10 Aug 2006

US Army soldier to be court martialed over refusal to serve in Iraq

10:05 am on 10 August 2006

The US Army has rejected a resignation offer by a soldier who refused to serve in Iraq.

First Lt. Ehren Watada offered to resign to avoid a possible court-martial for refusing deployment orders.

The Honolulu Star Bulletin reports that this was the third time Watada,has offered to resign his Army commission.

He is scheduled to face a court martial on Aug. 17th

Last month, Watada told the Army he was willing to face a non-judicial hearing, resign his commission and accept a less-than-honorable discharge.

His superiors have rejected his resignation offer three times.

If convicted, he faces seven and a half years in prison, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and a dishonorable discharge.