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Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(131,679 posts) Fri Nov 21, 2025, 02:53 PM Nov 21

What the military oath of enlistment says about legal and illegal orders [View all]

A war of words between President Donald Trump and Democratic military and national security veterans on Capitol Hill has opened up a discussion about legal and illegal orders.

But the law governing the military clearly prohibits those in the service from following orders that are unlawful.

The issue came up after Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who served in the Central Intelligence Agency, in which she and five other Democratic members of Congress urged military members to not follow "illegal orders," telling them "Don't give up the ship."

"The threats to our Constitution aren't just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders," they say in the video. "No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/military-oath-enlistment-says-legal-233710195.html

28 replies

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What the military oath of enlistment says about legal and illegal orders [View all] Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Nov 21 OP

knr UTUSN Nov 21 #1

Kick MustLoveBeagles Nov 21 #2

Here is the line crud Nov 21 #3

I have ForgedCrank Nov 21 #4

As a veteran (non-combat) liberalgunwilltravel Nov 21 #5

I can ForgedCrank Nov 21 #9

Disagree 100%. James48 Nov 21 #6

So, you polled how this is being received in the enlisted ranks? maxrandb Nov 21 #7

Twenty-two years active duty in the Navy. dsvajda Nov 21 #15

Why didn't you slap him under Article 88? Grins Nov 21 #16

You repeated ForgedCrank Nov 21 #17

"Some guys say EVERYONE on the base" maxrandb Nov 21 #19

Im relaying ForgedCrank Nov 21 #22

We Are Way Past Worrying About Hurt Feelings MissouriDem47 Nov 21 #11

Call me ForgedCrank Nov 21 #18

I saw it the first Tuesday this November maxrandb Nov 21 #21

I don't care about their "hurt feelings". NotHardly Nov 21 #12

Seriously! If our current troops are getting "butt hurt" by this maxrandb Nov 22 #28

What does the law say about legal and illegal? Iggo Nov 21 #8

Gen Mark Hertling (ret) about illegal orders evilhime Nov 21 #10

This law firm deal with a lot of military cases. AverageOldGuy Nov 21 #13

Not only was this message correct, but it was well timed. patphil Nov 21 #14

Soldiers aren't equipped to know the law. WarGamer Nov 21 #20

Personality cultists really hate being reminded about any legal limits Warpy Nov 21 #23

Illegal orders do not come with a big yellow sign. kiri Nov 21 #24

Get real. upacreek Nov 21 #25

Death sentence for stating a simple, lawful truth The Blue Flower Nov 21 #26

Inductees need a class on the US Constitution Glass City Nov 21 #27