Mistrial declared because soldier believes war in Iraq is a war crime

February 7, 2007
Mistrial declared because soldier believes war in Iraq is a war crime

FORT LEWIS, Washington (Reuters) - A military judge declared a mistrial on Wednesday in the
court-martial of a U.S. Army officer, who publicly refused to fight in Iraq and criticized the
war.

First Lt. Ehren Watada had faced up to four years in prison and a dishonorable discharge if
found guilty on a charge of missing movements for not deploying to Iraq and two charges of conduct unbecoming an officer for his criticism of the war.

Lt. Col. John Head, the military judge, declared a mistrial after throwing out a "stipulation
of fact" -- an agreement over certain facts of the trial -- that forced the government to ask the
judge for a mistrial instead of arguing its entire case again.