Well as a subordinate who is given illegal orders they’re kind of fucked there’s no good choice so that’s why it was so important for commanders to only issue legal orders. So they don’t put their men in a bad legal situation.
If a solider doesn’t follow the command they’re given probably going to be found guilty of insubordination, regardless of whether it is illegal or not. They’ll probably be called a criminal, lose all the benefits that come from service, or possibly be executed according to this administration.
If a soldier follows illegal orders like these then they can be charged as war criminals and executed.
The ONLY way to be able to refuse illegal orders is to have an enormous amount of support from other soldiers and the judge advocate General’s office. Which are resources your average soldier doesn’t have. Yes the Uniform Code of Military Justice says following illegal orders is illegal but the reality is very different.
I don’t understand how people can follow a command like this and then go home and sleep at night.
This is literally what the US has been doing for 70 years.
Doesn’t change the question.
The answer is most normal people cannot. There are sociopaths that can and they are concentrated in our military of murderers.
The answer is propaganda.
People with thoughtful morals don’t join the military. Sociopaths, moral LARPers, and desperate people do.
Well as a subordinate who is given illegal orders they’re kind of fucked there’s no good choice so that’s why it was so important for commanders to only issue legal orders. So they don’t put their men in a bad legal situation.
If a solider doesn’t follow the command they’re given probably going to be found guilty of insubordination, regardless of whether it is illegal or not. They’ll probably be called a criminal, lose all the benefits that come from service, or possibly be executed according to this administration.
If a soldier follows illegal orders like these then they can be charged as war criminals and executed.
The ONLY way to be able to refuse illegal orders is to have an enormous amount of support from other soldiers and the judge advocate General’s office. Which are resources your average soldier doesn’t have. Yes the Uniform Code of Military Justice says following illegal orders is illegal but the reality is very different.