Top general says he would resist "illegal" nuke order from Trump

[MyNameIsKhan]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-strategic-command-gen-john-hyten-resist-illegal-nuke-order-from-trump/

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.

Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), told an audience at the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saturday that he has given a lot of thought to what he would say if Mr. Trump ordered a strike he considered unlawful.

"I think some people think we're stupid," Hyten said in response to a question about such a scenario. "We're not stupid people. We think about these things a lot. When you have this responsibility, how do you not think about it?"

Hyten explained the process that would follow such a command. As head of STRATCOM, Hyten is responsible for overseeing the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

"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 with 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."

[no_hypocrisy]

1. It would be worth a court martial for saving the world . . . . .

[PJMcK]

2. Wanna bet?

The chain of command, with a civilian leader, is imbedded in the U.S. military. It would be unthinkable to disobey an order from the president. To not obey the Commander-in-Chief would be mutinous.

General Hyten made a very fine distinction when he said he would disobey an "illegal" order. In the heat of the moment, the general may not know all of the facts that the president is aware of. He must obey the president.

What would be examples of an "illegal" order to use nuclear weapons? Bombing an ally's capital. Bombing an American city or asset. Bombing a neutral country. These are far-fetched ideas, though, and there wouldn't be such an order.

However, if Trump ordered a preemptive attack against North Korea, how would that be "illegal?" Trump has that authority and the general would follow the order.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

3. Bingo.

The General parsed his words very carefully. Of course he would not follow an illegal order, its his duty to do so under the UCMJ. Of course ordering a nuclear strike is fully within the President's authority and a legal order, so of course he would carry it out.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Hyten demotion/relief of command in 10 . . . 9 . . . 8 . . . 7 . . .

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. This shouldn't be news to people. And they shouldn't think it means what they hope it means.

[crosinski]

6. "... and that's the way it works. It's not that complicated."

Goddess protect us all from fools.

[pat_k]

7. What is insane is that he felt he needed to say this.

It's unthinkable that an American President would seek to instigate a nuclear war in violation of international law. That this is seen as a possibility reflects the true insanity of our nightmare predicament.