As reported here, the civilian attorney for Lt. Ehren Watada "... says his client's chances of leaving the Army scot-free are slim.", and, ""Our chances of winning and getting an acquittal are probably not very good," Eric Seitz said at Seattle's University Lutheran Church on Monday." His chances for getting an acquittal on the missing movement charge alone is non-existent, since he refused to get on the bus when his unit shipped out last week. There are five other charges against Lt. Watada which are two counts of speaking contemptuously of President Bush, and three counts of conduct unbecoming an officer.
Of course, Eric Seitz will attempt to get the other charges dropped, citing Lt. Watada's "free speech" rights, regarding his statements about President Bush. I don't see much chance of that happening, either, since the statements are a matter of public record, and officers are proscribed by the UCMJ from making "political statements" - either for or against - while in uniform. So, the best that Mr. Seitz can probably hope for is a reduction in whatever sentence is handed down, if his client is found guilty of any or all charges.
But, if I were Mr. Seitz, I wouldn't hold my breath.
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