Name:   MrHodja - Subject:   He should have stood his ground Date:   10/19/2021 6:35:35 PM

LNG, Powell was a military man.  In the military we swore an oath to carry out the lawful orders of our superiors.  We were expected to provide input to our leaders' decisions and once those decisions were made to carry them out.  We were a team, and teams have leaders.  To do otherwise would bring on chaos and defeat.  One subjects self to the overall mission, again as long as what is being done is lawful.

As a counterpoint, the current Vice Chairman of the JCS (yes, Milley's current Deputy), when he was Commander of STRATCOM and had control of the country's nuclear forces, told President Trump that if Trump gave an unlawful order to use nuclear weapons (such as obliterating Lichstenstein with nuclear bombs), that he (STRATCOM Commander) and Trump "would have to have a talk".  Obviously such an order would be unlawful and shoud not be carried out.

As to the other departments, I am not sure that they swear an oath to the same level as those of us subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  Maybe they should resign if they feel that strongly, although I question what good that would do other than make them feel good about themselves.  If they truly want to effect change or have things done "their way" or ways acceptable to them, I believe they are much more effective working from the inside than as an outsider.