Letter Writing Action to gain support
for Ehren!
The next few weeks may determine the outcome of the court martial
of Lt. Ehren Watada's principled stand against the U.S. Army in refusing orders
to deploy to Iraq. Lt. Watada is the first commissioned officer who had
the courage to resist the Army's orders because the war in Iraq is unlawful.
Lt. Watada's court martial is tentatively scheduled for February 5, 2006.
Here is a list of critical actions that we are you asking you take ASAP to support
Lt. Watada and upcoming events to participate in! Please forward the letter
writing actions to your friends, families and networks.
A. Write individual and organizational letters
of support for Lt. Watada to the U.S. Army. Ask the Army to accept Lt.
Watada's resignation and to give him a discharge. Letters should be directed
to:
Commanding General
Fort Lewis and I Corps
Lt. Gen. James M. Dubik
Bldg. 2025 Stop 1
Fort Lewis WA 98433
Copy to:
The Honorable Francis J. Harvey
Secretary of the U.S. Army
1500 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310-1500
Also copy your Congressional member in House and Senate
B. Request that your member of Congress write a letter
of support to the U.S. Army. The Congressional request to the Army
should be to accept Lt. Watada's resignation from the U.S. Army. This
request would bring Lt. Watada's court martial to a close.
Contact:
Senator Daniel Inouye
Email: http://inouye.senate.gov/abtform.html
Fax: (808) 541-2549
Mail: Senator Daniel Inouye
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Rm 7-212
Honolulu, HI
96850-4975
Senator Daniel Akaka
Email:
http://akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Fax: (808) 545-4683
Mail: Senator Daniel Akaka
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 3-106
Honolulu, HI 96850
Congressman Neil Abercrombie
Email: Neil.Abercrombie@mail.house.gov
Fax: (808) 533-0133
Mail: Congressman Neil Abercrombie
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd. Room 4-104
Honolulu, HI 96850
Congresswoman Mazie Hirono
Email: Mazie.Hirono@mail.house.gov
(in January, 2007)
Mail: Congresswoman Mazie Hirono
Honolulu District Office Address:
5104 Prince Kuhio Federal Bldg.
Honolulu, HI 96850
Sample letter:
Dear Senator Inouye,
I write to ask for your leadership in support of Lt. Ehren Watada, a local boy
who has become the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment
to the unlawful Iraq war and occupation. Along with tens of thousands
of my fellow Americans, I support Lt. Watada's principled stance against this
war.
Lt. Watada exemplifies true courage in his decision of conscience to refuse
to participate in a war that violates the U.S. Constitution and international
law. He is now being court-martialed for his act of moral conscience challenging
government leaders on the war in Iraq through conduct consistent with his conscience,
for stating what we now know about the war. For the first time since 1965,
the military is prosecuting an objector for expressing his opinions, a particularly
disturbing trend.
In the fear and hysteria of war, disastrous decisions are sometimes made in
flagrant disregard of the Constitution -- like the Executive Order incarcerating
Japanese Americans during World War II, and the current illegal war in Iraq.
As our history teaches, and Lt. Watada reminds us, the Constitution must be
protected, and not ignored, in times of war. Through his loyal dissent,
Lt. Watada fulfills his oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United
States.
I urge you to support Lt. Watada's case and his cause in your capacity as a
member of Congress. Please join the growing number of Americans who are
deeply distressed at the wrong course our nation has taken, and stand with Lt.
Watada in his principled defense of the Constitution.
I ask you to make a Congressional request to Lt General James Dubik
and to Secretary Francis Harvey to accept Lt. Watada's resignation with
full discharge.
Mahalo for your support.
Respectfully,
Obtain support from State and local officials.
Ask them to write letters of support urging the Army to accept Lt. Watada's
resignation from the U.S. Army and direct them to both Lt. General Dubik and
Secretary of U.S. Army Francis Harvey, referred to above.
Contact your State Senators here:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/senate/members/members.asp?press1=senate&press2=members
Contact your State House Representatives here:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/house/members/members.asp?press1=house&press2=members
Write a letter to the editor of our local newspapers in support of
Lt. Watada.
YOUR ACTIONS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
THE TIME TO TAKE THEM IS NOW!
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