“This Colonel needs to be court marshaled. “
Well, then you institute court marshal proceedings against him.
When I was in the service back in the 70’s the Viet Nam war was still going on. It was emphasized to us in boot camp the necessity of following lawful orders of our superiors in the chain of command. It was also emphasized that if we were given a illegal order that we not only had the right to question the order but the DUTY to question the order and seek guidance from higher in the chain of command.
That lesson if my memory serves me correctly was also re-emphasized every time I received course work in the training for my next step up the chain, E-3, E-4, etc.
I agree with his position and I thank God I am no longer in the position to have to question those orders and risk career and imprisonment as he will.
Personally, I expect that new orders will be issued that will avoid the neccessity of a Court Martial and the LtC will be mustered out quietly. Of course if that does happen...... Well, then all sorts of new questions will be asked, now won’t they?
He has been ordered to deploy to Afghanistan. What is illegal about that order? Are you suggesting that the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have gone to Iraq and Afghanistan as ordered are following illegal orders and it it they who should be court martialled and not LCOL Lakin?
It doesn't work that way, especially for officers. They can't force him out without due process, and under these circumstances, that pretty much requires a Court Martial to meet and consider the evidence against him .. and his defense.