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While I respect your experience and service, your description does not describe a single member of our Founding Fathers. Each of them had much more to lose than gain by openly declaring Independence from Great Britain. If the call comes, each of us will answer according to our conscience. 20+ years ago, when I entered the profession, I had some ideas about what I was willing to do and what I could not do. I am not the same man that I was when I entered the profession, but at my core, I have the same principles and my integrity is intact. I guess we will see, when we see.
God, Family, Country.
Be safe.
I get the other part of your comment, and there's a lot of truth there. I think we have to hope, pray, count on, whatever you want to call it, that people understand that if we continue letting these things go that what we will ultimately end up with is worse. When we started this country a whole bunch of people with things to lose understood what the deal was, and fought anyway. Many died, many families were left without the man of the house. I think a lot of people today are thinking hard about what they will do if the time comes to make the decision. I pray they are, anyhow; I hope they think about it before they really have to make that decision.
But, I remember my training regarding Lawful orders. The example they used was the Nazi's defense at Nuremberg that they were "just following orders"; and how that doesn't wash. If you're ordered to do something you know is wrong, it is your duty to disobey that order. Even if threatened with consequences. Let's hope everyone in a uniform remembers that.
ETA - and I see that CStone beat me to part of what I was saying, while I was saying it...[ROFL1]
Then again there is the possibility of becoming a rope tester following the war-crimes tribunal
Professional Military Education hammers home the point about lawful orders every chance they get. My Lai is raised constantly as an example of when it's the NCO's or officer's duty to disobey. Unfortunately, we have some people in uniform that get off on the power -- the power of being Law Enforcement or the power of being able to use heavy weapons. Fortunately, we have far more people who take their oaths of office or enlistment very very seriously. While I've seen a creep of the entitlement mentality into some of the Armed Forces over the last 20 years, I do NOT concur with HBAR's or hatidua's assessments that most would follow a paycheck and meekly follow illegal orders. I wonder how much of this is projection -- why are you so certain current members would meekly go along if you wouldn't?
The biggest problem with any of this conspiracy theory garbage is that the decision makers would be faced with huge uncertainties in what forces they could count on.
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At thsi point, I feel it's appropriate to insert this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROxvT8KKdFw
[shithitsfan]
Following unlawful/unconstitutional orders is a terrible excuse. Every soldier, sailor, marine, airman, LEO, etc. has a DUTY to disobey unlawful orders. To violate the people's right to bear arms is, I think, about one of the most clear cut examples of an unlawful/unconstitutional order. By doing so could mean a lot more than just "not getting a paycheck." Last time I checked treason carries a much harsher sentence than simple imprisonment.
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It's all how you sell it. I wonder how much hesitation there was when it came to burning a whole bunch of women & children alive in a place called Waco? Was there any trembling of the index finger before letting a round fly at a pregnant woman from a nice comfortable distance at a place called Ruby Ridge? Much debate before going door to door to confiscate firearms after a hurricane in New Orleans?If it's one thing Americans are susceptible to, it's a good sales pitch. Label an individual, a family, or a group "terrorists" and all bets are decidedly off.