IRAQ WAR

STARTLING ADMISSIONS IN CRITICISM OF WATADA

Col. Thomas D. Farrell makes some startling admissions in his criticism of Lt. Ehren Watada's stand against the war in Iraq.

He says "Many of us who served in Iraq were under no illusion about the administration's corruption of intelligence to make the case for war."

Does this not prove Lt. Watada's case when even superior officers refused to do anything in the light of their knowledge?

I do not believe the Constitution was designed to permit the wanton, unjustified destruction of another country, its people and putting our own youth in harm's way.

It is to Lt. Watada's credit that even though he broke the chain of command, his sacrifice highlights not only the illegality of the war, but its insanity.

Col. Farrell goes on: "Quite a few of us also believed the war was a bad idea, made worse by poor execution. We served anyway." What did such people do? Does participation in the military require abandoning one's conscience? Were there resignations, whistleblowers?

The deaths and wounded mount every day and we have dug a pit that we can't get out because of such beliefs.

FARRELL COLUMN OFFERS SUCCINCT EXPLANATION

Every person who has been following Lt. Ehren Watada's protest of the Iraq war and his refusal to serve there, needs to read the Feb. 6 Island Voices commentary by retired Col. Thomas D. Farrell.

In his article, Col. Farrell succinctly explains why Lt. Watada's decision to not serve in Iraq was not an option for an officer of the U.S. Army.

Had Lt. Watada had Col. Farrell as his commanding officer, he would not have come to the conclusion that now places him in the predicament he is in and the four years he will probably be spending at the Fort Leavenworth Penitentiary.

WHY DOES LT. WATADA FACE SO MUCH SCRUTINY?

While reading about 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, I thought about the thousands of people who burned their draft cards and the American flag during the Vietnam War.

Not one of them went to prison or received any kind of punishment. A lot of them claimed religious or constitutional rights, so why does Lt. Watada come under such scrutiny?

The military of today seems to be getting ridiculous.

LT. WATADA ONE OF THE HEROES OF GENERATION

The judge in the first court-martial 1st Lt. Ehren Watada decided that the legality of the Iraq war was irrelevant to the case.

Under any reasonable standard, this war is one of aggression, originally based on lies and therefore illegal under international law.

It was the Nuremberg trials, led by the United States at the end of World War II, that established the principle that no one is blameless for war crimes simply because the defendant was "only following orders."

If this war is illegal, pursuing the war is a crime in itself. By taking his stand against illegal actions of this administration, Lt. Watada is one of the heroes of his generation.

IS IT OK FOR SOLDIERS TO 'JUST FOLLOW ORDERS'?

Lt. Ehren Watada's military career is over, which is as it should be. The only question remaining to be answered is whether, in the 60 years since the Nuremberg trials, it has become acceptable — or perhaps even mandatory — for an American soldier to justify the commission of unconscionable acts by saying, "I was just following orders."

How sad for this once-great land of the free and home of the brave if the answer should turn out to be, "Yes."

LEGISLATION

CIVIL UNION, MARRIAGE ARE THE SAME THING

Civil union is the same thing as gay marriage.

As a taxpayer, I'm bummed out because our elected officials decided this issue almost 10 years ago. And, if I recall correctly, more than 70 percent of the people voted in favor of traditional marriage when they passed a constitutional amendment.

I love my gay family and friends, and as far I'm concerned, they can do whatever they want in the privacy of their homes.

But legalizing gay marriage and calling it civil unions is spitting in my face and lots of other voters, and we don't appreciate it.

HOUSING MARKET

A RENT STUDY WOULD WASTE TAXPAYER MONEY

A rent-control study by the Legislature is a waste of taxpayer money.

On O'ahu, the 4.5 percent general excise tax is applied to all rents. Any reduction in rent is a reduction in tax revenue that most local politicians will not want to see.

Besides, O'ahu rents are a bargain! The local rental market prices are low compared to the market prices of the properties rented. A $300,000 apartment should provide its owner a monthly rent of $3,000 — one percent of its value.

Here on O'ahu, that $3,000-a-month apartment rents for about $1,500 a month. The local rental market works!

Government must leave this market alone, as the owner must cover all the costs above the market rent or be forced to sell that property, and you will have even fewer rentals available.

JUDICIARY

SPLIT FAMILY COURT IN HONOLULU, KAPOLEI

The idea of putting the entire Family Court in Kapolei is insane! It should be split between Kapolei and Honolulu.

Why should Windward O'ahu and Honolulu residents drive (or take the bus) all the way to Kapolei to settle a family dispute? That's just as bad as the situation of forcing Leeward and Central O'ahu residents to drive (or take the bus) all the way to Honolulu to settle a family dispute.