Stratcom Commander Ignites Controversy After Saying He Would Not Execute ‘Illegal’ Nuke Order

Breitbart ^ | 19 November 2017

[Eddie01]

LOL

[Hulka]

I had to go to the Air Force webpage and find his bio, expand for hi-res photo (I have “old” eyes). Yes, you are correct, they are not pilot wings. They are Master Space Operations Badge and Master Cyberspace Operator Badge

I also note no over-seas tours indicated. Spent his entire career in the states.

http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108115/general-john-e-hyten/

ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1981 - December 1985, Configuration Management Officer and Chief, Configuration Management Division, Automated Systems Program Office, Gunter AFB, Ala.
2. December 1985 - July 1989, Chief, Software Development Branch; and Chief, Engineering and Acquisition Division, Space Defense Programs Office, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
3. August 1989 - July 1990, Special Adviser to the U.S. Army, Kinetic Energy Anti-Satellite Program Office, U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala.
4. July 1990 - August 1991, Deputy for Engineering, Strategic Defense Initiatives Program Office, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
5. August 1991 - May 1992, Executive Speechwriter and Systems Analyst, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
6. May 1992 - July 1993, Program Element Monitor, Advanced Technology Programs, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
7. July 1993 - June 1994, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 1994 - June 1996, Mission Director, Space Operations Officer, and Chief, Command Center Training, U.S. Space Command, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo.
9. August 1996 - August 1998, Commander, 6th Space Operations Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
10. August 1998 - June 1999, National Defense Fellow, University of Illinois, Champaign
11. June 1999 - June 2001, Operations Officer, and Chief, Space Branch, Defense and Space Operations Division, Deputy Director for Operations (Current Readiness and Capabilities), J3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2001 - June 2003, Chief, Space Control Division, Directorate for Space Operations and Integration, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2003 - July 2004, Director, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
14. July 2004 - April 2005, Commander, 595th Space Group, Schriever AFB, Colo.
15. April 2005 - May 2007, Commander, 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo. (May 2006 - October 2006, Director of Space Forces, U.S. Central Command Air Forces, Southwest Asia)
16. May 2007- September 2009, Director of Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
17. September 2009 - February 2010, Director, Cyber and Space Operations, Directorate of Operations. Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
18. February 2010 - August 2010, Director, Space Acquisition, Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
19. September 2010 - May 2012, Director, Space Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
20. May 2012 - Aug 2014, Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
21. Aug 2014 – Oct 2016, Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
22. Nov 2016 - present, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1994 - June 1996, Mission Director, Space Operations Officer, and Chief, Command Center Training, U.S. Space Command, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, CO., as a major
2. June 1999 - June 2001, Operations Officer, and Chief, Space Branch, Defense and Space Operations Division, Deputy Director for Operations (Current Readiness and Capabilities), J3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel

[Eddie01]

Turn your key, sir!

[Hulka]

Yes, Master Space Operations Badge and Master Cyberspace Operator Badge

[Hulka]

I prefer a more credible source, like his official photo on the USAF website: http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108115/general-john-e-hyten/

Not pilot wings, I have old eyes, they are Master Space Operations Badge and Master Cyberspace Operator Badge

[AndyJackson]

This is really a non issue for those who have been officers in the military

I won't repeat my rant against knee jerk ignorant Freepers here already posted on another thread, except to note that Gen. Hyten is one of the good guys desperately trying to fix about two decades of neglect of nuclear forces and ops going on since GHWB. And he has the "modern" Pentagon bureaucracy to help.

The ignorance of what officers do or how the military goes about its business is astonishing. Almost nothing happens in the military because someone issued and order. Most things are the results of conversations and agreements between the commander and the folks who have to do stuff. In an entire career I may have heard exactly one "you are ordered to do this or else" command.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

The General simply stated the rules, as they’ve been since the Nuremberg Trials. Officers cannot use the “just following orders” defense. Of course, the MSM misrepresented those remarks — as the General should have anticipated.

[AndyJackson]

REMF

You need a course in enemy identification. Hyten is not an REMF.

[TigersEye]

Of course, the MSM misrepresented those remarks — as the General should have anticipated.

If everyone who is deliberately misinterpreted by the MSM shuts up who wins?

[Iscool]

Yeah, the keyboard warriors here are a bit much. We’ve trained our armed forces to respect the rule of law and it’s a good thing. He didn’t say anything about ignoring an order because of who the president is.

The good General make it sound like HE would decide whether we will go ahead with a nuclear attack...Have to wonder if this is one of Obama's Generals who agrees to fire on American citizens in America if Obama told him to...

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

I take your point — the misrepresentation is on the MSM.

OTOH, the fable “The Scorpion and the Frog” warns us to be wary of the nature of the beast.

[TigersEye]

Agreed!

Perhaps Pres. Trump and the DoD should review its participation in the Halifax International Security Forum because I don't think they can control the MSM's reporting on it.

[AndyJackson]

I can think of dozens of scenarios where even a preemptive attack is legal

And I can think of gazillions of instances where a nuclear strike would be illegal because it violates necessity, proportionality and discrimination.

[OldMissileer]

I think I see pilot wings on his photo.

Nope. Those are the Space Operations and Cyberspace Operations badges. He does not have any aviation or missile badges.

[OldMissileer]

How can you become an AF four-star General and never have flown? There have been many four stars that have not worn pilot wings. I know two that were my peers when I was a lieutenant that have fours stars right now and one that was one of my bosses back then (he is now retired).

While they are not allowed to directly command aviation units when they are of lower rank they can take command of operational Commands like SpaceCom.

[damper99]

I’ll take your word that he’s not a REMF, as his assignments indicate he’s a highly skilled keyboard warrior.

[lodi90]

Perhaps Pres. Trump and the DoD should review its participation in the Halifax International Security Forum because I don’t think they can control the MSM’s reporting on it.

---

Unfortunately, the good General could find not two minutes of his day today to refute a falsely reported story that is wall to wall in the MSM today. Blaring headlines on CNN, etc. It was nice to see his command did have a PR flack make a statement to Breitbart. Obviously, he cares little what damage he caused to POTUS and our national security.

[lodi90]

I won’t repeat my rant against knee jerk ignorant Freepers here already posted on another thread, except to note that Gen. Hyten is one of the good guys desperately trying to fix about two decades of neglect of nuclear forces and ops going on since GHWB. And he has the “modern” Pentagon bureaucracy to help.

---

Sadly, the “good” general has been silent today while his words have been used in the media to attack POTUS and damage our national security.

If anybody is “ignorant” it is those Freepers washing his balls after he made such an ill-advised statement in a nest of rabid Trump haters and declined to publicly clarify his remarks.

[TigersEye]

Who do you think is going to report it if he did? Get real!

[lodi90]

BINGO — Another “perfumed prince” providing ammunition to the leftist globalists desiring to weaken & bring down America. If nor KNOWINGLY providing the ammunition then he STUPIDLY gave it not fully comprehending how it would be “misconstrued”. In either case, he should be retired or moved to a corner desk somewhere where he can do no further damage.

---

Yep. It is breathtaking to me how POTUS can time and again voice such vocal support for the military and get basically NOTHING in return from the military brass. Time after time they spit in his face. We have the Coastie commander insubordinate in the media, Mattis always greasing the trannies, Bergdahl, this, etc. I”m sure I’m forgetting a few issues.

It sure seems the careerist military brass is rotten to its core. It seems they’ve accepted progressive PC dogma and have no intention of doing the work to roll back that nonsense.