Witheld: We have a long-tradition in this country of civilian leadership of the military. However, in multiple interviews with military leaders after retirement and in some cases prior to their confirmation, leaders from all branches including former members of the JCS have added the caveat of obeying LAWFUL orders from the commander in chief. Gen. Mattis made clear he would never allow the use of torture, even if ordered by Trump who advocated its use during the campaign. A retired branch chief who served on the JCS indicated he would disregard any order to use chemical weapons outlawed under treaties to which the U.S. was a signatory. I have no doubt the current leaders of our armed forces would obey a stupid directive to continue allowing Confederate names on military installations even as Congress appears likely to require the names be changed. However, an order to nuke downtown Tehran (which presumably has no strategic military value and result in millions of civilian casualties) would be summarily ignored by the generals with the nuclear codes and any attempt to pressure subordinates would trigger even Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment.
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