THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	82
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

SUPPORTING LIEUTENANT EHREN WATADA.

     WHEREAS, Lieutenant Ehren Watada, based on his conviction of a moral and legal obligation to the Constitution of the United States and at great personal sacrifice and risk, is the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq; and

     WHEREAS, President Bush and his administration misled the American public, Congress, and the World to gain support for launching a preemptive attack against Iraq, which was not for the purpose of national defense and was in violation of the Constitution of the United States, the Charter of the United Nations and the Geneva Conventions; and

     WHEREAS, tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians and more than three thousand American troops have already been killed in this war; and

     WHEREAS, this war has raided and diverted important resources in this country which could better be utilized toward education, healthcare, the environment, and Social Security; and

     WHEREAS, the Bush Administration continues to promote this war in direct opposition to the citizens of the United States, who, by an overwhelming margin, now agree with Lieutenant Watada that this war was a mistake; and

     WHEREAS, Lieutenant Watada, having been formally charged with contempt toward President Bush, conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman, and missing troop movement, now faces a court martial and seven years in jail; and

     WHEREAS, Lieutenant Watada has demonstrated courage, patriotism, and resolution in swearing allegiance not to one man, but to a document of principles and laws designed to protect the people; and

     WHEREAS, Lieutenant Watada needs massive public support to pressure the military not to "make an example" of him and unjustly sentence him to jail; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body expresses its complete support for Lieutenant Watada and honors him as a true patriot; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, members of the Congressional delegation of the State of Hawaii, and the Commanding General of Fort Lewis and I Corps.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Resolution in support of Lieutenant Ehren Watada