If we learned anything from the Vietnam war, it is that obeying unlawful orders from superiors, will not excuse soldiers for committing unlawful acts. Our Government has no right to put our troops into the position of damned if they do-damned if they don't.
I am sure that many of the older folks on here were told as was I: Obey orders first and ask questions later. That worked just fine until cowards began giving the orders, and sacrificing their obedient troops to save their own @$$e$, when things went wrong.
I am as aware as anyone else,that instant and unquestioning obedience to orders in combat situations, is essential to victory as well as the safety and well being of the Military unit. It is even more essential that those who issue the orders, not be allowed to save their own butts by sacrificing those who are merely obeying orders.
Michael New was a member of the United States Army-not the UN Arsewipes.