniels sent a memo to the university's deans and senior administrators, stating that "the student has been temporarily suspended from the law school. The matter will be reported to the Law School's Committee on Student Conduct and Responsibility for its consideration."

The university, Daniels continued, was offering support services to any students seeking counseling to deal with the matter.

Cho, meanwhile, was described as an "outstanding young man," Bowers said. "It's really an unfortunate incident."

The law student enlisted in the Army after the Sept. 11 attacks and served for three years. He was given an honorable discharge, according to Bowers.

Philadelphia Daily News