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Home Front: Politix
Top nuclear general says would REFUSE Trump's order to bomb North Korea if disagreed, insists 'we're not stupid people'
2017-11-19
[DailyMail] - Air Force General John Hyten said he wouldn't drop a nuclear bomb if he thought Trump's order was illegal

- He said he's studied international war law, and that if it was an illegal order he wouldn't drop the bomb

- Hyten said instead he'd work with Trump to come up with another solution

- This comes amid mounting tensions with North Korea and Kim Jong Un
With all due respect, the General should learn to keep his effing mouth shut.
Yes. The poor dear is hung up on style instead of looking at substance, and on posturing publicly instead of doing his job by advisibg privately, then resigning in protest if he disagrees with his commander-in-chief's orders. But what odds President Trump would order a few MOABs instead of a nuke, completely obviating the need for the clever general's advice?
Posted by:Anomalous Sources

#11  Maybe NK will stew in a new round of ramped up isolation for awhile and nukes won't be necessary. Meanwhile, the general needs to enjoy his retirement.
Posted by: JohnQC   2017-11-19 19:26  

#10  Jazz Shaw has a different take

The relevant audience is unlikely to understand these subtle distinctions. They're genocidal totalitarians, theocrats, despots and their corrupt and criminal underlings.

There's now an additional data point supporting the working hypothesis that the Trump administration's threats are empty and safe to dismiss.

The Taliban and Assad survived politically because they ignored strongly worded warnings from Bush and Obama. Bad precedents were set.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660   2017-11-19 11:45  

#9  It's his duty to refuse to follow an ILLEGAL order; AFAICT he does not say nuking NorK would necessarily be illegal.
Posted by: Glenmore   2017-11-19 11:43  

#8  Jazz Shaw has a different take
Posted by: Frank G   2017-11-19 11:10  

#7  Should have been replaced yesterday. Why would anyone reside special trust and confidence in this one? Mattis needs to call the deputy and tell him he's now in charge till further notice. See - National Command Authority.

National Command Authority (NCA) is a term used by the Department of Defense of the United States of America to refer to the ultimate lawful source of military orders. The NCA comprises the President of the United States (as commander-in-chief) and the Secretary of Defense (as the deputy to the commander-in-chief) jointly, or their duly deputized successors, i.e. the and the Deputy Secretary of Defense.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2017-11-19 08:37  

#6  A reminder concerning the political context of Gen Hyten's remarks:

8/22/17:
Tillerson Commends North Korea For ‘Restraint,’ Suggests Possible Dialogue

9/3/17:
North Korea tests a 100kt+ hydrogen bomb.

9/23/17:
North Korea could test hydrogen bomb over Pacific Ocean, says foreign minister
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660   2017-11-19 07:29  

#5  Message to the US' allies:

The cake nuclear umbrella is a lie.

Message to the US' adversaries:

Asymmetrical WMD attacks on the US and allies can be carried out with impunity. Especially if you maintain some deniability (not necessarily plausible) and if you officially are in possession
of some WMD deterrent.

Gen Hyten just specified the US' "defense perimeter" for the 21st century.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660   2017-11-19 04:27  

#4  Wait a few months and retire the sob

Why wait?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2017-11-19 03:26  

#3  he is outta there
Posted by: 746   2017-11-19 02:13  

#2  He swore an Oath.
Posted by: newc   2017-11-19 01:12  

#1  Wait a few months and retire the sob.
Posted by: 3dc   2017-11-19 00:34