To those in the military, what is the order you won't follow?

[yurbud]

The Israeli military and society has an idea that we should imitate: You can't do something immoral in uniform and defend yourself by saying you were 'just following orders.'

I don't mean we should adopt this in terms of society judging soldiers for indiscretions or following immoral orders.

I mean soldiers should ask themselves what the line is they will not cross.

If Bush launches another war or there is another terrorist attack, our troops should have in mind where their line is. Will you participate in unnecessarily starting a world war, or the pre-emptive use of nuclear weapons? Will they help round up people here or fire on Americans?

Obviously, the Bushies aren't going to soften the policy on conscientious objection, so there would be a cost in doing this.

But everyone in uniform should think about what they will do when their orders conflict with true patriotism or even their basic humanity.

[soothsayer]

1. Do they screen out soldiers who won't fire on fellow Americans?

[yurbud]

2. Nobody ever asked me that, but I was in the Navy.

[Pierre.Suave]

3. no

they dont.

[Solo_in_MD]

4. Illegal, Immoral, or from an improper authority

[MemphisTiger]

5. If the order is illegal the soldier has an obligation NOT to

follow it. That is the rules of the military.

[Kagemusha]

6. That's the rules on paper.

There's a reason the military strongly encourages team cohesion and rapid, unquestioning response to orders. In reality, the military wants those orders to be obeyed, and if relevant, hold the people giving them to account, or making scapegoats to protect higher ups, while the rest of the "good apples" obey their orders without further question.

If it wasn't for this Gonzales wouldn't be out trying to get support for giving soldiers immunity from Congress' own laws making war crimes an explicitly punishable crime under US law. Having committed war crimes isn't the problem. It's that people might be punished for them, and therefore hesitate the next time a questionable order is given. Can't have that.