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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Journalists may testify in Watada's court-martial

Associated Press

SEATTLE — Two journalists are on the Army's list of potential witnesses who may be called in the court-martial of an officer who refused to go to Iraq with his unit because he believes the war is illegal, one of his lawyers says.

One of the journalists is from California and the other is from Hawai'i, said Eric Seitz of Ho-nolulu, a defense lawyer for Lt. Ehren Watada, during in an appearance Monday at University Lutheran Church.

Watada, 28, of Honolulu, was charged last week with conduct unbecoming an officer, missing troop movement and contempt toward officials.

The journalists would likely be called to corroborate statements upon which some of the charges against Watada are based, Seitz said.

Watada was misquoted in some comments attributed to him in the charges, the defense lawyer said.

For example, the Army accused him of saying, "How could I wear this horrible uniform now, knowing we invaded a country for a lie?" but his phrase was actually "this honorable uniform," Seitz said.