NEW YORK (May 26, 2019) Pete Hegseth, a contributor at Fox and Friends In The Morning television show, speaks with service members during Fleet Week New York (FWNY) 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Brianna Thompson/Released)
As reported by CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski yesterday, Whiskey Pete Hegseth didn’t always believe soldiers should obey unlawful orders. In fact, during a speech to a conservative cult in 2016, he said the very opposite: The US military “won’t follow unlawful orders from their commander in chief,” and he described the refusal of illegal commands as a part of the military’s ethos and standards — a message he now condemns Democrats for spreading.
As you’ll no doubt recall, Republicans have been busy the past week verbally tarring and feathering as well as threatening execution of the 6 brave officials who pointed out that following unlawful orders is not only unethical, but legally prohibited by the military’s Uniform Code of Military Justice. As I pointed out to a conservative friend,
The president has no special power to give an unlawful order, Mike. The oath of enlistment states "I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS AND THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE." UCMJ Article 90 (Willfully Disobeying Superior Commissioned Officer) states that any service member may be prosecuted if they willfully and purposely disobey the LAWFUL command of that service member’s superior commissioned officer. Note the word 'lawful'. Not even the president can order an inferior to commit a war crime or violate the US Constitution.
Here’s the smoking gun video of Whiskey Pete conveying a similar message back before he became a Trump bootlicker and sycophant and forgot everything he ever knew about military law:
On April 12, 2016, The Conservative Forum of Silicon Valley hosted Pete Hegseth, to speak on how the US military can be put right again, and heard the brilliant, highly-decorated combat veteran slice through these absurdities. Captain Hegseth explains why the historic role of the US Military - winning wars, not social engineering - is every bit as essential today as it was when our military saved Europe and the world from totalitarianism three times in the 20th century.
Captain Hegseth's credentials are unimpeachable: Degrees from Princeton and Harvard; three deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq; a two-time recipient of the Bronze Star medal (awarded for heroism in a combat zone); senior counterinsurgency instructor at the Kabul training center; and past Chief Executive Officer for Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) from 2012-15.
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