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Munu

(22 posts)

7. The idea that there will ever be massive disobedience to illegal orders is a pipe dream.

Reply to ThoughtCriminal (Original post)

Tue Nov 25, 2025, 01:32 PM

Nov 25

Do most soldiers even know what is or is not an illegal order?

OK, high ranking officers might know.
But any few who disobey will be court martialed, and they know it.
End of career even with acquittal.

Even massive killing of Americans on American soil can happen if the Commander-in-Chief passes it down the chain of command. Possibly he would get a bit of argument from his chiefs of staff, but if he insists they will comply. An unusually decent one might resign, but that's it.

Sorry to be so pessimistic, but that's how I see it.

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11 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Munu twodogsbarking rpannier FakeNoose erronis Zackzzzz NotHardly skypilot Cognitive_Resonance Owl not fooled

24 replies

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Highlight:

Problem: Our Military has already been following illegal orders [View all] ThoughtCriminal Nov 25 OP

Trump directly threatened generals with loss of rank, pension, job if they speak out or refuse orders. Irish_Dem Nov 25 #1

A downside of an all-volunteer military -- snot Nov 25 #2

It was mostly draftees who fought in Vietnam Kaleva Nov 25 #4

What authority has determined them to be illegal? Kaleva Nov 25 #3

interwebz people WarGamer Nov 25 #5

Do you disagree with the characterization? dpibel Nov 25 #8

Top military lawyer raised legal concerns about boat strikes Brenda Nov 25 #16

It's a puzzler, innit? dpibel Wednesday #22

Not really. Brenda Wednesday #23

Trrump purged the JAGs ThoughtCriminal Nov 25 #6

And ethics. twodogsbarking Nov 25 #9

Congressman Jason Crow, for one. Brenda Nov 25 #12

If you have plain language in treaties and precedent you moniss Nov 25 #13

The idea that there will ever be massive disobedience to illegal orders is a pipe dream. Munu Nov 25 #7

It makes me very sad to say it, but you're probably right FakeNoose Nov 25 #10

They would be prosecuted for war crimes... MuirHero Nov 25 #15

You have a lot of faith in the American public. maxsolomon Nov 25 #18

Strawmen Brenda Nov 25 #19

There are problems with both following and not following orders which is why you need competent leaders. RoeVWade Nov 25 #11

Do we know who is carrying out the boat strikes? Is it regular military? Could it be CIA? flashman13 Nov 25 #14

And you know why Trump was upset about that ad is because it implies he's a dumbass and barbarian. WHICH HE IS! RoeVWade Nov 25 #17

Yes, he is. The truth hurts... 3catwoman3 Nov 25 #21

Correction: "Elements of our military have already..." The entire military is not implicated. Martin68 Nov 25 #20

Major General Smedley Butler: War is a racket. Ping Tung Wednesday #24

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