Posted: August 14th, 2006, 9:39 pm
cultural changes
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nice to have folks to share with, gives life to weary souls.
Post your poetry, artwork, photography, & music.
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Who is the lackeean his gang of lackeys


more on Lt Watada here is his support websiteFrom: "Michael T. McPhearson" <vfped>
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 12:57:03 -0400
Subject: [vfp-all] Action for Suzanne Swift 9-12-06
A group of Iraq Veterans Against the War and CODEPINK activists are in
Washington DC for Camp Democracy, http://www.campdemocracy.org/ They are
taking an action for Suzanne on day 94 since she was arrested, 9-12-06, and
we need your help. All day on the 12th we want people flooding his DC office
with calls supporting justice for Suzanne. Please spread the word to all
your email lists so we can do a mass mobilization. Below are the numbers for
DeFazio in DC and the letter that the IVAW/CODEPINK are delivering to
DeFazio's office tomorrow.
DeFazio's Washington, DC Office
2134 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington DC, 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6416
Toll Free (in Oregon): 1-800-944-9603
Dear Congressman DeFazio:
You now have the opportunity to help gain Swift justice for one of
your constituents. SPC Suzanne Swift (Eugene OR), facing a re-deployment to
Iraq while serving under the command of the same individuals that allowed
her to be raped and sexual harassed, suffered a breakdown due to Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and went absent without leave rather than
subject herself to the horrors she experienced during her first tour of
duty. At this point her chain of command has acted only to investigate and
prosecute SPC Swift for saving her own life by going AWOL.
Mr. Congressman you have been contacted several times about this
issue, to include a signed privacy act release from SPC Swift with no action
or reply on your behalf. Therefore, we are respectfully demanding that you
call her chain of command immediately to begin a congressional investigation
into what has happened to SPC Swift. Please find out why she is facing a
dishonorable discharge while two of the men who raped and sexually assaulted
her have been granted honorable discharges. SPC Swift served with honor for
over a year in Iraq despite continuing rape and sexual assault by her chain
of command; we owe her more than a dishonorable discharge. We owe her an
honorable medical discharge with proper treatment for both her war and rape
induced PTSD.
We have come to your office because your constituents know you to
have a history of being a progressive voice in Oregon and there is no reason
why this issue should not be foremost on your agenda. To guarantee this is
your top priority we have decided to remain in your office until you take
the proper action of initiating a congressional investigation. The chain of
command information for SPC Swift is as follows:
I CORPS COMMAND GROUP at Ft Lewis
COMMANDING GENERAL
BLDG 2025 STOP 1 AFZH-CG
LTG JAMES M. DUBIK
Aide-de-Camp LTC Kamper 253-967-0022
Executive Assistant Mrs. Swartz 253-967-0002
Executive Admin Asst. MSG Johnston 253-967-0001
42ND MILITARY POLICE BRIGADE
BLDG 2007 STOP 55 AFZH-MP
POLICE INFORMATION/CONCERNS/QUESTIONS 253-966-
0088/967-4824
Brigade Cdr/Provost Marshal COL Miller 253- 967-3121
Thank you for truly supporting our troops and helping to end military sexual
violence.
Geoffrey Millard
SGT US ARMY (R)
Member of Iraq veterans Against the War
Peace~
Sara Rich, M.S.W

Friends and Family of Lt. Watada
NEWS RELEASE. Sept. 15, 2006
(Ft. Lewis, WA) – In a surprise move today, the U.S. Army chose to add an additional specification under the charge of Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman for comments Lt. Ehren Watada made Aug. 12 during a speech to the Veterans For Peace national convention in Seattle. Lt. Watada stated “to stop an illegal and unjust war, soldiers can choose to stop fighting it.” The additional, gratuitous charge raises the stakes in the widely publicized and controversial case of the first military officer to publicly refuse to fight in the illegal Iraq war and occupation.
It is unknown if the military intends to hold another Article 32 pre-trial hearing to review the new charge, or simply railroad it directly to court martial. A final decision on the forwarding to court-martial on all seven charges now pending against Lt. Watada remains forthcoming from Fort Lewis Commanding General Lt. Gen. James Dubik.
If convicted of all charges, Lt. Watada could now face over eight years in prison, more than six of them for publicly voicing his opposition to what he considers an illegal and immoral war.
In June Lt. Watada stated, in language reminiscent of the House Minority Judiciary Committee report “Constitution in Crisis” that “the war in Iraq is not only morally wrong but a horrible breach of American law,” and that he felt his “moral and legal obligation is to the Constitution and not those who would issue unlawful orders.” Many groups and legal experts have weighed in on Lt. Watada’s right to publicly explain the rational for his actions. The American Civil Liberties Union filed an amicus brief defending Lt. Watada’s right to respectfully and publicly explain his refusal to deploy.
In a written recommendation for court-martial issued last month, Investigating Officer Lt. Col. Mark Keith had explained that it was not Lt. Watada’s “physical conduct (manner of _expression, demeanor, oral communication skills)” that he felt warranted the charges of conduct unbecoming, but rather Lt. Watada’s “message.” Paradoxically, the Army has consistently chosen to act in ways that publicize that message.
"Lt. Watada is a principled and sincere young officer who has deeply held and serious legal and moral objections to participating in the current war in Iraq. He attempted to articulate those concerns to his command before the matter became public,” Eric Seitz, Watada’s civilian defense attorney, wrote in a rebuttal submitted to the military court late last month. “[T]he Army’s unwillingness thus far to seek any reasonable solution or outcome of this situation certainly has placed Lt. Watada into a position where he has little or no choice but to vigorously defend himself against charges that we submit are extravagant and unjustified,” Seitz wrote.
Friends and Family of Lt. Watada is moving forward with plans for a national mobilization near Ft. Lewis in support of bringing the troops home, a "people's tribunal” on the legality of the Iraq War, and many other events leading up to a possible court-martial.
In a Democracy Now! exclusive, Army Specialist Suzanne Swift speaks out in her first national broadcast interview. After serving in Iraq, Swift was arrested and confined to base for going AWOL. She says she was sexually harassed and abused by her commanders in Iraq and at home. In the interview, Swift reveals for the first time that an Army investigation concluded in July that they could not substantiate her claims. Swift says, "For women considering going into [the military]: Don't." Her attorney, Keith Scherer, says, "It's pretty clear from the language in the report that they didn't do a diligent investigation."

