mistrial for lt. ehren watada

A judge declared a mistrial yesterday in the court-martial of an Army lieutenant Ehren Watada, who refused to deploy to Iraq: Officer's court-martial ends in mistrial The judge ruled that Watada didn't fully understand a document he signed in which he admitted to elements of the charges. Prosecutors argued that he admitted in the document that he had a duty to go to Iraq with his fellow soldiers, but Watada said he had intended to admit only that he had not gone to Iraq, not that he was duty-bound to deploy to Iraq with his unit. When it became evident that there was disagreement over Watada's admission, the judge indicated he was unsure whether he could accept the document, and declared a mistrial. A new trial date has been set for March 19. The saga continues...