I am moved beyond words to hear of the imminent release of Ehren Watada from the Army. Ehren's exemplary moral courage was a great inspiration to me as a young Army officer struggling with how to respond to the Bush administration's abuses of power- from their manipulation of prewar intelligence and deception of Congress to their sanctioning of torture to their efforts to subjugate the Iraqi people under foreign multinational corporations and financial institutions.

I recall signing a petition in support of Ehren while still an Army officer- a document that later ended up in my personnel file while under investigation for exercising my First Amendment rights. Five months later I was involuntarily discharged from the Army and joined Iraq Veterans Against the War. I have since followed Ehren's case and was elated to read that a federal court had intervened on his behalf, reaffirming his constitutional right not to be held in double jeopardy.

News of his imminent release brings back memories of the months of anxiety I experienced in the hands of the military and the criminal political officials commanding it. If I had known at the age of 18 that my mind and my body would be used to devastate a nation and oppress a people who posed no threat to my country I never would have joined the military. I am thankful to those who have had the courage to resist and who have inspired me to obey my conscience above illegal and immoral orders.

Many Americans have fought with the noblest of intentions to free the Iraqi people from an oppressive dictator and plant the seeds of democracy in Iraq and their sacrifices should be honored. As for the political leaders who ordered them into battle, it is my hope that they will some day soon face justice for the egregious crimes they have committed in the name of liberty.