Respect the minds of the military

rear admiral John Kirby

++++++ Rear Admiral John Kirby ++++++

 

 

 

Far too often the people of the military are defined as non creative thinking order takers focused on facilitating war and as people who couldn’t succeed in a “white collar management” type job <therefore “had” to pursue a military life>.
And it is a mistake.

 

No.

 

It is a lie. A blatant out & out lie.

 

 

While I respect those who enter the military for their choice to serve the country I tend to respect most of them for their minds. They tend to be disciplined thinkers, hard workers, adaptable thinkers and think driven behavior people.

 

 

Their behavior is more often than not more responsible than the common person you see in the office across the hallway from you.

 

Rarely.

 

And, yes, I mean rarely does a military person act without thought. Rarely do they flippantly behave in some irresponsible way and, contrary to popular belief, they rarely do what they are told mindlessly without thought <put that filter on your friends & acquaintances & business associates>.

 

 

Every military person I have ever known has clearly understood they are responsible for their actions. I would note this behavior is anything but the actions of someone who cannot ‘think’ or doesn’t have ‘intelligence.’

Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

This behavior is a reflection of thoughtful intelligence honed by disciplined thinking.

 

 

I bring this up because there was a Trump moment in the Republican debate last night which went unchallenged by moderators or fellow candidates with regard to the minds of the military leadership <and, in addition, those in the ranks>.

 

 

Trump was questioned about how the military could follow his clearly illegal orders to waterboard and “worse” <the justification simply being “the other guys do worse”> and kill the family of a terrorist <suspected or proven>.

 

His answer?

 

 

 

 

“They won’t refuse. They’re not going to refuse me, believe me. Trust me. They’ll do as I tell them.”

<Donald Trump>

 

 

 

 

Not only is this his bigger flawed vision of leadership <which I could write a book chastising him for> but this is the Trump idea of being commander in chief.

 

 

And while I could easily suggest this is simple Trump moronic male bluster <which would be scary to suggest as we discuss a possible leader of the most powerful military in the world> or I could suggest that it is simply rhetoric that anyone, including senior military, could ignore in the debate context … I will not suggest but rather state why the minds of the military trump the mind of the … well … Trump.

 

They would not do it simply because he told them to do it.

 

 

They are smarter than that. They are smarter than Trump. In fact, many of them are much smarter than any of you & I.

 

Let’s take a quick look at some of the outcomes of the second world war Nuremberg war trials which, I believe, are the basis of UN law.

 

 

dare courage integrity

I: “Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefore and liable to punishment.”

 

 

II: “The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under international law.”

 

 

III: “The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as Head of State or responsible government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law.”

 

 

IV: “The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him”.

 

 

Let me translate.

 

 

Ordering service personnel to commit a crime does not absolve them from responsibility, i.e., “I was only obeying orders” is not a defense.

 

Each individual has a responsibility to refuse an illegal order, and has to consider international law as well as the law of their own state.

 

Oh.

 

And the head of state who gives the criminal order is also liable.

 

 

All that said.

 

 

We had a presidential candidate stating, unequivocally I may add; that he would not only break domestic law but international law. And order as a commander in chief to have others break the law. And expect them to break the law.

 

Our military has a duty to refuse clearly illegal orders – and they would refuse what Trump suggests “they would do if I told them to do it.”

 

While military obedience to civilian command is a foundational principle of our constitutional government … at the same time … every officer swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

 

Yes … that duty certainly includes obedience to the commander in chief.

 

Yes … but only when the orders are lawful.

 

 

Ordering a war crime violates both international law and federal criminal law.

 

Trump is stating he wants us to break the law.

 

Oh.

I forgot.

 

Maybe as President he would institute “Trump law”. His law isn’t dictated by moral standards or American values or even … well … his law is based on “if they can do it we can do it.”

 

 

And apparently the Trump law circumvents all existing law … domestic &

US Military awards for Valor

US Military awards for Valor

international as well as American values law.

 

 

Look.

 

 

Throughout my life & career I have had the honor to meet, and respect, all ranks of all departments of the military.

 

Our military deserves better than Trump. They deserve someone who respects their decision making and intelligence not just their uniform.

 

Trump, as I have said before, is an asshat. And an asshat shouldn’t be allowed to make up his own laws and certainly shouldn’t be allowed to be commander in chief of people who deserve better.

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Written by Bruce