Posted on 11/18/2017 9:53:05 AM PST by ex91B10
The top U.S. nuclear commander said Saturday he would push back against President Trump if he ordered a nuclear launch the general believed to be "illegal," saying he would hope to find another solution.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
"I provide advice to the president, he will tell me what to do," Hyten added. "And if it's illegal, guess what's going to happen? I'm going to say, 'Mr. President, that's illegal.' And guess what he's going to do? He's going to say, 'What would be legal?' And we'll come up options, with a mix of capabilities to respond to whatever the situation is, and that's the way it works. It's not that complicated."
There's nothing controversial about this.
Nothing.
All officers are taught to resist “illegal” orders.
This is simply a truism.
However, the vast majority of orders are legal.
The reporter playing “gotcha” interviewing.
I agree with you.
“And if it’s illegal, guess what’s going to happen? I’m going to say, ‘Mr. President, that’s illegal.’ And guess what he’s going to do? He’s going to say, ‘What would be legal?’
If the President issues an illegal order, I hope like heck someone has the balls to let him know.
CBS is just stirring the pot.
Further evidence of the damage made to the military during the eight year reign of O-hole...
Who did you serve under and what was different then?
I don’t find Geneal Hyten’s remarks to out of line; they strike me as temperate, measured and reasoned.
The problem with your line of thinking is the good General had to have known what the reporter was fishing for. And he served it on a plate for him. What he said is grossly insubordinate and damaging to US national security.
“The general is correct.”
You mean he is correct in publicly saying he would disobey the President?
When the nation’s life is imperiled and some subordinate claims to have veto power over the president?
And when you have about 5 minutes to respond to a nuclear situation?
This dirtbag should be dismissed or court martialed.
Carried sidearms in the capsules for ten years. They are now gone as the security police convinced the higher ups we didn't need them.
The sidearms were for the protection of the Sealed Authenticators and not to shoot our crew partner. Why would we shoot them if they did not want to turn keys? They sure as heck couldn't turn them after we blew their brains out.
The way the missiles systems are set up more than one crew in a squadron could refuse to turn keys and the missiles would fly anyway.
Nothing wrong with voicing that to the President. No President would call for a strike without military input and that is when the generals and admirals speak. BUT when the final decision is made the officers MUST follow orders or be relieved on the spot. That’s how it works.
People should read the article. The headline from CBS is truly horrible, biased and misleading.
The General WAS stupid to answer the way he did. He was stupid to talk to CBS at all. He should be relieved. Because he is stupid.
“There is no such thing as an illegal command given by the Command in Chief, General. Sans knowing that simple little fact invalidates your capability to serve any longer in your position”
I dont know if its changed but you don’t have an obligation to obey an illegal order. But you do so at your own peril.
Such talk only encourages our Enemies saying that the Military will not use nukes (as they are seen as inhuman and illegal) even if we are attacked. SO—If I was Rocketman Kim I would do the following.
1. Attack my own palace and kill some of my rivals—but escape with a few bandages. Say it was a stealth US attack. This would help rally the North Korean Opinion and embolden the Left in the USA to unseat Trump. Maybe leak some data to “Prove” it was a US attack. Then 2. Launch a nuke on California from a containership at sea and say it was some “Terrorist” group—ISIS maybe (I am sure they could get their support though Iran). Then 3. Launch an all out sneak attack using poison gas, nukes, all you have to seize South Korea—use nukes to threaten the Japanese into inaction. The US would be unable to act due to the Democratic Party opposition that would see this as a way to get rid of Trump once and for all. Rocketman would seize south korea and unify the two koreas under his iron tyranny-and end the south Korean rival to China (who will pay for it all. China would help pay for the re-building of America (to drain us dry of funds) and cause the USA to import 100 million Chinese who would be granted the right to vote in all elections like Mexican illegals today. America would stop being a superstate and be a Chinese satrap.
The chain of command has ample safeguards to ensure that orders involving strategic assets are legal and authenticated. I think it far more likely that this is another case of quotation out of context than anything else.
Answering hypotheticals is always a bad idea because they are so easily twisted. "General, Sir, if you received an order to nuke St. Louis tomorrow would you obey?"
It wasn’t a reporter interviewing him. He was being interviewed in a security conference session.
We need to have public drumming out ceremonies, complete with rank and button stripping and marching these fools through the gate.
“Did they even once ask this to a general under Barack Obama? “
There just wasn’t time, as Barry was too busy promoting fags, firing Christians, and making sure transsexuals can safely use the latrine designated for their presumed gender. Not to mention expunging Islam from training manuals and training troops in proper (gloved) handling of the Koran. Then there was softening up Ranger school so girls could pass...
I don’t understand the controversy. He is duty bound to not follow illegal orders. If the POTUS went berserk and ordered an unprovoked strike, of course he is duty bound disobey if not place him under arrest.
He is responding to a hypothetical question. This isn’t an issue.
It seems to me that this is the job of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
By the time the order gets to this guy, the JCS has already deliberated it and this guy would be disobeying his commanding officer, not the President.
-PJ
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