[papertyger]

Sorry, but I'm not tap-dancing or ignoring your question, you are ignoring my answer. It's the correct answer, it's the only possible answer.

No, your "answer" is doctrinaire, and therefore does not satisfy the question you're being asked.

That you refuse to admit it is to be expected by virtue of your staking out that position in the first place.

But make no mistake, you ARE tap-dancing around the question by giving a doctrinaire answer.

[Wonder Warthog]

I've never served in the military (4F for Vietnam), but I have many family members who did, some career, both career officer (Lt. Colonel at retirement) and career enlisted (Sgt-Major at retirement, I think). Also have read a number of WWII training manuals.

I simply must believe that "somethere" there is a training manual for recruits that lays out the doctrine of legal and illegal orders, and at least "some" grounds for distinguishing between them. The military that prides itself on training for any and every eventuality simply can NOT fail to have have some such basic information/training on the subject.

They will NOT leave it with "you don't obey illegal orders...period" as the final say (which is to say completely UN-trained on the subject).

[BroJoeK]

papertyger: "No, your "answer" is doctrinaire, and therefore does not satisfy the question you're being asked."

Nothing "doctrinaire" about it, just simple common sense.
Sorry if common sense doesn't satisfy you two.

papertyger: "But make no mistake, you ARE tap-dancing around the question by giving a doctrinaire answer."

No, nothing "tap-dancing" or "doctrinaire" about it, just simple common sense.
Sorry if that's not good enough for y'all.