Actually that’s exactly what soldiers are supposed to do. As the Nuremberg trials laid out.

The legality of the war is in question, by minds much rational than yours.

Lt. Watada isn’t disputing that he refused follow orders to deploy. He’s disputing the legality of those orders. Therefore, he is correct when he maintains that the agreement he signed is not a ‘confession’.

The court-martial was doomed to be a mistrial anyway, with military judge Lt. Col. John Head refusing to allow almost all defense witnesses to take the stand, and ruling that Watada’s attorney, Eric Seitz, could not debate the legality of the Iraq war in court. The legality or illegality of the war is at the very heart of this case…the reason Lt. Watada refused to deploy in the first place. Disallowing any debate regarding the legality of the war completely obviates the point of having a trial.

Comment by Uncle_Ho — February 7, 2007 @ 9:40 pm

Yes, a mistrial was declared, but a new trial is set to begin mid-March (tentatively).

Grounds for mistrial in this case are that the Lt did not realize he was signing a confession when he admitted to choosing not to deploy with his unit.

From the article.
Under questioning from Head, Watada said that he did not believe the agreement he had signed — in which he acknowledged that he had chosen not to follow orders and deploy with his unit to Iraq — was an admission of guilt. Indeed, Watada explained, he felt he had a right to argue in his defense that the war is illegal and that serving in it would cause him to participate in war crimes.

This guy can try to interpret the legality of a war, the legality of orders, and try to Interpret the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions, but does not realize he is signing a confession?

Please, give me a break.

In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy sources must change.
“Energy drives our entire economy.” We must protect it. “Let’s face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy.” The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.

The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, etc. The source of energy must by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, Ocean-Tidal, etc. including utilizing water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption. (Sales tax on renewable energy products should be reduced or eliminated)

The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)

In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING” (the buying of excess generation from the consumer at market price), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology” with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.

A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task. As an inducement to buy hybrid automobiles (sales tax should be reduced or eliminated on American manufactured automobiles).

This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) (rainwater harvesting, water conservation) (energy and natural resources conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.

“To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality.”

Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
Feb. 8, 2007

P.S. I have a very deep belief in America’s capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis–the one in 1942–President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.

Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.

Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X’s 5 hrs per day X’s 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 2

4 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?

Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence. (Installation should be paid “performance based”)

Installation of renewable energy and its performance should be paid to the installer and manufacturer based on “performance based” (that means they are held accountable for the performance of the product – that includes the automobile industry). This will gain the trust and confidence of the end-user to proceed with such a project; it will also prove to the public that it is a viable avenue of energy conservation.

Installing renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.

Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.

Jay Draiman
Northridge, CA 91325
Email: renewableenergy2@msn.com

These people are so evil. They must be stopped before it is to late for you and me. George Bush is much more dangerous to the security of Americans and our nation than all of the terrorists combined.

Why is that so difficult for people to understand?

and second of all, WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE MISSION, becuase the mission changes every 20 minutes

our troops COMPLETED the mission A LONG TIME AGO, were sent to depose saddam, they were sent to find out if therer were wmd’s, AND THAT IS IT

they are NOYT a free Iraqi police force, they are NOT espcrts, they are NOT builders of schools, they are NOT an occupying force

what’s left is POLITICAL, it is NOT military

and ANYONE that thinks keeping our troops doing politician’s work are the people that are not supporting our troops

Comment by Uncle_Ho

Where can I download that?

> Don`t go anywhere I wouldn`t. I will own your computer as I already do most TP posters.
> Free access to all computers that you posters operate is my lifes goal.

Either “6-year old clueless in need of spanking” or else “grown-up clueless with an inferiority complex”. Tiresome.