If Joseph Stalin was elected to the Presidency by the majority of voters of the USA, IAW the Electoral College, and approved and accepted as such by Congress, and took an oath from the CJ of the Supreme Court,
and if he had gone to Congress and been given approval for combat operations, and Congress funded the costs of the war, then
yes, the orders that were given to carry that out would be lawful.
But your hypothetical is stupid.
So you agree with Judge Lind? The 20th Amendment allows Joseph Stalin to LAWFULLY “act as President”? Even if it can be known that he is Joseph Stalin, a foreign enemy of the US Constitution? And every officer in the US military, having already sworn to protect and defend the US Constitution from the Joseph Stalins of the world, is required to follow the orders initiated and authorized by a known foreign enemy combatant in the White House, because the orders they receive are all lawful?
You agree with all that? Please consider that the states said they couldn’t protect and defend the US Constitution because that is Congress’ job.... and Congress says they can’t protect and defend the US Constitution because that is the states’ job (and/or because Stalin presented online what has now been confirmed as 2 different forgeries).... and the courts say they can’t protect and defend the US Constitution because it’s nobody’s business whether the CINC is a foreign enemy combatant after all and it is either the states’ or Congress’ job. And the courts say that military officers don’t have enough vested interest because it is only their oath, the potential for losing protections under the Geneva Conventions, and (in one instance) 4 years of reservist’s pay (which the judge ruled to be less valuable than $500) which is at stake.
Please also consider that law enforcement has confirmed that the media was threatened if they reported on Stalin not being eligible and the 2 people who were going to present a petition to allow Stalin’s primary challenger to expose him as a foreigner were killed within days of agreeing to do so. Also keep in mind that tyrants are ALWAYS “elected by the people”. Usually by a 100% or higher vote. The Reichstag “lawfully” voted to give Hitler unconstitutional powers - never mind that the communists who would have opposed him were already purged by Hitler without due process or that Hitler’s armed military was milling all about while the vote was being taken... Even a hostage process appears outwardly to be “lawful”. That’s why the mafia tactics work. That’s why the officers’ oath recognizes that there may be foreign and domestic enemies to the Constitution who pose a REAL danger (IOW, they are embedded within the system where they can do real damage).
BTW, Mr Rogers, you are about the only person opposing Lakin who actually engages with reality. I respect and appreciate that. Anything less than that is a waste of time for both of us.