Orders.

You are correct of course. 
I am an ex serviceman myself, and knew of people who would not work on aircraft that were going to attack people. The RAF had a neat trick, they would post them to a maintenance workshop, the RAF reasoned you maybe could brutalize them into complying, but could they trust them. If on the other hand you refused to wear the uniform, then yes it got very tough. 
I can see both sides of the story, pragmatism might have been a better approach by the military. 
I am sure many terrible acts carried out or directed by SS officers were just the obeying of orders. 
So here is the paradox, that Lt. Eric Watada sees the US invasion of Iraq constituting a war crime of waging a war of aggression. On the other hand the military see an officer disobeying orders. 
I think he has got guts. 
Also I think one has to go back to the The Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal, and really have a think. 
Personally I think they should have posted him to administration or the Antarctic, or any where, because now every body is watching and talking Worldwide.  
 
Mike

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